Designed by Zsofia (Trainee Psychotherapist), co-facilitated with Alessia (Assistant Psychologist) & Isabel (Psychology Student), inspired by Dawn (Lead Psychotherapist)
On Upping Ward, our focus is on doing things differently. Rather than just discussing teamwork and care in theory, we take active steps to break down barriers. We launched a unique three-week workshop series designed to bring our community closer together, encouraging staff and service users to step away from traditional “us and them” dynamics and foster a genuine culture of “we.”
Co-facilitated on the ward, these weekly sessions challenged old ways of thinking, put collaborative teamwork into practice, and co-created a safer, more compassionate environment. Here is a look back at what we achieved together.
Week 1: Seeing the Person Behind the Diagnosis
We kicked off our series by exploring how we can actively replace clinical stigma with trauma-informed empathy.
To bring this concept to life, staff and service users collaborated on a powerful creative project: a human-sized body scan. Everyone contributed by filling the outline with vibrant colors, drawings, and personal strengths. The goal was simple yet profound: to look past clinical labels and visually celebrate the unique qualities, humanity, and shared traits of every single person on our ward.
Week 2: Busting Myths and Building Towers
Our second week combined shared learning with an interactive team challenge. We started with an educational quiz exploring emotional regulation—looking at how high emotional sensitivity affects us, understanding paths to recovery and wellness, and discussing the biosocial factors that shape our experiences.
We then put this theory into practice with a Spaghetti and Marshmallow Tower Challenge.
The Takeaway:
Building the towers required different styles; some of us naturally wanted to plan, while others wanted to dive straight in. When the structures started to lean or wobble, teams had to pivot from panic to solution-focused communication. It served as a perfect physical metaphor for ward safety and emotional regulation: when things get rocky, staying calm and working as one unified team keeps us standing strong.
Week 3: Our Words, Our World
Our final workshop tackled the profound impact that language has on our daily lives and relationships. Staff and service users worked in mixed groups to design Mutual Communication Leaflets, mapping out a shared roadmap for respectful interaction.
The focus was on transforming language to reduce emotional triggers and lower conflict:
- The Patients’ Perspective: Shifting from institutional language to validating language (e.g., reframing “attention-seeking” to “connection-seeking,” and “manipulative” to “trying to get a need met”).
- The Staff’s Perspective: Navigating ward pressures using clear “I” statements and managing boundaries (e.g., reframing “you don’t care” to “I’m finding it hard to trust the care plan right now”).
Ultimately, both sides revealed that staff and patients are asking for the exact same thing: to be seen, heard, and respected as human beings.
A Contract of Mutual Respect
These workshops proved that the best care happens when we work as a single team. By sharing our perspectives, laughing through team challenges, and intentionally choosing our words, Upping Ward has created a living contract of mutual respect. We look forward to carrying these shared values, human connections, and communication tools forward into every day that follows.