Not everyone finds it easy to talk. For some, sitting face-to-face and trying to explain the inner world means words vanish before they arrive, sentences falter, and the thing you most need to say stays just out of reach. Something different can happen when a pen hits the page.
Therapeutic writing offers a space where words can land quietly, without interruption. They don’t need to make sense straight away. They don’t need to be pretty or polite. They just need to arrive, and often, they bring more than expected.
These small group sessions use free writing, poetry, and prompts to help people connect with themselves and with one another in a gentle, contained space. Some people come because writing has always been a lifeline. Others are curious, or feeling stuck, or find that talking only takes them so far. All are welcome.
How it Works
Each session opens with a poem or a short prompt, chosen to invite honest writing rather than performed writing. There’s time to write freely, without worrying about spelling or structure. Afterwards, those who want to can share with the group. We listen. Sometimes we reflect. The focus is on what emerges when you give yourself permission to write with honesty and curiosity, finding language for the things that matter, and allowing them, carefully, to be seen.
This isn’t a creative writing class. There are no gold stars or grammar checks, and you don’t need to think of yourself as a writer to be here.
An Invitation to Join
If you’ve ever scribbled something in a notebook and felt the tiniest shift inside, you might already know the value of writing. And if you haven’t, you’re warmly invited to find out.
Groups run in blocks, with limited places to keep things contained and supportive. You don’t need to be a writer. You don’t need to share anything unless you want to. You just need to show up with a little courage, a notebook, and a willingness to be surprised by what’s on the page.
If that sounds like something your heart might be ready for, I’d love to hear from you.
Online Writing Groups (via Zoom)
Online groups run over Zoom in small, confidential circles. You’ll need a quiet space, something to write in, and a reliable internet connection. The structure and tone are the same as in-person groups, with room for writing, sharing, and reflection from wherever you are.
In-Person Writing Groups (Bromley, South East London)
In-person groups meet in my private psychotherapy office in Bromley, South East London. The space is calm and comfortable. There’s tea, quiet, and enough room for pens, paper, and presence. Writing together in person brings a quality of connection that many people find grounding.
Bringing Writing Spaces to You
I also offer therapeutic writing groups for organisations, charities, festivals, and other settings where this kind of space might be useful. Whether it’s a community centre, a workplace wellbeing programme, or a room full of people who’ve been through a lot and could use a notebook and some quiet, I’m happy to come to you. Get in touch via the contact page, there’s no automatic mailing list, and no glitter pens unless specifically requested.
Groups run in blocks with limited places. If you’d like to know about upcoming dates, availability, or costs, get in touch at samanthamerry.co.uk/contacts and I’ll send you the current details.
Resources worth exploring:
- Writing for Resilience by Charmaine Pollard, a practically grounded guide to using writing as a tool for recovery and self-understanding
- The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes, on the relationship between vulnerability and honest writing, useful for anyone who finds the blank page frightening
- Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg, the most widely read guide to free writing practice, direct and unsentimental about what writing for truth actually requires
- Lapidus International (lapidus.org.uk), the UK organisation for writing and wellbeing, with a directory of practitioners and information about the field
Samantha Merry is a BACP Senior Accredited Psychotherapist in private practice in Bromley, South East London, and a doctoral researcher at the University of Chester. She has a specialist interest in therapeutic writing and facilitates community-based writing groups online and in person.