Groups

Take a look at the groups and events you could get involved in.

PhD Student Group

Being a PGR student can be demanding, and stressful. Very often you are working alone, managing your own timetable, and workload. The LJMU PhD Student Group is an opportunity to meet other PGR’s, to connect and share your experiences of the PhD journey. Facilitated by a member of the LJMU Counselling Team the group provides a supportive space for you to share experiences, and exchange knowledge. The meetings are informal, the aim being to cultivate mutual support, and connection. The group meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month 5.30-6.30pm. Both in person and online. For further information please contact counselling@ljmu.ac.uk.

Bibliotherapy groups (Book My Mind)

These groups have been developed to complement the ‘Book My Mind’ initiative. Find out more about the full list of Bibliotherapy groups.

Reading for Wellbeing

The Counselling and Mental Health Team in connection with Library Services and with support from the Student Union has introduced its own collection of therapeutic books. Throughout the year there will be online/face to face group events focusing on a particular book/subject. You do not need to have read the book to attend. These groups will be a way of exploring your feelings around a particular book/subject with a chance to voice your thoughts. Where appropriate some groups will be attended by the authors themselves and/or members of local community/organisations. To book a place please see SAW Events.

Writing for Wellbeing

Would you like just an hour’s space to sit with your thoughts and do some expressive writing to get stuff out of your head and onto paper? This group offers a safe and relaxed space for free-writing in response to short prompts – such as images, words, or poetry. You do not need to be a writer or a poet to attend, just a willingness to take part and go with wherever your writing takes you!

These workshops enable you to focus on the process of writing rather than any product or output: giving yourself permission to just ‘write without rules’ about whatever emerges from your pen or pencil has the potential to lead to insights, revelations, and greater self-awareness.

There is no obligation for you to share your writing in the session, though participants can benefit from sharing and listening to different personal reflections about this process of writing for the self.

Sessions are led by Dr Anne-Marie Smith, senior lecturer in the School of Education and a qualified and experienced Writing for Wellbeing practitioner.

To book a place please see SAW Events.