Silence Speaks

27/10/2025

🗣️ Speaker Announcement

With a busy October coming to an end, November is already beginning to take shape, starting with being welcomed along to SPARKS Connect, hosted by Louise Blackburn, as the group's Guest Speaker.

SPARKS Connect is a micro-networking group, that you can attend during a lunch break, with Bradley's Coffee providing a perfect spot to fill up. Get fed, meet new people, & support other businesses as they support you. Less overwhelm, less noise, great for those that find larger networking events overstimulating.

Louise has given Silence Speaks permission to discuss anything that we would like to during our visit, so the presentation this month will be based around Imposter Syndrome. This is a topic that I hear mentioned quite a lot when speaking to other business owners that look cool & calm on the outside, but struggle internally to feel secure & safe in their own ability.

So what will we be covering during the talk?

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 & 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞

💡 What are the mechanisms of Imposter Syndrome?

🧠 If these mechanisms act in a way that form maladaptive psychological patterns, can we challenge these patterns? Or do we even need to?

🧱 Is it possible to deconstruct Imposter Syndrome & reassemble it in a way that replaces anxiety & self doubt with motivation & reassurance?

There are only 2 spaces left to be a part of November's group, with 8 other businesses already having booked their space. If you would like to join us you can book in here 👉 https://calendly.com/louise-ambercouch/sparks-in-person-clone

Will you be joining us? If so, pop a thumbs up or a comment down below 👇

💛

26/10/2025

Well what can I say, what an unbelievable experience that was 💛

No Man's Land has come to an end at both theatres. The audiences have left, the set has been packed away, but I have a feeling that the effects of this play will be felt for some time, as the story is retold from one person to another.

Silence Speaks were brought in to provide wellbeing support throughout, as the play touched upon domestic violence, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, paedophilia, childhood trauma, & so many other challenging areas within a one hour one man show. South Wales Life said in their review that "𝒊𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌", which led to some deeply interesting conversations afterwards.

As the audience weren't told what to think, many weren't sure how to name the feelings that stayed with them when the lights went out. What they seen was harrowing, distressing, uncomfortable, leading to deep compassion & empathy for Lewis. As each scene played out, & Lew began to make sense of his trauma, the arc of the play moved beautifully from portraying a victim of suppressed trauma, to a survivor that confronts the past in the present, with the courage that he finds at the depths of his vulnerability.

The intense performance left those that didn't previously understand trauma enlightened, & those that had experienced similar experiences less alone. To be given the chance after each show to hold a space to have such conversations was a privilege, & I would like to thank each audience member that came over to speak with us before leaving the theatre.

Thank you to the wonderful Maggie Cee for supplying our stand with Su***de Prevention leaflets from the Co-Alc alliance & for coming along to each theatre with Esther Nagle 🫶

Thanks also goes out to Fidgetiers for supplying us with sensory tools to support audience members with after each show, these were hugely supportive with regards to overwhelm & de-stimulation.

Both Sherman Theatre & Theatr Y Parc a’r Dâr, Treorci / Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy were exceptional with how accommodating they were during every show & we thoroughly enjoyed working with every member of each theatre.

Lastly, thank you & beyond that, congratulations to Kyle Stead Creative for producing a one man masterpiece & for including us as the play moved into production, from script writing, through to audience support.

No Man's Land brought audiences to places where not many shows have dared to go, but with each theme that it explored, it made sure to bring them back & ground them in the present. We're thrilled that tickets exceeded expectations & that there were so many sold out shows along the way, & we hope that the set is put to good use again sometime soon 🪖

23/10/2025

We're all set up & ready to go again at Theatr Y Parc a’r Dâr, Treorci / Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy for another SOLD OUT performance of No Man's Land 🪖

"𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡, 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Bethan England

We are proud to have been part of the creative team for this unbelievable one man performance. It's been a privilege to have been given the opportunity to engage in many difficult, but sometimes necessary conversations, over the past 4 weeks with the audience & production team.

With only 2 shows left to go & not many tickets left to buy, there couldn't be a better time to book a seat & join us over the next 2 nights.

🎟Park & Dare 23-25 October 👉 https://www.rct-theatres.co.uk/event/no-mans-land

20/10/2025

With just a little over 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 we have a wonderful announcement to make to start this week.

Earlier this year, in June, Silence Speaks became a founding member of the 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤, a community that now hosts over 100 members from various businesses, services & organisations from across Wales. The group has grown from strength to strength in the months since, with speakers & members showing up with knowledge, authenticity, & courage, to create an environment where lived, professional, & academic experience meet.

The need to bring everyone together to network, share resources, & signpost has been evident, & the demand for such a group has grown as the network has increased its reputation & reach. For these reasons, & many others, the MHWN is now expanding to Northern Ireland, with a Launch Event hosted by Geraldine McGrath taking place at The Stormont Hotel, Belfast, on November 21st. We are both thrilled, & humbled, to announce that we will be expanding our own reach by attending this event in full support of the network's aims & ambitions.

If you are -

🧠 An academic that is interested in networking with services that can provide research opportunities for your students.
👔 A business that is interested in supporting their workforces wellbeing.
💬 A Mental Health First Aider that wishes to increase their understanding.
🛋 A counsellor, coach, or therapist, that would like to expand their network & reach.
🫂 A service or organisation that would benefit from support from like minded professionals.
👉 A charity that could benefit from a room full of resources to signpost & refer on to.

Then please consider joining the 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 in 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟 or 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭, by following the links in the comments below 👇 We look forward to seeing you there 💛

15/10/2025

We're all set up & ready to go as Audience Wellbeing Support for tonight's SOLD OUT performance of No Man's Land at the Sherman Theatre.

With 100 guests expected it's sure to be an emotional evening as the play explores the trials, tribulations & traumas experienced by Lewis, a young lad from RCT that's desperate to discover what it means to 'man up' as we dive into a trauma-induced dystopia, that only exists in Lewis' mind.

"𝑰𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚. 𝑴𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒕"

Tickets are running low for most performances, but you can still get involved this week or next by booking up the remaining seats at each theatre.

🎟Sherman Theatre 14-18 October 👉
https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/event/no-mans-land

🎟Park & Dare 23-25 October 👉 https://www.rct-theatres.co.uk/event/no-mans-land

10/10/2025

Today is 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🌍

A good moment to pause and rethink what mental health actually means. Our most recent blog breaks down mental health facts from the myths, offers practical self‑care and grounding tools, and points readers to UK‑wide resources if they need support 🌱

If you work with people, care for someone, or just want clearer, kinder language around mental wellbeing, this is for you 👉 www.silence-speaks.co.uk/blogs/world-mental-health-day

This World Mental Health Day, learn what mental health really means & what it isn’t, dispel common myths, & find practical self‑care tips & ways to support others. This blog offers simple grounding & routine strategies, guidance for helping someone safely, UK‑wide s

09/10/2025

No Man's Land is almost here 🪖

Following 3 weeks of working alongside the theatre team as Production Wellbeing Officer, we are now preparing for this wonderful play opening in just a few days time when we will be taking on the responsibility of Audience Wellbeing Support.

Tickets are available from Sherman Theatre here 👉 https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/event/no-mans-land/

If you can't make any of the dates available we would hugely appreciate any shares of this unbelievable trailer. If you can make it, we look forward to welcoming you along to the his incredibly inspiring one man show 🎭

22/09/2025

For the next six weeks Silence Speaks will be working alongside Sherman Theatre & Theatr Y Parc a’r Dâr, Treorci / Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy on a project that's being brought to stage at both theatres by Kyle Stead - Video & Audio Production.

We are truly grateful to have been offered the position of Wellbeing Officer, where we will be working with the cast, crew, & audience, to provide wellbeing support during both production & the performance.

To book tickets for either theatre or to find out more about No Man's Land, please see below 👇

𝙉𝙤 𝙈𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙

A new play. A new war.

What happens when the world tells you to man up, but every part of you is fractured?

A gripping new psychological drama that pulls you into the mind of Lewis, a man haunted by a trauma that won't let go. You'll journey with him through the stark reality of the Rhondda Valley and into the chilling dystopia of No Man's Land, the world that only exists in his mind.

A brand-new co-production with Kyle Stead, Sherman Theatre & RCT Theatres, with support from Platfform.

✍Written by the award-winning Rachel Trezise.✍

Don't just watch the story; live it
Tickets available now online and in our box office.
🎟Sherman Theatre 14-18 October 👉
https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/event/no-mans-land
🎟Park & Dare 23-25 October 👉 https://www.rct-theatres.co.uk/event/no-mans-land

16/09/2025

𝐓e𝐬t𝐢m𝐨n𝐢a𝐥 𝐓u𝐞s𝐝a𝐲

We're really grateful to have received a new Testimonial recently from one of our 1:1 Counselling Clients about how their experience has been with Silence Speaks.

Starting your own business can be a really challenging time that creates a great deal of uncertainty, a challenge we can also relate to. Your business can often be an extension of yourself, meaning that it seems rational that only you can solve your problems, seen as its your business. This can create a state of ambivalence & tension, leading to anxiously feeling like you have no place to turn to find a solution to your problem.

We're glad that our client turned to us & that they have now found the right solution to keep moving forward 💛

https://www.silence-speaks.co.uk/counselling

10/09/2025

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆

Today marks an important day in the awareness calendar, a day when there is an aim to & to shift from a culture of silence & stigma, to one of openness & understanding.

As a service that offers 1:1 counselling, we are fully aware of the challenges of discussing such a sensitive, & personal issue. Our clients will often openly discuss their mental health, their challenges, their struggles, but when the big S is mentioned, they are often quick to respond with "nope, no thoughts, never".

The point of asking the question is not to seek an answer, the words responded are almost always the same. The question is asked to see if a shadow enters the room, if the conversation begins to feel heavier, if that glint in the clients eye subtly moves to a momentary glimpse of lostness. If the rehearsed responses of "No I've never felt hopeless" or "I'm definitely a 0 on that scale", are masking thoughts & feelings that don't need words to communicate with the world. We've come a long way in removing the stigma surrounding su***de, but we've yet to find a language.

On this World Su***de Prevention Day we are proud to announce the launch of Silence Speaks Up, where we will be sharing talks, workshops, & a podcast (coming soon), that discuss the most challenging aspects of taking care of our mental health & wellbeing. The purpose of the channel will be to encourage those that fall into stigmatised categories to speak up about about their struggles, while providing those that are there to listen with an insight into what that person may be thinking, feeling, or experiencing.

How do we plan to do that? We recently gave a talk titled "What If Nowhere Felt Safe?", where we discussed su***de ideation, being bereaved by su***de, depression, PTSD, drug addiction, ACE's, complex childhood trauma, & other issues, from a perspective of both professional, & lived experience. We are now scheduling many more opportunities to host more conversations, that discuss the complexity of the challenges that contribute toward the 7000+ lives lost to su***de in the UK each year.

We are not claiming to be the experts in su***de, like others we are still trying to find the words to develop a way to communicate the sometimes indescribable thoughts & feelings. But we do aim to contribute what we can to & show others that it is ok to struggle to find the words to describe how you sometimes feel or think. We see you, we hear you, & we are here to provide a space where Silence Speaks Up, so hopefully you can too.

Thank you to Kyle Stead - Video & Audio Production for the incredible support her has shown in recording & editing this talk 🤝
Thank you also to Ajuda Training for creating a space with The Mental Health & Wellbeing Network to have such conversation's & for allowing us to speak to the group 💛
Thank you also to Startup Stiwdio Sefydlu for providing us with a space to grow our services & for supporting us every step of the way 🌟

You can find everything to do with Silence Speaks Up in one place here - https://www.silence-speaks.co.uk/silencespeaksup

To watch "What If Nowhere Felt Safe?" click here - https://youtu.be/Ft1e4n0_ycU

01/09/2025

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 is currently fully booked & we will unfortunately not be taking on any further clients until 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 2025.

We have a list available of plenty of other services that we can sign post you to, so please feel free to get in touch if you require someone to speak to immediately & we can recommend a registered counsellor or therapist to get in touch with.

If you would like to join our waiting list so that we can contact you in 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 2025 to book in for a free consultation, then please register through the following link & we will be in touch soon - https://www.silence-speaks.co.uk/counselling

Thank you for your ongoing support 💛

19/08/2025

𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭 - 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆?

Now that summer is winding down, & many of us are preparing for the return of school runs, rush hour traffic, & the long stretch toward Christmas, one concern we often hear from clients is: “I’m worried I’ll burn out later in the year.”

It’s a familiar feeling—especially leaving the summer season behind and going into September, when routines reset & responsibilities stack up. Our consistent advice? Don’t wait for burnout to arrive. Learn to spot the signs early, understand the stages, & put simple prevention techniques in place now.

That’s exactly what we explore in this week’s blog:

🧠 The stages of burnout
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
🌱 Prevention techniques tailored to both home & office-based work

If this sounds familiar, or you’re simply curious to understand burnout more deeply, we invite you to take a few minutes to read.

📖 Read the full blog here: https://www.silence-speaks.co.uk/blogs/burnout-stages-symptoms-prevention

Burnout often creeps in quietly, disguised as fatigue, detachment, or overwhelm. This blog explores its subtle signs, root causes, and practical ways to prevent it—whether you work from home or in an office. Small shifts can make a meaningful difference.