Therapists (Screen) Writing Group September 2026

Therapists (Screen) Writing Group

This is a group we are developing for therapists interested in developing skills in screen writing, or other creative writing such as novels.

It emerged from the recognition that many of us are interested in creative stories and how they are told, and events for discussing and analysing films or other creative works are passionately attended by therapists. For example, the Psychoanalytic Film Festival organised by the Institute of Psychoanalysis https://psychoanalysis.org.uk/civicrm-event/1962 the Film Club at 10 Windsor Walk https://www.10windsorwalk.org.uk/events/

or the Facebook group Psychoanalysis Goes to the Movies https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544839415632398/

This group is facilitated by a psychodynamic colleague with a background in film studies and supported by Dr Nicola Diamond who taught Film Psychoanalysis and Culture at the Tavistock Clinic for many years https://www.drnicoladiamond.com/about/psychoanalytic-psychotherapist-nicola-diamond as well as Stephen Gyllenhaal, Hollywood film producer and trauma therapist, who wants to support the mission of encouraging therapists to write meaningful scripts.

The group designed to provide a fun and light-hearted intro to creative screen writing by means of developing one's own 'movie character' and have them engage in collectively constructed plot-lines. The group is suitable for beginners but also for colleagues already experienced and perhaps even published or credited with previous work. We will periodically invite experts from the film world to provide guidance.

We are also developing the group so it can also serve as a 'sounding board' for colleagues who want help with developing a particular piece of writing.

Please do not feel any pressure - the group is designed as a stimulating and relaxing Friday evening activity, not another course with a to-do list.

£15 per event to contribute to room rent and snacks

The Cake for the event is from the Luminary Bakery (www.luminarybakery.com) which is a social enterprise helping women who have experienced domestic violence and trauma return to the work market. It is a business with a therapeutic mission, led with extraordinary care, which serves as a good example of what a ‘Psychologically Informed Environment’ (PIE) can achieve if the philosophy is taken out of the consulting room.

CPD: 1.5 hours with certificate. Online | In-person | Hybrid

These groups are for therapists only. Therapeutic qualification and registration with a UK accrediting body (UKCP, BACP, HCPC, BABCP, analytic institutes etc) will need to be verified upon booking.