Navigating Non-Ordinary Experiences

Weathering Storms: Navigating Non-Ordinary Experiences

Navigating Non-Ordinary Experiences supports people experiencing spiritual crisis, experiences commonly described as psychosis and other overwhelming inner experiences.

Non-ordinary experiences can take many forms. They may include hearing voices, unusual perceptions, profound changes in thought or awareness, altered experiences of reality, intense emotional states, spiritual experiences, or experiences commonly described as psychosis.

Experiences like these can be difficult to talk about, particularly when other people struggle to understand them or respond with fear. Weathering Storms provides a space where participants can speak more openly about what they are experiencing and discover that unusual experiences are part of a wider range of human experience. Participants are free to understand their experiences as psychological, spiritual or in whatever way makes sense to them, without having a particular explanation imposed upon them.

Non-ordinary experiences do not necessarily need to become overwhelming. An experience may remain intense or unusual while a person becomes increasingly able to navigate it. Weathering Storms therefore focuses not simply on the nature of the experience itself, but on developing the ability to remain grounded, connected and engaged with everyday life while navigating it.

Through embodied mindfulness practices, participants develop greater awareness of changes in their embodied and emotional state and learn to recognise early signs of increasing activation, distress or overwhelm. Practical grounding and self-regulation skills help strengthen inner stability and create more space for responding to difficult experiences with awareness and choice.

Alongside embodied practice, compassionate listening, shared reflection and co-regulation help participants explore their experiences in a carefully held group environment. As trust develops, simple consensual touch practices may also be introduced, where appropriate, to support grounding, connection and embodied presence. Meeting others who have travelled through unusual or intense states can reduce isolation, normalise experiences that may previously have felt impossible to discuss and create opportunities for learning from one another.

Rooted in lived experience

Weathering Storms has developed from Anthony Fidler's lived experience of navigating profoundly altered states of reality, together with many years of embodied practice and supporting others through similar experiences. This lived experience has helped shape the principles and practices at the heart of the programme.

Weathering Storms respects each participant's right to make their own choices about mental health treatment and support. The programme does not provide medical advice or tell participants what decisions they should make about psychiatric care.

Who is it for?

• People experiencing, or with a history of, significant changes in perception, thought, awareness or their experience of reality.
• People who hear voices or experience other unusual perceptions.
• People who have experienced spiritual crisis or experiences commonly described as psychosis.
• People experiencing intense emotional or psychological states that can sometimes become difficult to navigate.
• People who wish to develop greater grounding and confidence in navigating non-ordinary experiences, however they understand or describe them.

Course outcomes

• Develop greater awareness of embodied emotional and psychological states and recognise early signs of increasing activation, distress or overwhelm.
• Develop a deeper sense of inner safety, grounding and presence through practical embodied mindfulness practices that support the body's natural capacity for self-regulation.
• Strengthen the capacity to remain grounded and connected while navigating unusual thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions or changes in the experience of reality.
• Explore ways of relating to non-ordinary experiences with greater curiosity, compassion and choice, without requiring a particular interpretation of them.
• Develop practical skills in compassionate listening, human connection and co-regulation, with the opportunity to explore simple, consensual touch practices that support grounding and embodied presence when appropriate.
• Recognise personal vulnerabilities, strengths and resources, and develop sustainable practices that support ongoing resilience and engagement with everyday life.

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.

Contact us to register your interest in a future course.