Laughing Geese

Laughing Geese Dynamic and fun resources for professional staff and managers, unpaid carers and creatives You know that health and social care staff do amazing work.

To recognise and strengthen best practice through creative, solution-focused, human-shaped learning programmes, with coaching for effective care of self and others. Maybe you also know that the UK government estimates care staff sickness absence is costing more than 10 billion £ a year. Maybe you know that the King's Fund (research organisation) showed that a quarter of health and social care staff and a third of managers are experiencing anxiety, stress and depression. Well, - we work with staff and managers to find better-feeling approaches and staff support systems. We also work with people who face similar challenges but who don't have the support of an organisation. We know that people who connect with a sense of love, hope and empowerment are more motivated to self-care. They are also more able to practice wellness-focused approaches that make a positive difference to themselves and others. This reduces stress, increases ideas for fresh approaches and inspires all involved. Feedback from Karrie's workshops and programmes around the UK:
'Uplifting and practical. Packed with ideas. Feel more confident about what I can do.'
'One of the best courses I've been on. Fun, informative and totally inspiring!'
'Goes wider and deeper than other courses'
'Out of all the courses I've done, this one opened something up for me. I have a real sense of excitement for the first time in years!'
'As a manager I found your approach refreshing and compassionate. It's helped us communicate more effectively.'

Heres a model of the brain in a safe state… the prefrontal cortex is functioning, thinking, well… planning, organising, ...
27/11/2025

Heres a model of the brain in a safe state… the prefrontal cortex is functioning, thinking, well… planning, organising, problem solving, decision making … and all is connected directly or indirectly to the rest of the brain… the amygdala and hippocampus are calm ☺️ In this state the brain can explore, make new neural connections, try new things, store new knowledge, enjoy the process.
In a fear state (stress state) it cannot imagine or think beyond what it already knows how to do… it’s n a protection state. Understanding how to create safe spaces really matters for staff and learners.

Looking forward to being part of this event tomorruw Friday)  exploring Adult Learning through the years… and sharing id...
27/11/2025

Looking forward to being part of this event tomorruw Friday) exploring Adult Learning through the years… and sharing ideas and imaginations about possibilities for tte future…
especially for learning experiences that are compassionate, creative and relevant to individuals….

Over the last 125 years Adult Learning has been through many visionary changes … from education for all, to personal growth and fulfilment, then community based learning and recreation, learning for social change, and skills for employability..digital skills etc… …
and now we’re in an era of balancing all of these needs and addressing increasing global needs for environmental care, health and well-being, …
Valuing adult learning beyond the easily measurable outcomes is going to mean widening our understanding of what counts as evidence…
it means appreciation of how creative, brain friendly learning experiences support adults at all levels to move from resistance to ease, from fear to confidence. When we make space for those approaches, everyone benefits. .

Celebrating the everyday 🌟❤️
17/10/2025

Celebrating the everyday 🌟❤️

We had a wonderful day at Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Highland meeting and and catching up on news about  Creat...
04/10/2025

We had a wonderful day at Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Highland meeting and and catching up on news about Creativity In Care … meeting lots of amazing friends.
The exhibition is on at Eden Court until October 24th. Well worth a visit. Up in the circle gallery spaces… xx

We had a fabulous time with everyone involved at St Olaf Care Home and CrossReach Whinnieknowe Care Home for the Nairn B...
02/10/2025

We had a fabulous time with everyone involved at St Olaf Care Home and CrossReach Whinnieknowe Care Home for the Nairn Book and Arts Festival .. Thank you xx

Our last workshop was yesterday through  Nairn Book and Arts Festival . We loved working with the wonderful people at St...
04/09/2025

Our last workshop was yesterday through Nairn Book and Arts Festival . We loved working with the wonderful people at St Olaf Care Home . A great way to end!! Look at these stunning fabric collages. Spot the kite-surfer, the fabulous boats and various skies. There was a lot of chatter and buzz as people created their artworks, making lots of design decisions. The work was based on artist Paul Klee's love of colour. People described the session as enjoyable and therapeutic. Thank you to Elena who ensured people were supported to attend, and to everyone involved at the book and art festival. There are still many more festival events to attend... check out their website and face book page www.nairnfestival.co.uk

Fabulous sea-themed artwork created today by people at CrossReach Whinnieknowe Care Home as part of   … work inspired by...
02/09/2025

Fabulous sea-themed artwork created today by people at CrossReach Whinnieknowe Care Home as part of
… work inspired by Paul Klee’s vibrant colour artworks. Fabric and Paper collages made in an environment of happy chatter. Images are just some of the 26 artworks made today.
Check out the festival website for all the events!

Note: Online sessions for staff and caregivers become available in 2026 based on my books. (The current workshops are our final in person workshops as moving into full time author /speaker etc with some digital sessions.)

Meanwhile keep an eye out for Creativity In Care whose fabulous artists are currently working towards the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Highland

I love this program!! The Art of Possibility (Trauma Trust and Transformation)  Do get in touch if your are interested. ...
24/07/2024

I love this program!!
The Art of Possibility (Trauma Trust and Transformation) Do get in touch if your are interested. It starts August 21st (Wednesday (6:pm BST) online.

Whether this is your first or second time participating, the process remains consistent. The wellness focused program helps you clarify how trauma has impacted your life and focuses on what you can influence for inner peace and possibility.

Trauma can arise from numerous causes and is more common than many realize. It can be isolating, significantly affecting health and wellbeing. Trauma might result from a single event or a series of events, occurring long ago or recently. What enables someone to endure and find peace amidst pain and danger? How do individuals find a sense of possibility when life is challenging?

The Art of Possibility is a 9-week online evening program, followed by additional sessions, designed for women who have experienced trauma or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). This may stem from long-term stress, bullying, bereavement, abuse, illness, deception, scapegoating, poverty, or betrayal. The program aims to help women explore the very real possibilities for post-traumatic growth.

When you join this small group program, you are not required to name your traumas or share your story in detail. You only need to be ready to explore ways to strengthen your best qualities with sensitivity and self-kindness, without pressure to change anything.

“This was a very safe and very nurturing space. I was surprised that I did not have to talk about the trauma, because most other therapies demand it, which can be hard. This was so gentle. I loved the gentle, generous patience. It gave me time to feel my way along in my own way. The course showed me how strong I am. I feel much stronger. I’ve made a lot of changes in my life.”

“These sessions were so informative and full of wisdom and intuition from everyone there. It was beautifully put together. Learning about my point of power was very useful. I’ve retained that information because once you know this you can’t unknow it, although I sometimes have to remind myself. It’s not a passive course. You have to do ‘the inner work’ but you don’t have to do it publicly. This course changed how I handle things. I’m more confident.”

“There was a camaraderie that meant a lot to this group. We didn’t know about each other’s situations, but we learned to see one another’s strengths and that changed how I saw myself. I felt I was being given a great big warm hug every week. There were some great techniques for releasing stress and I still use these one year later. My wellbeing has improved significantly”.

Get in touch and I'll send more information.

You are invited to this celebratory event looking at The Past, Present and Future of Rural Health. I am looking forward ...
30/05/2024

You are invited to this celebratory event looking at The Past, Present and Future of Rural Health. I am looking forward to sharing a few ideas or approaches about the FUTURE of health & care gathered over several years with Creativity In Care and Laughing Geese along with a daring sense of possibilities.
You will hear more about stories gathered by researchers at UHI Inverness and Health Research for Scotland - and be able to share your ideas about health and care in the future. Enjoy art that represents these conversations created with Inverness Openarts: Information Page. If you have a mind and a body, or if you care for somebody, this is relevant to you. This event takes place on Wednesday June 5th 12pm-3pm at The WASPS art studio at Midmills Bldg, Stephen's St, Inverness IV2 3JP

A good start for the three detectives in finding out what sort of records exists about the history of learning disabilit...
16/04/2024

A good start for the three detectives in finding out what sort of records exists about the history of learning disability in Highland care and community settings. This follows on from research I did in the early 2000's about people's lived experiences. Hopefully this will become part of a larger project... gentle steps with Necile the compassionate puppet helping out. ❤️ John David Gallon

Loved what Lewis Howes said about perfectionism being a distraction disguised as intent. It's something we discuss on TT...
25/01/2024

Loved what Lewis Howes said about perfectionism being a distraction disguised as intent.

It's something we discuss on TTT, because it is often a trauma-driven response. Sometimes part of a running away reaction (flight), but it can also come out of 'not feeling good enough'. Perfectionism can also be due to embedded trauma responses from situations where making a mistake was severely punished.

Self-compassion is part of the remedy for all these aspects. Allowing yourself to make mistakes is such a gift.

So, having made many mistakes with my printing choices and typos, I have surrendered to being perfectly imperfect and focusing on the love that I have for the work that I do, even though its not the glossy handbook I had imagined. And breathe.

Introduction to Trauma Trust and Transformation (for women, including women with unpaid caring roles)  - This is a gentl...
19/10/2023

Introduction to Trauma Trust and Transformation (for women, including women with unpaid caring roles) - This is a gentle online programme focused on post traumatic growth. It does require inner work, so it's not a passive course. Begins Thursday evenings Nov 23rd, 30th, Dec 5th, followed by dates in Jan and Feb.

Trauma happens for a wide range of reasons such as sudden bereavement, loss of employment, abuse, scapegoating, relationship breakdown, poverty, deception, continuous stress, betrayal etc.

Working within a confidential and wellness focused approach, this 12-week programme helps to understand the power of self-preservation responses and trauma-led reactions; and to gain confidence in post-traumatic growth and wellness through self-compassion and intuitive boundaries. It's important to note that you do not have to share your story.

Feedback from previous programs:

“I highly recommend it … I can see how far I’ve come. I had been stuck in trauma for many years and now I can breathe again.”

“The group was an absolute gamechanger because I could not see how my own trauma was pushing me around, shaping my thoughts and behaviour and ultimately ruling my life. I learned to see myself … TTT was calm, supportive and nurturing.”

“It was beautifully put together. Learning about my point of power was very useful…. I’m more confident.”

“This helped me feel more balanced, so I wasn’t so stuck in the trauma…It’s helped me understand - and believe - and see - possibilities for change.”

Address

Morrich House, Davidson Drive
Invergordon
IV180SA

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