I design and facilitate creative workshops tailored to your group — whether that’s a community organisation, a team, or people brought together around a shared experience or interest.
Sessions use drawing, painting, making with found materials, writing, movement and pause — a range of invitations so everyone can find their own way in. The focus might be creative expression for its own sake, or it might be using making as a way to explore what’s happening in the group: how people connect, what goes unsaid, what becomes possible when you slow down together.
I work improvisationally — I’ll come with a plan, but I pay close attention to what’s actually happening in the room and adapt as we go. Sessions are playful and experimental, with lots of choice about how people take part. I particularly love working outdoors when that’s possible — walks are often part of what I offer, as a way of slowing down, noticing, and connecting to the natural world before or alongside making something.
My approach is informed by Nonviolent Communication, polyvagal theory, improvisation, outsider art, and group dynamics. I’m a qualified Forest School Leader, which shapes how I think about environment, pace, and what people need to feel at ease.
This kind of session works well for teams who want to connect differently, organisations supporting people’s wellbeing, and community groups who want a gentle creative experience that goes a little deeper.
What people have said:
“Collaborating with Jo exceeded my expectations. She helped take our clients on a transformative journey with her thoughtful facilitation style and playful art techniques. Jo also documented poignant ideas and feelings that arose, with unique sketches made in the moment.” – co-facilitator for workshop exploring inner saboteurs
“Jo is highly personable, warm, engaging, highly creative, encouraging, and inspiring. Jo manages to bring people gently on a journey of creative discovery in the workshops I have been on with her.” — Chair of a local wildlife and conservation group
“I have absolute trust in your ability to tune in to a group and gently speak to the things that are going on between them/us. You have power in your observational skill set to help a group understand and navigate their interpersonal / unspoken friction in a helpful way.” — Megan Taylor, Managing Director, RISE Beyond
Interested in a workshop for your group? Get in touch at jo@misswoodforthetrees.com and we can have a chat about what might work.
Who I’ve worked with
