Welcome to "Navigating Family Estrangement - Charting a Path to Healing and Emotional Clarity."

"Navigating Family Estrangement - Charting a Path to Healing and Emotional Clarity."

As Christmas approaches, the season’s emphasis on family togetherness can feel isolating for those experiencing family estrangement. The societal pressures and expectations surrounding family harmony at this time of year can deepen the pain for those whose family relationships are strained or broken. Our event on December 8th offers a compassionate space to explore this complex experience and discover tools for resilience, healing, and self-care.

Join us for an afternoon led by experts and practitioners who understand the struggles of estrangement and are dedicated to fostering connection, acceptance, and personal growth.

Lucy Blake, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, brings her deep expertise and research on family estrangement to our event. After completing her PhD at Cambridge's Centre for Family Research, Lucy has become a trusted voice on this subject, with her insights featured in The Guardian, BBC, and The New York Times. Her book, No Family is Perfect: A Guide to Embracing the Messy Reality, challenges the societal ideals of "perfect families" and encourages a more realistic, compassionate view of family dynamics.

Lucy will share her research and insights into family estrangement, discussing why this experience is more common than many realize and how we can shift the narrative from shame and isolation to self-compassion and empowerment.

In addition to Lucy's talk, our event offers practical, healing-focused workshops led by experienced practitioners:

• Jess Parkinson – Journaling Workshop: Uncover the power of writing as a way to process emotions, reflect, and heal. Jess will guide participants through techniques to use journaling as a tool for understanding and growth during challenging times.

• Manuela – Qi Gong Session: Experience gentle, grounding Qi Gong practices that help release tension, calm the mind, and restore balance. This ancient Chinese movement practice promotes emotional and physical resilience, helping you to navigate the holidays with more ease.

• Ellie – Somatic Healing Exercises: Tap into the body’s wisdom with somatic healing techniques designed to release stored stress and foster a sense of safety and self-connection.

This event is open to anyone affected by family estrangement—whether it's recent, long-standing, or complicated by the added pressures of the holiday season. Friends, allies, and those who support loved ones experiencing estrangement are also welcome.

Join us for an afternoon of meaningful conversations, supportive community, and tools to help you navigate this season with greater peace and compassion.

Reserve Your Spot

Event Date: Sunday 8th December 2024 

Location: Online (Zoom link will be sent after registration)

Time: 4 pm – 6 pm GMT

Dr Lucy Blake is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, UK. After completing her PhD at the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, Lucy has published over forty peer-reviewed journal articles. Her book, No Family is Perfect: A Guide to Embracing the Messy Reality, was published in 2022.

Lucy’s research on family estrangement has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Guardian, the BBC, and The New York Times. Her collaboration with the charity Stand Alone has reached an estimated audience of 9 million viewers. Through her work, Lucy aims to positively influence the conversations we have about family, advocating for a shift from idealised notions of perfect families to understanding families as they truly are.

For more information, visit www.drlucyblake.com or follow her on Instagram or twitter @drlucyblake

Ellie Foden is a dedicated yoga and mindfulness meditation teacher with nine years of experience teaching all over the world. She has taken numerous trips to study under great yogic masters in India and is passionate about passing on ancient wisdom in a way that elevates modern life. Her motto is: instead of waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel, become the light itself.

Her training includes 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (which qualifies for the teaching of Ashtanga & Hatha yoga, Meditation, Vedic Chanting and Pranayama/Breathwork), Ayurvedic Yoga Massage Levels 1, 2 &3, and Trauma-Informed yoga. She is a registered yoga & meditation teacher with the Yoga Alliance UK, and a registered massage teacher with the Complimentary Therapists Association (CThA). She also has degrees in Art & Design and Fashion Design.

Jess Parkinson is trained in and teaches hatha, vinyasa flow, yin and pre and post-natal yoga as well as leading one to one private sessions. She is also an intrinsic biomechanics coach™ and personal trainer working with a broad range of clients structuring sessions to their specific goals and needs. She is also a registered Oxygen Advantage instructor working with groups and individuals to help optimise their well-being through functional breath-work coaching.

Jess is the current holistic master trainer at Gymbox across all 12 of their London based clubs.

Jess is constantly influenced and her business has been inspired by her career in the creative industries, specifically musical theatre. Jess spent 2 years in the hit musical “School of Rock” on the West End as well as singing the musical theatre finale for Jack Whitehall’s Netflix special “Jack Whitehall: At Large”

Manuela Roche discovered qigong during the first lockdown. Manuela has a dance and fitness background but started to struggle with joint, back pain in recent years. She instantly fell in love with qigong, and by practising these beautiful ancient techniques, the pains eased, and the weight came off. So she decided to become an instructor herself.

"Qigong is one of the most unique practices where you feel invigorated yet relaxed throughout your entire body"