Weathering Storms: Navigating Medication Change
An embodied mindfulness programme for people considering or navigating changes in antidepressants, antipsychotics or other mental health medications.
HeartTouch workshop in London
Changes in mental health medication can sometimes be accompanied by periods of emotional, psychological or physical difficulty.
Weathering Storms offers a practical embodied mindfulness approach to help people develop greater resilience, inner safety, presence and embodiment, alongside practical resources for self-regulation when difficult experiences or emotional storms arise.
The programme does not have a particular medication outcome in mind. Some people may already be changing or gradually reducing their medication, while others may simply be interested in developing greater capacity and resources before considering a change at some point in the future.
Wherever possible, participants attend with a buddy. This might be a partner, parent, family member or close friend. In some circumstances, two people with their own experience of mental health medication may choose to support one another. Buddies participate in the programme alongside the person they are supporting, learning embodied mindfulness, listening, compassionate presence, co-regulation and simple consensual touch practices that can be continued together between sessions.
Through embodied mindfulness practices, compassionate human connection, gentle touch and group reflection, participants develop greater awareness of their embodied state and learn practical ways to support the body's natural capacity for self-regulation. The intention is not to prevent difficult experiences from arising, but to develop greater capacity and resources for meeting them when they do.
Weathering Storms does not provide medical advice or advise participants whether to start, stop, reduce or change medication. Decisions about medication, including the timing and process of any change, remain with the individual and the healthcare professionals supporting them. The programme focuses instead on developing the embodied, emotional and relational resources that can support people through periods of change and uncertainty.
The programme will be offered as an in-person afternoon course in London and as an online evening course. Participants from both courses will also have the opportunity to attend a shared in-person weekend in London midway through the programme, providing more time to explore the practices in depth before returning to their regular sessions to continue practising and integrating what they have learned.
Who is it for?
- Adults aged 18 and over who are taking antidepressants, antipsychotics or other mental health medications and would like to develop greater resilience, inner safety and capacity for self-regulation.
- People who may be considering a medication change at some point in the future and would like to develop greater resources beforehand.
- People who are already gradually reducing, changing or adjusting their medication.
- Partners, parents, family members and close friends who would like to learn alongside someone they support.
- People with their own experience of mental health medication who, where appropriate, would like to attend and support one another as buddies.
Course outcomes
- Develop greater embodied awareness and recognise early signs of increasing activation or overwhelm.
- Develop a deeper sense of inner safety, grounding and emotional resilience.
- Learn practical embodied mindfulness practices to support self-regulation and remain present during periods of difficulty or change.
- Develop skills in compassionate listening, co-regulation and consensual touch to support connection with others.
- Develop practical ways for participants and their buddies to support one another and continue practising between sessions.
Upcoming courses
HeartTouch Wellbeing CIC offers this programme through online and in-person courses. Details of upcoming courses will be listed here as they become available.
There are currently no courses scheduled. You are welcome to register your interest, and we will let you know when new dates are announced.
Contact us to register your interest in a future course.
For organisations
This programme can also be delivered for charities, community groups, healthcare providers and other organisations. Workshops and courses can be adapted to meet the needs of your organisation and the people you support.
Contact us to start a conversation about bringing this programme to your organisation.