Maternal Journal with Sally Parkin

Improve your mental health and emotional wellbeing with art journaling


In a world that can feel busy and fast, Maternal Journal is your opportunity to slow down and nurture yourself.

You don’t even have to be a mum to come along – anyone who identifies with a maternal perspective is welcome, including trans-and non-binary parents and people without children.

Journaling can help you process difficult emotions.

It can reduce stress and improve your mental wellbeing and mental health – that’s a fact, proven by research.

I really feel that Maternal Journal was a massive tool to help me in a period that I was finding very difficult. Having a new born without my mum here was such a struggle but through journaling and meeting the other mums I was able to gain a circle of friends who I am still in contact with and an invaluable support network in times when I am feeling low.

Maternal Journal provides you with an opportunity to be mindful and present. It’s a safe place for you to create, reflect and share (if you want to, of course, there’s no pressure).

There’s no right or wrong way to journal, there’s no judgement, you don’t need any experience and you don’t even have to be creative or have kept a journal before.

You just need to show up, just as you are.

So what happens in the journaling sessions?


Some people come to Maternal Journal to gain ideas for journals, some come to sit around a table (or gather online) with others to share or listen to stories, and some come to get over the hurdle of what to write on that first blank page!

Maternal Journal is about process rather than outcome.

Sally is an amazing facilitator. She creates the perfect balance in the group between allowing women to chat, share, reflect and be creative. I love going to the Maternal Journal sessions and always leave feeling that I have learned something new about myself, but have also learned from sharing with other women.

Each Maternal Journal session starts with a 10 minute introduction and then I’ll lead a grounding activity to help you leave the before and the after outside the session.

Next, I’ll give you a list of prompts and invite you to take part in a guided journaling activity which could be linked to nature, the moon, the seasons or even my internal thoughts.

There will be time to chat and there will be time to work in silence.

Towards the end of the session, you’ll have an opportunity to share what you have done, but if you don’t want to share that’s OK, there’s no expectation.

Maternal Journal with Sally Parkin

What you need to bring to Maternal Journal


Please bring with you…

  • A journal with blank pages or plain paper
  • Something you can make a mark with e.g. pens, pencils, paints or pastels
  • Other craft material such as old magazines or paper, scissors, glue, crayons
  • A hot drink (or drink of your choice) and snacks, if you wish

To keep the Maternal Journal space safe…


I ask that you:

  • Find a place where you won’t be disturbed (if this is tricky, please contact me).
  • Share the space… listen to each other and don’t try to fix. I firmly believe that we know how to help ourselves – often we just need the space to speak our thoughts.
  • Share sensitively (we are all on our own individual journey).
  • Don’t share the content of the discussions outside of the group – what is shared in Maternal Journal stays in Maternal Journal.

Book for Maternal Journal


Maternal Journal Online

These Maternal Journal sessions run online via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.

You can either book sessions as a series or as individual drop in sessions.

Maternal Journal is pay as you feel with a suggested price of £10 per session or £40 for the series if you book them as a block.

There are discounted and free places available for those with no/little income, no questions asked.

You can either contact me directly to reserve your place by emailing me here: mail@sallygolightly.co.uk

The dates for Maternal Journal Spring 2 are:

  • Tuesday 9th April 2024
  • Tuesday 23rd April 2024
  • Tuesday 30th April 2024
  • Tuesday 7th May 2024
  • Tuesday 21st May 2024

Book individual sessions in the Maternal Journal Spring 2 series

Block book for all sessions in the Maternal Journal Spring 2 series

Cancellations


For places booked through Eventbrite, refunds are available up to 7 days prior to the session. For cancellations with 48 hours notice, you can transfer your place to another session. For any places cancelled within 48 hours, money is used towards gifted spaces.

I’d love to hear from you


If you have any questions or would like to find out more about Maternal Journal, I’d love to hear from you.

You can email me at mail@sallygolightly.co.uk