Jenny Drew is an author and Preventions Keyworker for B&NES Youth Offending Service. Since obtaining her Advanced Diploma in the Therapeutic Application of the Arts, she has been using comics as a therapeutic storytelling tool with seldom heard young people. Everyday, yet complex, life narratives and themes are explored through text and image, in a way that is accessible and unthreatening. Through understanding this visual language, young people are able to express their own ideas using the comic form. Jenny will share the stages of her experience of using comics to understand her own narratives during the therapeutic process, which she embarked on during her training, and how this led to her keeping 'doodle diaries' to understand areas such as attachment theory and the effects of trauma.
Jenny now uses different collaborative methods to help young people create their own comics about their experiences. Engaging a diverse range of young people, from those who are at risk of offending, to those having been in the care system, or those working with mental health services. Introducing the Comic Participation model, this workshop will explore the various approaches to using comics as a tool to engage young people who find it difficult to trust adults and share their stories with others. The session will explore methods for 'non-therapists' to communicate with others face to face when using this visual language, especially when facing the natural stage of resistance - including: curiosity vs analysis, applying the rules of improv to creative work, and using mindfulness with creativity. Each will include a short practical activity such as drawing games that can be used with anyone of any age.
