The value of authentic peer to peer connection is well recognised in almost every industry. In mental health specifically, peer workers have the ability to connect in ways that so-called ‘experts’ and trained professionals cannotin this presentation, leanne will take your teams through the most effective ways to drive peer to peer connection and the incredible results it can deliver.

In our modern society the mind and body are often experienced as separate from one another. The body is thought of as a machine that the mind can somehow ‘control’. The art of embodiment takes the view that our emotional experiences are body centred, and the mind and body are unable to be separated. This presentation will focus on the art of reconnecting with the self, through the body. By reflecting on our embodied selves we can learn to be more intentional and focussed. This presentation will take participants through a number of grounding exercises and techniques to help them reconnect with their embodied selves, and to lead richer and more fulfilling lives and form deeper connections with others and with the environment. 

Discomfort is a part of life, whether it be emotional or physical. However our world is constantly pushing us towards being ‘happy and comfortable’. However this isn’t reality, and so learning to sit with discomfort and grow through the experience is a critical ingredient in living a fulfilling life. Through leanne's research (and lived experience) of ultra-running, in this presentation she provides tips and strategies for ‘enduring’ everyday life and learning to thrive.

The aim of my thesis was to understand and explore the embodied experiences of ultra-runners who had recently experienced an injury. For these athletes, an injury represents a shift in their entire way of being, which is often not considered in the course of medical intervention and treatment. Understanding their embodied experiences has implications for how these athletes respond to treatment and rehabilitation. Using arts based forms of narrative inquiry also sheds light on the limitations of relying solely on verbal narratives, as art provides unique ways of capturing experiences that cannot be accessed by language alone.