No prior songwriting experience necessary.

Coping with loss may be one of the hardest challenges many of us face, yet it is an inevitable experience of this funny thing we call life. Whether it be the end of a relationship, death of a loved one, or change in lifestyle – loss comes in all shapes and forms.

Grieving is an important process to overcoming the intense sadness often brought on by loss. The coping mechanisms we use when it comes to grief is different from person to person. For some people, songwriting can be a useful tool to process loss. Afterall, heartbreak - as a theme - tends to dominate the airwaves.

In this special event, psychologist Mike Hines and musician Giuliano Ferla talk about processing loss through songwriting and the sense of meaning and catharsis it can bring.

Join us for this intimate event as we hear personal stories, approaches from psychology, and plenty of useful tips for processing heartbreak and loss through the art of songwriting and other creative outlets.

Mike Hines is a psychologist with a passion for helping people function at their best. His expertise lies in the related fields of Mindfulness and Wellbeing Science and he has worked extensively with individuals, schools, and businesses throughout his career. His passion for mindfulness stems from a personal meditation practice and professional development spanning 23 years.

Mike has spent the past four years as lead facilitator and mindfulness expert at Smiling Mind where he was responsible for the design and delivery of workshops and training across their school, workplace and general community programs.

Mike now consults to individuals and schools on the intersection of mindfulness, wellbeing and performance, as well as developing and delivering corporate and community workshops for us here at The Mind Room. His work as a Psychologist follows a successful career as a singer-songwriter and Mike can occasionally still be found in the recording studio.

Giuliano Ferla is a singer and songwriter from Melbourne, Victoria and leader of the band FERLA. His music explores the connection between experience and expression, tapping into the personal and making it communal. Prolific, his songwriting has been praised by NME, the Herald Sun and Pilerats and been nominated for the Australian Music Prize. His music has had top tracks and features on Rage, RRR, PBS and a track of the day on Los Angeles tastemaker station KCRW. From singing in the Australian Youth Choir to touring around Australia, music has been a constant throughout Giuliano’s life. Aside from being principal songwriter for FERLA and his previous band The Toot Toot Toots/Twin Beasts, Giuliano has worked as a copywriter and has published articles for Beat Magazine, Foley and The Music, as well as being an occasional presenter at Melbourne’s 3RRR FM. FERLA's new album Personal Hotspot is out now.