'Me, my body and I' is a virtual retreat programme exploring a gay man's relationship to his body. In partnership with Dr David McLaughlan, an award-winning medical doctor specialising in mental health and wellbeing. This isn’t a group therapy session. It’s a facilitated space to openly share and learn from each others past experiences. It's an opportunity for you to acquire the necessary tools and understanding for growth, and personal development.
This three hour taster workshop will just give a flavour of the workshops included in the two-day virtual retreat experience.
Why do I care so much about my image?
Why am I obsessed with body perfection?
Why do I feel like I’m never enough?
Why do I constantly seek approval from others?
As gay men, the shame we experienced growing up has likely shaped the way we now view the world, each other and ourselves. Once we understand WHY we behave a certain way, we can use that knowledge as fuel to instigate positive change, becoming more powerful with the decisions we make, and the actions we take. We take an active role in shaping our own lives, and lead the way forward for others.
Questions that may come up for you.
What are my underlying beliefs?
How have they influenced me so far?
What are the coping skills I’ve utilised until this point?
How have they served me?
How is that working out for me right now?
What changes do I need to make?
During this virtual retreat program, Dr David McLaughlan will empower participants to identify common cognitive distortions related to body image. In doing so, participants will be coached in practical techniques and exercises to help them to recognise and challenge toxic thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The programme is carefully designed around tried and tested powerful psychological and holistic techniques. We play with different combinations of creative exercises, self-exploration tools and transformational techniques to re-define your relationship with your body.. These are interspersed with expansive teachings and group discussions.
This three hour taster workshop will just give a flavour of the workshops included in the two-day virtual retreat experience.
Places on the full-retreat are limited to fourteen participants.
Teaching and personal growth tools.
Our trained medical professional will be explaining the background and context of each discussion throughout to give you a deeper understanding behind the psychological concepts presented. The self-analysis techniques that we use enable participants to go into deeper modes of personal enquiry and development. We tap into undiscovered truths, underlying beliefs and highlight pre-existing coping mechanisms.
No one is forced to share anything they don’t want to, or anything at all if they don’t feel comfortable. Sharing has a proven benefit to processing experiences and emotions. These breakout and group sessions are intended to allow participants to learn from each other.
We guide participants through these sessions, as a way to start slowly connecting the mind and body. It’s not a Barry’s Bootcamp workout, but more practices that incorporate elements of breathwork, body scanning and mindfulness.
Ahead of the retreat a recommended reading list will be provided along with a tool-kit and a short ‘pre-retreat worksheet’. This is not 'compulsory', but it may benefit your long term learning and development. At the end of day one, participants will be provided with further homework to help with process and reflection. Again, this isn't compulsory, but it has been designed to maximise your experience.
We personally design, organise and facilitate each of our retreats and workshops; partnering internationally with leading industry professionals in each sector. Throughout the duration of the retreat, you’ll work in close collaboration with each of the team members in respect of their given workshop. There will be a lead figure present throughout, whose role will alternate as facilitator and supervisor of each workshop. They will not be offering any counselling or diagnoses relating to psychological issues that attendees may be experiencing throughout the retreat. In the case of significant distress, additional or subsequent support will be sign-posted or referred as required. We will send more detailed information on the specific team closer to the workshop date.
Dr David McLaughlan, is our Lead Facilitator. He's an award winning medical doctor specialising in mental health and wellbeing. David has carved out a respected academic and clinical career whilst increasingly becoming a prominent voice promoting mental wellbeing within the LGBTQ+ community.
David will be joined by Georges Hann, a movement artist and teacher. Georges has a firm belief that through improvisation we’re able to deepen our physical self awareness to find further freedom in movement and mind. During George's workshop, he will lead a short, simple visualisation and body scan. These are calming tasks to bring focus to our mind-body connection.
Our guest speaker, Ajay Pabial, is the founder of his own not-for-profit Arts Organisation – Art Clubbers CIC. His incredible work there is dedicated to helping budding creatives achieve a sustainable career within their chosen industries. Ajay is also on a personal mission to shine the light on creative individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds and LGBT+ intersections. By giving these individuals visibility within the community, he hopes to one day provide aspirational role models for everyone within the creative sector.
Ajay has kindly agreed to open up and share some of his personal experiences on the workshop.
"For a long time I've been fed images portraying 'the ideal portrayal gay man'. The inner emotional and mental conflicts would often lead me to putting my body through torture. It's only lately that I've started to wash away the layers of overly fantasised mental images of body image to reveal a truer and authentic me." Ajay Pabial
We're not a rehabilitation or intervention centre. Nor are we providing one-on-one medical or psychological advice. We are certainly not providing a ‘cure’, and this isn't a therapy session. We are however offering a safe space to get curious, open up and discuss with others, aspects of your life you’re finding challenging. Naturally it is a completely confidential space, where individuals can openly share their feelings and thoughts with the option of anonymity.
This two hour taster session will just give a flavour of the workshops included in the two-day virtual retreat experience.
Your safety comes first.
Your safety is our main priority. For this reason, we will need to ask participants for some personal medical information, before we can confirm your place on the workshop. These are standard questions, there to protect your safety and everyone else involved. This information will only be shared on a need to know basis and will be GDPR compliant. We will also be undertaking other necessary safety measures, during and post-retreat.
We would highly recommend individuals with concerns relating to pre-existing mental health conditions, substance misuse and related disorders to seek immediate professional help.
This retreat series has been designed by Create Space and partners.
Michael spent over 10 years working in senior creative leadership positions for some of the world’s most respected British brands within the fashion, travel and retail industries. After a series of life changing events, Michael diverted from this career path, becoming a mental health and LGBTQ+ advocate. Now the founder of Create Space, a retreat and workshop business, he promotes the importance and value of self-care, specifically within the creative and LGBTQ+ communities.
“As a gay man who has struggled with my sexuality and identity most of my life, I believe it’s so important that we now openly encourage each other to share and learn from past experiences to develop resilience in the face of our adversity.” Michael Stephens
Read more about Michael's story here.
For more information on Create Space, please visit out website.
About dates, schedule or book your place on the two-day virtual retreat? Get in touch.
For details on other workshops please visit our website.
Saturday 15th August
09:00 - 12:00
· Introductions.
· Visualisation.
· ‘Speed date’.
· Conversation with Guest speaker.
· Workshop.
· Breakout group sessions.
· Breathwork.
· Group share.
· Closing.
Ahead of the session, a recommended reading list, tool-kit and pre-worksheet will be provided.
At the end of the day, participants will be provided some 'homework', to help with process and reflection.
This three hour taster session will give a flavour of the workshops included in the full two-day virtual retreat experience.