PESI UK (Psychotherapy Excellence) and Place2Be are once again teaming up, to bring esteemed speakers and world-renowned experts together, to talk on the theme of ‘Creativity as a Healing Tool’– considering the connections between mind, body, and imagination.

Place2Be are incredibly proud to be working with PESI UK, the largest clinical continuing professional development (CPD) provider in the UK and Europe, this Children’s Mental Health Week, sharing our collective, knowledge, practical know-how and expertise.

This half day conference, titled ‘Creativity as a Healing Tool: Connecting mind, body and imagination’ will take place at 2 – 4:45pm on Friday 5 February, and will be available to watch live or watch later. Tickets are available to buy on the PESI website.

Our keynote speakers and panellists will explore the links between mental health, wellbeing and creativity. Place2Be will invite participants to consider the medium of creative play in their therapeutic work with children; how this can help children process and overcome wide-ranging and complex issues - from bullying and friendship problems, to bereavement, family breakdown and trauma – to help them build life-long coping skills, so they can thrive and face their futures with hope.

Highly acclaimed poet and writer Lemn Sissay OBE, will help us understand how creative expression has helped him overcome the distress and ordeals he faced in childhood, whilst Bessel van der Kolk will lead us in considering the impact trauma has on neuroplasticity, functioning, and development of self; what happens to the brain when children are supported and encouraged to express themselves creativity, using play and imagination; and how this is beneficial to mental health and wellbeing.

The concluding panel session will bring together several leading experts who will share with us their thoughts and experiences around what this lockdown period has taught us; what (creative) tools educators, therapists, parents and mental health practitioners can employ to continue to help children make sense of the pandemic; and what else schools to build children and young people’s resilience.

Learn more about Children’s Mental Health Week