Parent Wellbeing Workshops
CREATIVE TOOLS FOR POSITIVE PARENTING
Week One: Parental Burnout
Are you experiencing persistent exhaustion, feeling detached from your children, or questioning your parenting abilities? You might be experiencing parental burnout.
Starting Wednesday, 30th April (Term Time Only)
Parenting is a beautiful journey, but let's face it - it can be challenging! That’s why Parental Wellbeing Coach Gemma Dean and Sima Rahman-Huang, founder of Artist Apothecary, have joined forces to bring you an 8-week series designed to support, inspire, and uplift parents just like you.
These 90-minute workshops are a mix of insightful discussions, creative activities, and practical techniques to help you thrive as a parent—without losing yourself in the process. Whether you want to listen, share, or simply take a break in a welcoming space, this series is for you. Book individual sessions or the full series If you would like to block book and receive 8 workshops for the price of 7 please check the listings for this option. Or you can book them individually and attend the ones you feel you need the most.
Make your wellbeing a priority and connect with like-minded parents in a fun and supportive environment.
We have planned a series of workshops consisting of 8 weeks with a different topic each week concentrating on the wellbeing of parents in addition to the topics you will also take part in a fun art therapy activity.
The dates and topics are as follows:-
Week One: Parental Burnout & Journalling with Art | Wednesday 3oth April – 11:45 to 1:15
Feeling exhausted, disconnected, or irritable? You're not alone! In this session, we’ll explore what parental burnout is, how it differs from everyday stress, and the key signs to look out for.
We’ll dive into why burnout happens—from constant demands to lack of self-care—and, most importantly, how to prevent and recover.
Discover the power of rest, boundaries, and self-compassion, along with simple, practical self-care strategies to help you reset. We will then learn how to do some journaling through and get creative with what we have learnt in the session today!
Week Two: Parental Plate & Emotional Colour Wheel | Wednesday 7th May - 11:45 to 1:15
As parents, we keep adding to our plate—school commitments, work deadlines, family needs—without taking anything off. No wonder we feel overwhelmed! But how do we set boundaries without guilt?
In this session, we’ll explore the Invisible Load of Parenting, why we struggle to say no, and how to create healthy boundaries to protect your time, energy, and well-being.
Remember: "You can’t pour from an empty cup." Join us to start lightening your load, and take a 30-minute break from the mental load with a creative art activity—designing a colour wheel for your journal which will be then used to benefit you in other art therapy activities.
Week Three: The Parental Stress & Feelings Landscape | Wednesday 14th May - 11:45 to 1:15
Parenting stress builds up fast, but understanding how it works can help you break the cycle before burnout hits.
In this session, we’ll explore:
The Parental Stress Cycle – Why stress keeps repeating itself
Fight, Flight & Freeze Mode – How your body reacts to stress
Breaking the Cycle – Simple techniques to release stress through movement, emotional expression, connection, and rest
Then, tap into your creativity with a Feelings Landscape Art Therapy activity—a powerful way to express emotions and find balance.
Week Four: Parental Anxiety & Painting Music | Wednesday 21st May - 11:45 to 1:15
Do you find yourself overthinking, losing sleep, or imagining worst-case scenarios? Anxiety is the body's alarm system, designed to keep us safe—but as parents, it can sometimes go into overdrive.
In this session, we’ll explore:
Anxiety vs. Stress – How they’re different & why parents are prone to persistent worry
The Science of Anxiety – Why our brains jump to worst-case scenarios
Practical Tools to Manage Anxiety – Including the Worry Filter strategy, grounding techniques, and mini-breaks to prevent anxious spirals
The last 30-minutes we break from the mental load with a creative art activity—designed to help you step out of your parenting headspace and reset. For this session we will be using watercolours to paint to the sound of relaxing music used in soundbaths. You will be asked to switch off, empty your mind and just let the paint flow with the music!
Week Five: Why We Shout at Our Kids and How to Stop & Family Tree Collage | Wednesday 4th June - 11:45 to 1:15
Do you find yourself snapping at your kids, your partner, or even yourself? Shouting can feel like a quick release, but it often comes at the cost of connection and trust.
In this session, we’ll explore:
Why We Shout – Understanding why we snap, including emotional triggers, stress, and burnout.
The Science Behind It – How the fight-flight-freeze response leads to emotional reactions like shouting.
The Impact of Shouting – Both short-term relief and long-term consequences on the parent-child relationship.
And offer up some practical Tools to Respond Calmly followed by a 30 min creative art activity—designed to help you step out of your parenting headspace and reset. This will include creating a beautiful collage of our loved ones to remember how loved we are and appreciated, please bring photos and any memorabilia you would like to add.
Week Six: Working Out Our Core Values as Parents & Bridge Drawing | Wednesday 11th June - 11:45 to 1:15
Why core values matter? We will help you dive into the importance of defining your core values as a parent. Your values act as a compass, guiding your decisions, boundaries, and parenting style.
We’ll explore how values shape everyday choices, how to align them with your partner, and how they can help you make tough decisions.
Through a reflective activity, you’ll identify and prioritize your top values, helping you create a more intentional and consistent parenting approach.
We will end our session by drawing and bridge to visualise and recognise obstacles past, present and future and how to overcome them to work towards our core values more successfully as parents.
Week Seven: Your Wants and Needs & Self Portrait | Wednesday 18th June - 11:45 to 1:15
The forgotten self! When was the last time you thought about what you need, beyond being a parent?
We often neglect our own wants and needs. But to be the best parent you can be, it's essential to prioritize your well-being too.
In this session, we’ll explore the difference between wants and needs, how to identify your personal and parenting needs, and why understanding and honouring them is key to avoiding burnout and setting healthy boundaries.
We will also create a self portrait of ourselves and how we see ourselves internally and externally.
Week Eight: Building in Small Habits and How to Stick to Them | Wednesday 25th June - 11:45 to 1:15
This final session is all about you! We want to hear what’s showing up for you as a parent or what areas you need more support with. Whether it's challenges you’re facing, topics you'd like to explore further, or skills you want to develop, this workshop is dedicated to addressing your unique needs. Let us know what’s on your mind, and we’ll work together to make this session meaningful and helpful for you.
We can also end the session with a fun, creative art activity crafting a creation to symbolise and mark our progress.
All will be held in the Annexe at The Good Shepherd Studios, Davies Lane, Leytonstone
Remember:
No Artistic Skill Required: Art therapy is about the process, not the product.
We Create a Safe Space: Allow yourself to express your emotions freely without judgment.
Experiment: There are no rules here. Do what makes you feel comfortable to find what resonates with you.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a great stepping stone of support and self help but If you are dealing with strong emotions, or trauma, consider seeking help from a professional therapist.
Please arrive 5 minutes early so you have time to settle in.
These sessions are run by Artists’ Apothecary and Gemma Dean Life Coach . Our profiles can be find online.
Any questions please do get in touch.