Balm for Burnout, restorative sessions for social workers
Feeling overwhelmed? Looking for a light-touch boost to your wellbeing as a busy social worker? Check out this new online course.
Balm for Burnout is a fresh opportunity for social workers to build emotional resilience through the power of movement. It’s not your average exercise class or resilience workshop—it’s a unique blend of evidence-based positive psychology and simple, accessible movements, designed by dance psychologist Dr Peter Lovatt and former principal ballerina at The Royal Ballet, Dame Darcey Bussell.
This 6-session series offers a chance to connect deeply with like-minded colleagues, explore your emotions, learn practical wellbeing strategies, and energise through easy and fun-to-do dance movements that releases tension.
It’s led by Angela Hill, a registered social worker trained in positive psychology and Movement in Practice. Each session introduces you to a positive psychology concept combined with simple dance movements that reflect the theme of the session. There is an enlivening dance demonstration by Darcey Bussell which helps you use your body and release some of that tension! The movements are specially designed to address wellbeing issues such as stress and tension, social connection and engagement. Each session is designed to help you reflect on the emotional impact of your work and to connect at a deeper level with like-minded professionals.
Here are some testimonials from people who have taken part:
After each session I felt more relaxed but also more energised. I think probably the dance caused the relaxation and the social connection caused the energy
You don't have to be a great dancer to enjoy this. There is no sense of being judged for how you are moving. The dance movements are there to help you to explore and maybe change how you are feeling, give you a light-hearted break from whatever else is going on for you.
It gave me perspective on my worries and helped me to understand emotional wellbeing better
I had time to think of my own mental health and discover how being active really helps me feeling better
Starting on Wednesday 9th April 2025, the sessions are online via Zoom, start at 7pm and last an hour.
You will need a good internet connection because you will see some pre-recorded videos.
Each session costs £10 plus an Eventbrite booking fee.
The programme includes:
Wednesday 9th April 7pm - 8pm Online via Zoom
Reflect and move for hopefulness.
Hope is about expecting the best in the future and working to achieve it. It’s hard when we have multiple challenges to hold onto a sense of hope. In this session we will ask: how do we hold onto a sense of hope? What helps sustain us? We will be trying out simple movements based on the American Hoedown using moves of a working lumberjack to give you the feeling that you are capable and can accomplish. Working and activity are key to self-esteem and self-confidence.
Wednesday 16th April 7pm - 8pm Online via Zoom
Reflect and move to release tension
Stress is generally associated with feelings of being overwhelmed and pressured. It often results in physical symptoms of tension headaches, tiredness and poor sleep patterns, as well as muscular ailments and emotional symptoms of low mood and hopelessness. In this session we will use ‘Rocky’ style boxing movements to help you to tense and release different parts of your body.
Wednesday 23rd April 7pm - 8pm Online via Zoom
Reflect and move for social connection
The quality of your connection to other people is a key indicator of emotional wellbeing. In this session we will look at the concept of high-quality connections and explore our social wellbeing through movement for social connection. This African inspired dance will give you the opportunity to feel part of an activity that others do and to think about social connection.
Wednesday 30th April 7pm - 8pm Online via Zoom
Reflect and move for flow and engagement
In this session we will look at the concept of flow and how it enhances our experience and contributes to our sense of living a meaningful life. This intricate set of Bhangra-style movements requires you to focus on learning the moves, helping you to distance yourself from distracting thoughts by focussing on something completely different.
Wednesday 7th May 7pm - 8pm Online via Zoom
Reflect and move for self-care and self-confidence
When we’re overwhelmed low mood can set in and it’s easy to isolate ourselves and to stop trying new things or avoid things we find challenging. The smooth and wiggly movement in an Arabian style enables you to experience being kind to yourself, take time to think about you and no-one else and safely think about connecting to others.
Wednesday 14th May 7pm - 8pm Online via Zoom
Reflect and move for strength
In this session we will look at feeling strong. What does personal strength mean to you? What helps you through difficult times? We will round off the series with empowering a Japanese-style movements with beautiful traditional music. Strong drumming moves using the whole body will enable you to experience feeling assertive.