Time to Heal Together

Time to Heal Together Connecting with and empowering others to access emotional healing.

The words of a participant at parkrun yesterday left me musing on the kindness of strangers as well as the moments of un...
27/07/2025

The words of a participant at parkrun yesterday left me musing on the kindness of strangers as well as the moments of unexpected feedback we may receive.

Still recovering from my ultramarathon a couple of weeks ago, I had decided to volunteer instead of run on this occasion. Never having “park walked before”, it was another chance to add to my list of forty new experiences before I’m 40.

As I approached the finish a participant heading home greeted me with, “Thank you, Marshall. I wouldn’t have made it to the end without you.” We exchanged no words during the event itself and I had never met this person so I have no clear idea what it was about my presence or involvement which proved helpful.

The encounter reminded me that often our actions may have a positive effect on others without us realising or knowing. If we are fortunate, as was I, to hear or learn about them, the ripple of positivity goes further and benefits both the giver and receiver.

I had what seemed to me a strange quirk of fate yesterday.A memory popped up on one of my other social media platforms r...
26/07/2025

I had what seemed to me a strange quirk of fate yesterday.

A memory popped up on one of my other social media platforms reminding me that it was six years since the publication of a piece of work my dad spent years writing. It tells, in a little over 500 pages, the story of our ancestry and contains all of his research from as far back as the 18th century, with my grandparents being the central part.

A few hours after this recollection we were out walking in the Cotswolds, only to realise the village in which we found ourselves was featured in his text as the place where one of our ancestors had been arrested for stealing some wood.

This book was only ever intended to have a limited circulation amongst our family so you won’t ever see it in your local bookseller. Nevertheless, and although I confess to being biased, it is one of my favourite books and just another reason I feel very proud of the man I am privileged to call Dad.

Celebrating a family birthday today and this one brings gratitude for the ongoing relationship I enjoy with my brother.I...
25/07/2025

Celebrating a family birthday today and this one brings gratitude for the ongoing relationship I enjoy with my brother.

I’ve become more aware in the past couple of years that I am one of the fortunate ones in the respect that my mum’s death in my teenage years did not lead to rifts or separation within our family due to the weight of grief affecting people in different ways.

I believe our relationship has been strengthened by our now shared enjoyment of running and the hours we spend pounding streets together. Here’s hoping by the time of his next birthday we’ll have ticked off some more of his self-chosen targets.

It brings me a sense of comfort to think that despite my mum not being physically present, she would love to see her children side by side not just on the special days but on all the others we choose to do so too.

A very interesting and enjoyable few hours spent completing this brilliant online learning course.I first heard about th...
24/07/2025

A very interesting and enjoyable few hours spent completing this brilliant online learning course.

I first heard about the Bear Force charity whilst reading “Three Dad’s Walking” back in May. A truly inspiring account of three people determined to make a difference after experiencing the death by su***de of their daughters.

Keen to find out more about Bear Force, mentioned in the above book, I took a look at the website and came across this course. As an educator, Protective Behaviours Specialist Practitioner and Mental Health First Aider, I found it both a helpful refresher of some things I already knew but also guiding my thinking in new directions.

One sentence I felt summed up the course perfectly: “how to foster a culture that empowers a new generation to articulate and verbalise their emotions and in doing so, develop stronger and healthier foundations for future mental health and wellbeing.”

Genuinely feeling inspired to further improve my own practice.

Often in working through difficulties within our lives or those we care about, we can forget to think about all the thin...
23/07/2025

Often in working through difficulties within our lives or those we care about, we can forget to think about all the things we do well or are good at. Rather than focussing on “what’s wrong with you?” it can be more empowering to choose to ask “what’s strong with you?”

This is yet another of my favourite things about Protective Behaviours which is a strengths based approach.

I was recently gifted a set of beautiful cards with the idea being that people choose one or two which they feel could be relatable to them. Although originally intended for children, I believe they are far too lovely to not be used with adults too.

I wonder if any of these resonate with you?

When I first started out as a Drawing and Talking practitioner, I found it hard to describe the process in a simple and ...
22/07/2025

When I first started out as a Drawing and Talking practitioner, I found it hard to describe the process in a simple and straightforward way.

Three and a bit years on, I feel considerably more confident in articulating what it is all about. However, what cannot be conveyed in these few words is just how magical it feels to support others with their mental health and emotional wellbeing in this way as well as the effects it can have not only on those individuals undertaking the work but their families, friends and wider networks too.

On the last day of this academic year I opened up the envelope safely kept in my diary to review how I’d done in the goa...
21/07/2025

On the last day of this academic year I opened up the envelope safely kept in my diary to review how I’d done in the goal achieving stakes.

Like many things, the intention doesn’t always align or match up with what happens in reality and if I were to allow the somewhat harsh, critical voice of my inner chimp to have full rein, they would perhaps gleefully reveal that only 1 out of 3 has been fully achieved.

However, the more rational, logical and calm human voice is the one I choose to focus on as I reflect three goals of this size were a bit ambitious and that number one a lot more complicated than I had given it credit for. So much so, that back in February I needed to did deep and with help from a network person or two find ways to work through the doubts I had as to whether I could or would continue in the role past Easter.

Nevertheless, I did continue and do believe from this viewpoint that not only have I learned about and embraced Middle Leadership but also got a much better grip on the personal, human cost of leadership at this level and what is needed to keep yourself mentally well and healthy as you straddle different levels of the school community. Unintended but very necessary and positive outcomes.

As for the other goals- I’ve adjusted the timescales with number 2 hopefully to be completed by the end of 2025 and 3 with a date already in the diary for the next academic year- exciting times ahead indeed.

Started my Sunday with a peaceful walk on the paths near home. This is the first week in 2025 when I haven’t run a singl...
20/07/2025

Started my Sunday with a peaceful walk on the paths near home. This is the first week in 2025 when I haven’t run a single step whilst recovering from my 40 mile jaunt last Saturday.
I’ve enjoyed the rest and recovery.
A useful reminder that sometimes a break from routine does us good physically and mentally.

Wishing you a great Sunday however it looks for you 🙂

Six years today since I left mainstream teaching feels a good time to pause and reflect.I had made the decision fairly o...
19/07/2025

Six years today since I left mainstream teaching feels a good time to pause and reflect.

I had made the decision fairly on in the 2028/19 year that it would be my last one at this setting due to a number of factors but this did not in any way affect the level of effort or passion I put into my work. It turned out to be the hardest year of my career as I navigated teaching a pupil undergoing treatment for cancer and who sadly died during the summer term. Nevertheless, I showed up each and every day that year despite feeling quite empty inside towards the end.

I was left feeling stunned on my last few days by the amount of cards and gifts I received not only from my current class but some I had taught in previous years. The words in particular meant a huge amount and the one in the photo touched me deeply. I had always believed that feeling safe at school needed to happen before we could focus on the academic side.

Despite Protective Behaviours not being in my life at that point in my career, I like to think that I was in tune with its ethos unknowingly, using some of its approaches without knowing the language to describe and articulate it.

Leaving the mainstream sector felt freeing and empowering for me, and opened up a new sense of passion and purpose where I actually believe that I do make a difference in a number of ways. You can’t put a price on a decision in which a choice to pursue a new direction also has a huge effect on your own sense of wellbeing and purpose.

18/07/2025

Sometimes it’s impossible to foresee a trigger on the horizon until it leaves you feeling blindsided, or in my case crying in the street of a local town.

The source- a very innocent comment from a colleague about not being sure whether I was a hugging type of person. I said I was and we embraced but walking off alone I became aware for the first time properly of the fact that I don’t naturally instigate hugs due to the hole which exists in me as a result of my mum’s death. She was the person who I hugged without question throughout my childhood and that all stopped when I was 15. It feels painful to reflect on all the hugs I’ve missed for the past twenty odd years and whilst still feeling a bit wobbly now, I also feel thankful to have identified this part of me which still needs a little work as I continue to walk this grief path.

Grief can exist for many reasons, one of which being a changes in our life which have no link to death or bereavement.In...
17/07/2025

Grief can exist for many reasons, one of which being a changes in our life which have no link to death or bereavement.

In our last RSHE session this week we considered how an imaginary pupil might feel heading into the holidays. Whilst some will feel excited, others may experience different emotions. I chose to articulate a form of grief, giving myself as an example of someone who feels a bit sad that our time as a class is coming to an end and that we won’t all be together next year.

Many pupils, as well as staff, are likely to feel a variety of different emotions as they prepare for transitions, be they big or small, over the next couple of days or weeks. I believe it’s important to help them understand there is nothing wrong in feeling however they feel and that there is no “normal”, expected response, as well as reinforcing that we can talk with trusted people about our feelings.

In addition, for me opening up space for conversations in which emotions, and ultimately grief, is talked about as a natural part of life is the key to helping people of all ages understand that grief does not need to remain behind closed doors and is a subject we can talk about openly.

Growth- sometimes we need a little help to reach our potential and that’s OK 🙂
15/07/2025

Growth- sometimes we need a little help to reach our potential and that’s OK 🙂

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