NOW ACCEPTING MEMBERS BEFORE GROUPS START IN MARCH 2026!
After providing therapy and clinical supervision services for over a decade (long may it continue!), Bristol Dramatherapy now also offers a variety of group therapeutic sessions focusing on different ways we can maintain and improve our day-to-day mental health and wellbeing.
These range from spaces to go that provide grounding exercises for when you’re having an ‘off day’, or spaces where you feel more connected and make friends, or if you need to focus and gain clarity, or simply have a place each week to check in with yourself and how you’re doing when life gets a bit busy. Something that supports your mental wellbeing, that is lighter than therapy.
Something that promotes ‘thriving’ rather than ‘surviving’.
Participants are never expected to share anything they are not comfortable to, and being ‘good’ at being creative is not important or needed; when we create, we simply do so for the joy and benefit of it, to express ourselves beyond words, rather than intentionally trying to make the end result ‘good’.
These sessions are face-to-face, and take place at Bristol Dramatherapy’s home: a former coffee shop called ‘The Bromley Therapy & Wellbeing’. Having worked as a barista in my early twenties, something about coffee shops always feel like a home-away-from-home to me; a place to meet and connect and put the world to rights, or a place to get a warm drink and rest if you’re rushing around. I’ve always appreciated a ‘put the kettle on’ approach to mental wellbeing, because sometimes that may be all it takes.
THRIVE at Bristol Dramatherapy: Membership for your Mental Health!
These groups are facilitated and created with a therapeutic approach, and aim to promote and develop positive mental health and wellbeing, however they are not to be confused or used as a replacement to therapy.
The sessions do, however, have people’s mental health as the main focus and use a therapeutic approach to do this, therefore to check they are suitable for a person’s needs, a pay-as-you-attend membership is required. If membership is approved, you simply have to attend at least one session every 3 months to maintain your membership. You pay for what you use, rather than a monthly charge.
SESSIONS BEGINNING MARCH 2026:
An early morning check-in/focusing group for needs and priority goals. These sessions include mostly independent exercises that aim to ground and centre for the day ahead, rather than sharing in a group or group activities.
For those experiencing a want/need to:
- destress before work
- focus your mind and thoughts
- address focusing blockages
- find space to express and process when you feel a bit burnt out
- anyone who wants to start their week with their mental health in mind!
A wandering, nature group for those who want to build connections and ground themselves in nature. We meet at the Bromley and either take a gentle walk to a local green space, before continuing reflection and grounding there. When the weather is less than ideal, we bring the outside in and enjoy a wellness session with nature and mental health in mind.
For those experiencing a want/need to:
- connect with others more
- build new relationships
- get out in nature more often
- find space to express and process when you feel a bit ‘lost’ or ‘low’.
- check in with themselves
- and just… breathe.
Early in my practice I also highly enjoyed working part-time at a University as a Creative Writing lecturer, and since then have always wanted to facilitate a creative and reflective writing group that uses the imagination to process and express ourselves. There is no pressure to share, just to write and listen for those who do, feedback is only given purely on how it other members reflected on it in relation theirselves.
Pen and paper or phones/touch screen devices are welcome as writing tools, just as long as it’s a silent keyboard.
For those who:
- want to learn more about themselves
- want to learn how writing can help us explore or express ourselves in different ways
- anyone who wants to enjoy writing and being creative, but not have to worry about spelling, grammar, handwriting, or the writing being ‘technically good’. We solely focus on the containment, expressiveness, and freedom writing can bring.
For those who struggle with task avoidance, or ‘getting the ball rolling’ on a project, we aim to get it done together.
This is a body-doubling workspace with brief one-to-one check-ins with Laura (and with each other when needed) to explore avoidance and obstacles.
Bring your idea, paperwork, laptop, or whatever you need to work on, and get the ball rolling in this space held for focused work. No shame, just overcoming problems and avoidance together!
Other Groups in the Works (expressions of interest welcome):
Nurture: A space for new mothers to come together without judgement to form relationships, and to explore what new challenges this new, transformative role brings. Infants under 6 months are welcomed in the space with us, however the focus is creating space for the mums.
(A Bit More Than) Self-Help Book Club: A book club focusing on self-help books and how we may apply different approaches to our own lives to make them better. Each session focuses on a portion of a self-help book, which is read together in session (no homework required, just the book, yourselves, and a warm drink provided). We then gently reflect on how these principles may benefit and be put into practice in our own lives.
For those who enjoy reading books which focus on personal development, but want to discuss and explore which practices would benefit their own lives and how to implement them in ways that work for them!
Just to Be Clear: A group focusing on how our perception plays a big part in how we view things, and how viewing things from a different perspective may be beneficial to processing and reflecting. These sessions allow us to step out and look at what could also be possible. This group would be particularly beneficial for people who describe themselves as ‘over thinkers’ or those who’s thoughts about themselves are often unkind.
You’ve Got This: A course of 10 therapeutic sessions that focuses on how drama exercises can be used to change the way we think and feel about ourselves. This group promotes confidence building, creative playfulness, connection making and gentle movement to promote a positive self esteem and
There are also going to be other sessions held as Thrive grows, so watch this space!
HOW TO BECOME A THRIVE MEMBER
Membership Meet Up: An initial meeting is required to meet Laura and to confirm if a Thrive membership would benefit you, and what groups may suit your needs. Once membership is set up, you only ever pay for what you use, providing you attend the sessions you book, and at least one session is attended per 3 months. If 3 months elapses, you are welcome to book in another Membership Meet to reestablish membership.
THRIVE IS BUILT FOR:
- Anyone aged 18yrs or older
- Anyone who needs space, time and support for their mental health and wellbeing, and is generally able to support their day-to-day mental health and wellbeing without any risk of lasting harm to themselves or others.
- Anyone who feels they need something lighter than therapy but not necessarily therapy, or those working with another therapist or other therapeutic services.
- Anyone comfortable or looking to feel more comfortable whilst in a group of people (however sessions vary in levels of ‘group work’, and some sessions provide space for self reflection whilst in a group).
- Anyone who has never considered referring themselves to Bristol Dramatherapy for therapy services, as once an individual has attended any Thrive session, I will be unable to hold therapy for that individual in future, as I will be unable to provide that form of therapeutic relationship and holding for them. Occasional one-to-one ‘check-ins’ can be booked to check in and receive support on a one-to-one basis, however these will again, look and feel very different to therapy sessions and may be limited in availability.
- Has never been a therapy client of Bristol Dramatherapy, or who is a former client, and this has been discussed and agreed with Laura. Thrive sessions will look and feel very different to my therapy sessions, which meet a deeper, different need. This is also reflected in the cost of wellbeing services in comparison to therapy services.
T&Cs to note:
- Sessions must be paid in full before the session starts. These are bookable via the Booking page where payment can also be made, however card payment is also available at the Bromley.
- Please note that as this is a pay-as-you-go service so ‘Thrive at BDT’ can remain accessible and flexible, late cancellation charges are applied to protect against income loss and to promote committal to attend sessions once booked. A charge of 50% of the original booking charge will be applied for late notice cancellations and non attendance of less than 12hrs.
- Please note doors open 15mins before a session begins in order for members to arrive, get a hot drink, use the facilities and settle payment if they have not done so already. We understand that lateness happens, however to protect the therapeutic nature of the sessions, individuals who arrive more than 5 minutes late will not be permitted to attend. This keeps the sessions confidential and helps keeps members focused.
For full T&Cs regarding the building and policies, please visit our full T&Cs page.
For those interested in working with the same people each week, some specific future groups will require prepayment and booking in blocks, these will be clearly labeled as a ‘closed’ group, available for block booking by Thrive Members.
BOOK A MEMBERSHIP MEET
SUPPORTING SERVICES
Member Check-ins: At any point in your pay-as-you-go membership, you may request occasional, one-to-one check ins with Laura to discuss your engagement in the groups, reflect on how ideas or exercises may be better implemented, or discuss which groups may work better for you. These appointments can be booked via the booking page as and when required. Please note, these are one-to-one mentoring sessions to support your experience within Thrive, they are not a substitute for one-to-one therapy. These can be booked via the booking page under ‘One-to-One Services’.
Drop Ins: Not sure if membership would be good for you or want to know more about the service? Drop in! These are limited open slots that can be booked in either in online one-to-one slots or groups if you’re thinking of joining and fancy a brief chat on how membership may benefit you (or you can simply pop in and say hello!). These are free of charge, and times and days vary depending on availability. These can be found via our booking page under ‘Group Services’.
Whether it’s a stand-alone service you use when you need a bit more support, or a group you attend most weeks to build connections and skills, or if you need an extra something on top of other counselling or therapy you’re already accessing to help bridge that gap, this may be for you!
My hope is that by offering more cost-effective, accessible, lighter options that require less intense intervention than therapy, we can stop people ‘falling in the water’ before they need more help ‘keeping themselves afloat’.
If you are interested in enjoying this warm, creative, thriving community, please visit our booking page to book in a ‘Membership Meet’.
Warmest wishes,
Laura
Creative Therapy, Mental Health & Wellbeing Services 