The Joy Conference, 26th October 2019, Bristol

The Joy Conference - 'update your prescription for joy' This innovative & interactive wellbeing conference gives you lots of practical takeaways, and helps you update your own prescription for joy.

Dr Duncan Still
Holistic Doctor and Education Lead for the National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM) talks about his 'Update your prescription for joy' session at the Joy Conference.

Dr Gulcan Garip
of derby.ac.uk, co-creator of the new mental health, self-created, smartphone #Laughie, outlines her talk about its benefits and how she will assess its similarities & differences with laughter yoga.

Kate Hull Rodgers
of http://www.steppingstonetheatre.co.uk/ talks about her session at the Joy Conference. Kate has made the transition from mental institution to award-winning comedienne - through joy practices. Read her story in the blog (whose title is 'borrowed' from Kate) 'Joy: things that sustain our desire to be alive' http://bit.ly/2jY5rUj

THE  SPEAKERS

Read about the fantastic line-up here

Professor Trevor Thompson

Our MC for the day, Professor Trevor Thompson.
'Reared in Belfast, I studied in Oxford and London from where I graduated with a degree of uncertainty about the completeness of the "biomedical" model. After finishing my vocational training in General Practice I went to work at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital and in 1998 fluked a prestigious academic fellowship in the University of Glasgow. I came to Bristol in 2000 and worked as a prison doctor before taking up a post as Clinical Lecturer. My first love is clinical medicine but I also enjoy the intellectual challenge of research and the communication of ideas as a lecturer. As an educationalist my motto is “learning is fun”.'

Dr Elizabeth Thompson

Dr Elizabeth Thompson (MBBS, MRCP(UK), FFHom, DM(Oxon)
Dr Elizabeth Thompson is a Holistic Doctor and CEO of the new National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM), a Community Interest Company in Bristol. She trained in medicine at Oxford University and Guy’s Hospital and then trained as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine in Leeds and Glasgow and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Homeopathy and Council Member for the College of Medicine. She holds a vision for a health service which creates health and resilience and reduces dependency on drugs and surgical interventions. Empowering people to self care and connecting to communities and nature via a social prescribing model, whether through food or green spaces is a key part of that vision. NCIM aims to provide and connect with, a diverse range of holistic, conventional and lifestyle services with education and research to inspire health and wellbeing and to create a wellness model to transform healthcare in the 21st century.

Dr Madan Kataria

Dr Madan Kataria is the Founder laughter yoga, President of Laughter Yoga International.

Dr Gulcan Garip

Dr Gülcan Garip is the Academic Lead for the MSc Psychology programme at the University of Derby. She is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and Europsy. As a registered Health Psychologist, her research interests include developing and evaluating digital behavioural interventions for improving wellbeing and quality of life, particularly in people with long-term physical conditions and their caregivers.

Kate Hull Rodgers

Dr Duncan Still

Rachel de Garang

Award winning comedienne, Kate Hull Rodgers, first became mentally ill 30 years ago. She was given a multitude of diagnosis, a cocktail of medication and was even chained to a bed, spread-eagle, as part of her treatment. Eventually she was institutionalized and sent to the notorious long term mental hospital. Her prognosis to get out was “hopefully”. Until one day the occupational therapist suggest Kate write a list of things that brought her Joy. Kate scoffed at the ridiculous idea…. But then she tried it. It was transformational, a turning point and the beginning of Kate’s long road to Recovery. Come and hear Kate’s astounding story of how she has lived with being Bipolar. You will laugh and cry and you will be inspired.
Not to be missed.

As a doctor interested in finding Wellness just as much as avoiding Illness, I often ask patients (otherwise known as ‘people’!) questions about when they last felt truly well, what made them feel that way and how they might begin to connect even more with that sense of wellbeing. I’m a strong believer in Health being something which happens as a co-creation between doctor and patient rather than something that is handed down from one to the other . . .
I’m fascinated by questions such as: “Where do you find Peace, Purpose and Joy?”
I invite you to join me in exploring what these words mean for you and how you might bring them to the fore in your life. Together we will write our own Prescriptions for Joy.
I look forward to it.

With a 25 year career in the Arts Sector, Rachel is Founder and Artistic Director of African Sambistas a drum and dance group now into its 11th year running regular workshops and performances - peaking in the summer months with appearances at popular festivals such as Womad, St Paul’s and Bath Carnival, Bristol Pride and Shambala to name a few.
Rachel is a researcher and writer with a keen interest in dances of the African Diaspora, especially the music, dance, cultural and spiritual practices of Brazil.
Rachel is also an experienced Freelance Consultant and mentor, with a deep knowledge and understanding of integrating different cultural groups, dealing with racism and discrimination in the workplace and wider community.

Joe Hoare

Joyfulness is at the heart of my laughter yoga.
Personal wellbeing is the cornerstone of my approach.
As a long-time laughter yoga practitioner, I have found that joy enhances life in every way. It helps us be resilient, authentic, well, happy and find our inner peace.
Focusing and being present to our own joyfulness is transformational. It develops resilience, connection and expansion.
My session will take us on a journey, using all our senses - embodiment, breath, mind, spirit - to experience this for ourselves.