Wellbeing activities, workshop and courses descriptors

Workshops

Facing your Fears (1.5 hours on-line)

Do you have a fear that negatively impacts your day-to-day life? Perhaps you feel afraid of leaving the house, talking to people, or feel anxious around animals or certain objects?

Whilst fear can be a helpful emotion when we are in danger, it can stop us from doing everyday tasks and activities. In this workshop we will learn together to understand fear and a range of strategies to manage this emotion. We will look at Graded Exposure in detail, which has helped many people face their fears in a stepped and graded way.

This workshop aims to equip you with a variety of skills to manage your fear, improve your ability to cope in fearful situations and boost your confidence.

Managing Anxiety (1.5 hours on-line or 2 hours in-person)

This workshop will look at some of the common causes of anxiety, understand what's happening in our body when we feel anxious and learn some tools and strategies to help us manage our symptoms.

Building our Self-Esteem (1.5 hours in person)

In this workshop we will explore what affects our levels of self-esteem and how it can impact our daily life. It will include looking at different tools you can use to improve the way we view ourselves and build our confidence.

Becoming more Assertive (1.5 hours in person)

The aim of this workshop is to understand how we communicate assertively and effectively to improve our confidence. Through developing new skills, we can feel more comfortable when being assertive and improve our active listening. The workshop will also help you to become more aware of how you communicate and understand other people by finding ways to express thoughts and feelings honestly and respectfully.

Coping with Low Mood (1.5 hours on-line or 2 hours in-person)

In this workshop we will look at what happens to us when we have low mood/ depression, the cycle of low mood and some tools and strategies to help manage low mood/depression.

Understanding Stress (1 hour on-line or 1.5 hours in-person)

During this workshop we will look at: the causes and impact of stress on our lives, how to prevent and manage stress, learn and practice techniques to manage our stress levels.

Improving Sleep (1 hour on-line or 1.5 hours in-person)

This workshop will cover the different types of sleep problems we can experience, how thinking affects our sleep, myths and facts about sleep and sleep hygiene tips.

Introduction to Mindfulness (1 hour on-line or 1.5 hours in-person)

This workshop will explore 'what is Mindfulness' and how it may improve our mental wellbeing and build resilience. We will also learn and practice a variety of mindfulness techniques.

Understanding the Menopause (2 hours on-line or in-person)

1st half: The physical & Psychological Effects

The first half of the workshop will be covering all the ways in which the menopause affects your health, the different stages of menopause and the treatments available to you. Following a short refreshment break ..

2^nd half: Support and Relationships

The second half will cover how to get help during the menopause, from your doctor through to friends and family. We will also talk about menopause in the workplace and your rights.

Understanding & Managing Emotional Intensity (each module 1.5 hours online and in person)

This series of workshops run as individual modules where you can pick and choose the sessions most relevant to you! You are free to select as many of the modules as you like! Below is a short description of each to get you started.

• Emotional Intensity - Recognising and naming emotions module: Identifying triggers and responses.
• Emotional Intensity - Emotion regulation skills module part 1:  Learning skills to help decrease the intensity of unpleasant emotions and modifying how we respond to our emotions.​
• Emotional Intensity - Emotion regulation skills part 2: Learning skills to help decrease the intensity of unpleasant emotions and modifying how we respond to our emotions.​
• Emotional Intensity - Understanding unhealthy coping behaviours module: Helping to recognize unhealthy coping behaviours and explore alternatives.
• Emotional Intensity - Distress Tolerance Skills module part 1: how to effectively work through a period of crisis or distress.​
• Emotional Intensity - Distress Tolerance Skills module part 2
• Emotional Intensity - Boundaries module
• Emotional Intensity - Relationships module: Identifying healthy and unhealthy relationships, saying 'no', getting your needs met and interpersonal effectiveness skills.

 

Courses

Food, Body & Mind Course (3 sessions, 2 hours each, in-person)

This three part course is designed to help rebuild a healthier, more balanced relationship with food. Across the sessions you will explore what healthy eating looks like, learn practical tools for making lasting change and develop greater awareness of the challenges and patterns that can influence our eating habits. By the end, we hope you will feel more confident in creating routines that support both your physical health and emotional wellbeing.

Week 1 - Regular Eating & the Binge, Restrict Cycle

We will start by looking at what healthy eating means and why balance matters. Together we will explore how regular meals support both our body and mind. Unpack the binge/restrict cycle to improve understanding of your eating routine.

Week 2 - Making Positive Change

This session will focus on turning ideas into action, what shapes our relationship with food and explore the links with our mood. Tools to support change: food diaries, meal planning and establishing routines.

Week 3 - Overcoming Barriers to Change

In the final session we will examine challenges that can hinder change and explore ways to overcome them. We will look at how we can put what we have learned into  practice once the course has finished.

Wellbeing for Carers: Looking After Yourself (6 sessions, 2 hours each, in-person)

Week 1 - thoughts, feelings and challenges

Week 2 - Identity and coping with change

Week 3 - Compassion fatigue and burnout

Week 4 - Establishing and maintaining boundaries in the caring role

Week 5 - Self care for carers

Week 6 - Navigating the system

Mindful Movement (4 sessions, 1 hour each session, in-person)

Reconnect with your body through gentle movement in this four-week course. We will use mindful and grounding techniques to develop our 'tuning in' skills, before exploring making our own movement in line with what our bodies need. We will also reflect as a group, giving time to voice our thoughts and ideas. All bodies and abilities are welcome and encouraged, even if you've never done anything similar before!

Week 1 - Retune

Week 2 - Flow

Week 3 - Create

Week 4 - Combine

ADHD - Minds of all Kinds (5 sessions, 2 hours each session, in-person)

All adults with (or curious about) ADHD whether diagnosed or not, are welcome! In this five-week course, we explore various aspects of ADHD including the effects on the body, brain, emotions and behaviours. Each week, we introduce practical tools and practice techniques to foster empowerment. Our goal is to focus holistically on strengthening resources to better navigate and support ADHD in day to day life.

Week 1 - Neurodiversity

Week 2 - ADHD

Week 3 - Self support strategies part 1

Week 4 - Self support strategies part 2

Week 5 - Navigating the system

Managing Anxiety (4 sessions, 2 hours each, in-person or online)

Anxiety is present in us all, however sometimes our anxiety can feel out of control and we may struggle to do day to day things. In this four-week course we explore different aspects of anxiety, from how anxiety affects our body, to the impact our thoughts have on our feelings and actions. Each week we identify tools and strategies to help gain a sense of empowerment and practise different techniques to create a sense of calm. Throughout the course we aim to build our internal and external resources to manage our anxiety better.

Week 1 – Introduction / Understanding Anxiety

In our first week, we introduce the Autonomic Nervous System and explore how it triggers the fight, flight, and freeze response. We look at the ways anxiety affects our overall wellbeing and begin identifying practical strategies that help strengthen our internal resources so we can manage anxiety more effectively.

Week 2 – Exploring Our Thoughts

This week focuses on understanding the thinking styles that influence our anxiety and wellbeing. We learn to spot unhelpful thoughts and reshape them into more supportive ones. Participants also practise grounding through the 5-4-3-2-1 technique and experiment with a variety of breathing exercises to calm the mind and body.

Week 3 – Taking Action

In Week 3, we explore the Three Emotional Regulatory Systems and consider how comfort zones and learning zones play a role in anxiety. Together, we create an action plan to reduce avoidance behaviours and use visualisation to build a personal “safe place,” further developing internal resources for resilience.

Week 4 – Anxiety Management

Our final week highlights the difference between worrying and genuine problem-solving. We work on an action plan for managing worry, explore the importance of self-compassion, and learn ways to nurture daily self-kindness. The programme concludes with building an individualised toolkit tailored to managing different levels of anxiety.

Forest Therapy for Wellbeing (4 sessions 2 hours each, in-person)

Join us for a four-week introductory course in Forest Therapy. Forest Therapy originates in Japan, where it is known as Shinrin-Yoku. It is a mindful, relaxing way to reconnect with nature through all of our senses with many benefits for mental and physical health. Each week we will begin with a guided meditation before trying out different exploratory invitations, which will help you connect to the natural world, relax and unwind. There will be opportunities to journal and reflect during the sessions.

Week 1 - Explore

In the introductory session, you will be guided to mindfully explore the surroundings using all of your senses. We will look at the benefits of spending time in nature for mental wellbeing.

Week 2 - Wonder

This week, we will look at the things in nature that create a sense of awe and wonder. We will participate in a wonder walk - what will you find? and what can we celebrate together?

Week 3 - Play

During this session we will explore nature playfully, practicing using our imagination and exploring the benefits of play in nature.

Week 4 - Reflect

On our last session there will be time for reflection on our values and connection towards nature and how we can be in nature more often going forward.

Understanding and Managing Anger Course (4 sessions, 1.5 hours each, online)

Anger is a natural emotion but, when left unchecked it can impact our mental health, relationships, and wellbeing. This course explores the psychological roots of anger and offers evidence-based techniques to manage it effectively. Learn how to recognise emotional triggers, build emotional resilience, and respond calmly in challenging situations. Ideal for anyone looking to support their mental health or help others do the same, this course turns anger into an opportunity for growth and healing.

Week 1 - Reaching Boiling Point

This session will look at what anger is and how to recognise it, as well as how it feels.

Week 2 - Interrupting the Eruption

In this session we will look at understanding triggers and the physical and emotional signs that occur when we begin to experience anger.

Week 3 - Letting off Steam

This session will explore coping strategies and skills aimed at helping to manage and reduce feelings of anger in the short-term.

Week 4 - Stop Seeing Red

Learn techniques to manage anger in the long term and develop a personalised Anger Control Plan for the future.

Understanding Trauma ( 4 sessions, 2 hours each, in-person or online)

In this four-week course we will consider what trauma is, how it affects our brains, bodies and sense of self. We will learn ways to manage the effects of trauma and consider how we can work towards our values. Learning will include practical activities which will help us to feel calm and grounded.

Week 1 - What is trauma? What are the different types of trauma and what are the effects trauma can have on our lives? In this session we will explore what trauma is and look at how it impacts our nervous system and hormonal balance. We will discuss and practice strategies that help us manage our physical responses to trauma.

Week 2 – Trauma and the brain. This week we will begin to look at how trauma affects our brains and how it impacts the body. We will learn what hypervigilance is and how this can leave us feeling on edge. We will look at ways to help us feel grounded and calm.

Week 3 – Calming the inner critic. Often after experiencing trauma, we can feel shame and guilt. This can lead to our minds telling us unkind things about ourselves. We will look at ways to manage this, and learn a variety of strategies to build our self-esteem and self-compassion.

Week 4 - Reclaiming ourselves after trauma. We will start this session by exploring a range of strategies that can calm our nervous systems. We will then look at our values and how we can work towards them, bringing us back to ourselves after trauma.

Writing a Book of Hope Course (5 sessions, 2 hours each, in-person)

Our brand-new creative writing course that has been co-produced by service users supports mental wellbeing through storytelling, reflection, and shared experience. Across 5 themed sessions focusing on each of Second Step’s values, participants explore hope, connection, trust, identity, and personal growth in a safe and supportive environment. Each session will include reflective discussion, grounding activities, and guided writing exercises where you will be encouraged to find your voice and write without pressure or judgement. After the course, the writing created during the sessions will be brought together to make a collective book celebrating hope, resilience, and recovery. Participation in the book is optional.

Week 1 – Hope & Courage

This session will explore what hope and courage means to you, drawing on personal experiences and inspiring examples from others.

Week 2 – Succeeding Together

This session focuses on the role of connection and support in mental health recovery. We will reflect on the people and networks that help us cope, from close relationships to professional support.

Week 3 – Building Trust

This session explores trust as a foundation for wellbeing such as trust in ourselves, in others, and in services that support us.

Week 4 – Celebrating Diversity

This session celebrates individuality and identity, encouraging us to reflect on what makes us uniquely ourselves.

Week 5 – Learning & Growing

The final session focuses on personal growth, resilience, and the role of learning in recovery. We will reflect on the skills we have developed throughout the course.

Wellbeing Activities

WELLBEING SPACE (1.25 hours, in-person, weekly).

Provides an opportunity to come together to share ideas and experiences in a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. The topics are decided by the group creating a wide and varied range of discussions and activities. Each session ends with a mindfulness practice.

MINDFUL ARTS & CRAFTS (1 hour, in-person, runs weekly).

This group focuses on creativity to support our wellbeing.

CREATIVITY FOR WELLBEING (1.5 hours, in-person, runs weekly).

This group is an extended version of our Mindful Arts & Craft sessions  giving not only more time, but more opportunity to get creative and broaden the activities we can offer. All ideas and levels of creativity welcome. Each session will end with a relaxing 10 minute mindfulness practice.

WRITING FOR WELLBEING (1.5 hours, online, runs weekly).

This is a group of people who come together to share words they've written (i.e. a poem, short story) which expresses their feelings/experiences on any given topic. The group also chooses topics together where they can express themselves and have fun with words. You only share your writing with the group if you feel comfortable to do so.

WELLBEING WALKS (I hour, meeting point given on booking, various dates across North Somerset).

Walking is not only good for our physical health, but also our mental health, as it helps us to get out, connect with nature and also provide an opportunity to explore new places and meet people. Each walk will be held at a different location and will be suitable for any ability.

CARER'S WELLBEING CAFE (I hour, in-person, runs monthly)

Our Carers Café sessions are aimed at Adult Carers (18yrs and over) who care for individuals over 18yrs and living in the North Somerset area. This will be a relaxed space where you can enjoy the company and conversation of other carers who are in a similar situation, as well as share experiences and advice to support your wellbeing, within a regular café setting.