Hi! I’m Jen Daffin and I work in Child and Family Psychology in Mental Health for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, in a team called Gwent Community Psychology. I’m a clinical psychologist and I work across Newport. Officially clinical psychologists are trained to work with individuals of different ages with behavioural, emotional, and/or psychological distress, disrupting their everyday lives and well-being. In…
Episode 2: Say it how it is podcast. For our second episode of ‘Say it how it is’, we were joined by Leontay. A G-Expressions member and dance leader, who shared his views and feelings towards the events of the last year surrounding Black Lives Matter. GExpressions being a predominantly black worker led organisation, the issues surrounding the recent events across the…
Episode 1: Say it how it is podcast. With lockdown meaning schools are closed again- we recognise that homeschooling, exams, work loads… and the uncertainty of what lays ahead is something that is on a lot of young people’s minds. Isolation can sometimes feel like you’re doing it on your own, and you’re the only one that feels the way you feel.…
Forming friendships through dance. As professionals, we can recognise that young people in today’s society face multiple pressures, many of which are pushed by expectations, the idea of fitting into a social norm, or mirroring what is around you. The desire to fit into a social group or friendship circle may tempt even us adults to wear a mask in the hope…
Promoting positive physical activity for young people Dance, like any sport, is a valuable way to increase a young person’s level of physical activity, and with that comes many health benefits. Within my dissertation study (The Impact of delivering dance through youth work programmes), I had the opportunity to explore this in more depth and gain a broader vision of the impact…
The purpose of the professional: Promoting Young People’s mental health through creative arts As dance tutors, we have a responsibility and a role to teach and deliver dance activities, and with that come obvious physical health benefits that young people will feel from participating in the activities we provide. However, during my three years of professional study, I have come to realise…
The importance of an open-door policy. Reflecting on my own experiences; Growing up, my own involvement in dance classes was interrupted and often put on hold due to the expectations held by the professionals in my local schools and clubs. Like most dance schools, across the country, they all had criteria that needed to be met. Whether it be of ability or…
An introduction to my dissertation research… A dissertation for any University student, marks the beginning of the end, this was it, the submission that would see me qualify! Three years of building my knowledge and development, all down to this. And to be able to write 10,000 words about one topic and for it to have such importance in my degree, you…
