Processing: Art-Making for Mental Wellbeing

Explore creativity as a wellbeing activity, delivered by Dima Jafar of Pathways Therapy, a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist. A series of workshops focussed on creativity as a wellbeing activity, delivered by Dima Jafar of Pathways Therapy, a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist. We’ll be exploring ways that you can integrate creative activities into your everyday life that benefit you and your mental well-being. The act of making art gives us a way to explore, process, and communicate emotions without needing to find the right words for it. You don’t need to be an artist, creative, or “good with a paint brush” to participate. The focus is working on your own mental wellbeing, not to create art that “looks good”. These workshops aim to provide you with new skills to develop self-awareness, manage stress more effectively, explore new coping strategies, reflect on whatever you may be experiencing, and gain personal insights. Different therapeutic approaches work for different people; these workshops are designed with this in mind, and will feature a variety of activities. They will also include an element of psychoeducation for participants to better understand the psychological processes behind the activities. All materials will be provided, however participants are welcome to bring their own materials if they wish. We endeavour to make this workshop as accessible as possible, if you have any particular requirements or needs, please let us know so we can ensure your experience is unaffected. Place: Port Independent 4 St. Thomas Street, Sunniside, Sunderland, SR1 1QD Please note - the main door will be closed - please use the side door, opposite the Joplings building. Date: Friday 18th September 2026 Time: 6pm - 9pm Tickets are £15 (plus VAT) or free for everyone who supports us on Patreon as a 'Bestie' (£7 a month)