Shifting Course

Weathering Storms: Shifting Course

When our emotional or psychological wellbeing begins moving in a difficult direction, responding early can make a difference.

Shifting Course supports people who are not currently taking psychiatric medication but recognise that their wellbeing is becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

They, their family or people close to them may be concerned that, without change and additional support, the situation could develop into a more serious crisis, potentially leading to psychiatric medication, crisis intervention or hospitalisation.

The programme creates an opportunity to pause, increase the resources around the individual and explore whether a different direction can begin to emerge. It does not promise that medication or hospital care can or should always be avoided. Instead, the focus is on what can safely and realistically be done now to slow a movement towards greater distress and support a healthier direction.

Shifting Course is intended for people who recognise that something needs to change and are willing to take an active role in supporting their own wellbeing. The programme provides a supportive environment, but its purpose is to help participants develop capacities, practices and resources that increasingly become their own.

Through embodied mindfulness, participants learn to recognise changes in their emotional and embodied state, explore what helps them feel safer and more grounded, and develop practical ways of responding when they begin to move away from balance.

Compassionate listening, human connection and co-regulation form another important part of the programme. As trust develops within the group, simple, consensual touch practices are gradually introduced to deepen grounding, embodied presence and co-regulation. Participation in touch is always by choice.

Within this carefully held environment, participants can begin to experience what greater safety, connection and inner stability feel like. The hope is to slow or interrupt a movement towards greater distress, establish a different embodied reference point and begin setting a course towards greater wellbeing. Building lasting resilience takes time, and the programme is intended as the beginning of that process rather than its completion.

Supporting each other

Participants attend with a trusted support person, such as a family member, partner or close friend, who is willing to learn alongside them and provide continuity of support between sessions. Buddies learn ways of listening, communicating and co-regulating that can help create a calmer and more supportive environment around the participant.

The buddy is not expected to become a therapist or take sole responsibility for managing a developing crisis. Instead, the programme strengthens the resources around the participant while helping both people discover practical ways of supporting greater grounding and stability in everyday life.

Continuing beyond the programme

Participants leave with embodied practices, reflections and other resources to continue exploring independently and with their buddy. The intention is for what begins within the programme to be practised and deepened over time, helping participants gradually strengthen their own capacity for self-regulation and resilience.

Follow-up online groups or individual sessions may also be offered, providing opportunities to revisit the practices, reflect on what is changing and receive further support as participants develop greater confidence in using what they have learned in everyday life.

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 who are not currently taking psychiatric medication and whose emotional or psychological wellbeing is becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
• People who are reasonably concerned that, without change and additional support, their situation could develop into a more serious crisis involving psychiatric medication, crisis services or hospitalisation.
• People who recognise that something needs to change and are willing to take an active role in supporting their own wellbeing, including practising between sessions.
• People who have a trusted family member, partner or close friend who is willing to participate as a support person and continue supporting them between sessions.

Course outcomes

• Develop a deeper sense of inner safety, grounding and presence through embodied mindfulness practices that support the body's natural capacity for self-regulation.
• Develop greater awareness of embodied emotional and psychological states and recognise early signs of increasing activation, distress or loss of balance.
• Learn practical ways of responding early when emotional or psychological wellbeing begins moving in a difficult direction, helping to slow escalation and create greater space for choice and change.
• Develop practical skills in compassionate listening, human connection and co-regulation, including simple, consensual touch practices introduced gradually as trust develops, which participants and their support person can continue exploring together between sessions.
• Develop a personal set of embodied practices and resources that can be continued and deepened over time, supporting greater self-regulation and long-term resilience.

Joining the programme

Everyone interested in Shifting Course will be asked to complete an application before joining. An individual introductory session is also available for anyone who would like to discuss their circumstances or explore whether the programme is right for them.

Where someone is already experiencing a more serious or rapidly changing state, an individual introductory session will be required before joining. This provides an opportunity to understand what is happening, consider the support available around the person and decide whether Weathering Storms can safely and appropriately support them at that time.

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.