Conference Talks
Claire has spoken as a keynote speaker at conferences and workplaces in New Zealand, Scotland, England, and Ireland. She is a speech and language therapist (SLT), working predominantly with adults with neurological conditions, specialising in traumatic brain injury with challenging behaviours and social skills impairments. She also has personal experience in creative writing, comedy, and storytelling.
Cognitive-communication disorders in neurological conditions
This talk presents on the often covert challenges, people with neurological disorders can have with interpersonal interactions. She uses TV comedy clips to mirror some of the conditions people may have, combining these stories with real-life experiences from clinical practice. She shares practical ways to interact with clients to support their communication to achieve more effective interactions.
New Narratives
Claire humorously presents on the benefits of therapeutic storytelling in healthcare. Therapeutic Narrative Techniques (TNT) is an approach which can be used in all areas of physical and mental health, and in counselling and coaching practice. Narrative Medicine is a similar term used by the medical faculty in north America.
TNT is a way to reframe unhelpful emotions to a traumatic event such as a car accident, an illness diagnosis, or an unwanted change in personal circumstances.
Bringing together the latest academic research in this field, with the ancient art of indigenous cultural storytelling strategies, this presentation demonstrates how therapy and storytelling combine to support clients to effectively progress from emotionally stuck to emotional freedom.
Say YES to Progress
Claire has facilitated many workshops teaching people improvisation strategies to develop spontaneous conversation skills and confidence in communication. She explores techniques taught in improv games to say YES in the face of uncertainty and accept whatever is offered.
By participating in improv workshops, Claire developed the boldness to undertake a 'Year of Fear', which led to three Years of Fear. During this time, she completed multiple activities which scared her by saying YES to events in the face of uncertainty. This talk demonstrates how the implementation of improv games into everyday life leads to cognitive and emotional shifts, and new creative expression and freedom in several areas of life.
The Improv Surgery workshop subsequently complements this talk.
NGOs and 3rd sector organisations are offered these talks at a reasonable rate to fit their budget. Travel costs would be additional, and video presentations are also available for services further afield.
Corporate talks and conferences are £500 per talk, with travel costs additional.