with Eileen Naseby & Suzanne Naseby

Most of the facts and events of our lives are merely the framework within which our real living gets done. In order to tell an authentic life story we have to go beyond the periphery and find the realities that have actually shaped the core of who we are. Sometimes the truth we discover can be quite unpalatable, but it is also what makes it the most compelling reading. A serious examination of our lives will reveal all these complexities as well as a multiplicity of unique stories.

In order to be able to share our experiences we need to understand how the specific threads of our family history have contributed to our own particular story.

In the morning sessions we will be working in small groups. With methods such as the genogram, which is used in Family of Origin Therapy, Suzanne will show you how to pinpoint the influential ‘characters’ and ‘events’ in your family history.

In the afternoon sessions Eileen will demonstrate how to tell your life story in an interesting way using creative writing techniques and exercises.

At the end of the workshop you will have the beginnings of a structure and some short pieces of writing inspired by recovered memories and your own creativity. This workshop is suitable those who have just begun their memoir, as well as those who are at a more advanced stage.

About Eileen and Suzanne
Eileen and Suzanne are a mother and daughter team who bring both a personal perspective of interpreting family history as well as professional experience.

Eileen is the author of Ursula: A Voyage of Love and Drama, an exquisitely written book about her own mother, a difficult but resilient woman who lived through extraordinary times. Eileen has received several fellowships to Varuna - The Writers' House in the Blue Mountains of NSW, and is now at work on a novel.

Suzanne has been running workshops since 2001. She is a psychotherapist who offers an holistic approach to therapy with an emphasis on creativity, sacredness and human spirit-uality and an interest in family of origin transpersonal work. www.spiritbeing.com.au

"It was a workshop like no other I've attended before - raw, revealing, and well worth it."  - Helen, Sydney

"I had no idea I could write like that, the emotions that were present on the page truly surprised me."
- Katrena, Sydney

Six-week course
Continue your work from the weekend workshop in a series of 6 evening classes. These classes allow a deeper exploration of multigenerational family patterns and 'characters'' motivations, plus more time to develop your own creative writing style.