Kate Poll

MSc-accredited Creative Writing for Wellbeing Facilitator

Therapeutic Approaches | Voice & Expression | Compassion-Led Practice

I'm a therapeutic creative writing facilitator specialising in Compassion Journalling – working with individuals, groups, and organisations to build self-trust and find their voice through writing and reflective practice. My work is neuroinclusive, compassion-led, and grounded in lived experience.Based in London. Working online and in person.

Substack

Upcoming Workshops and Courses

Compassion Journalling course

4-weeks facilitation
(a small group course)

7th-28 June, Tuesday evenings,
7-9 pm UK time (BST)

Do you find it easier to be kind to others than to yourself? Do you know, intellectually, that you should ease up – but find that the critical voice just gets louder?Compassion Journalling works from the inside out. Using two-pen dialogue, visual mapping, poetry, and mindfulness, you'll develop a relationship with your own compassionate voice – not as a performance of self-care, but as a genuine, felt resource.Drawing from Compassion Focused Therapy and self-compassion research, the course explores why self-criticism runs so deep, and offers creative and reflective tools to respond differently – with curiosity, care, and honesty.Over four evenings you'll begin todevelop a different relationship with your inner critic, understand what drives your responses to yourself and others, and start building a sustainable self-compassion practice that's genuinely yours.

Price: £225

The course is limited to 8 participants to help foster community and a sense of safety.

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Full Course Details

Compassion Journalling
– Live Q&A
Monday 26th May, 7pm UK

12th May 7 pm UK time (BST)

Thinking about joining the June course but want to get a feel for it first?
Join me for an informal live session where I'll walk you through the course companion, give you a sense of how the practices work, and answer any questions you have.You'll need a free Substack account to join – takes less than a minute to set up.

Click here to set up a Substack account

Link to Join Q&A

Compassion Journalling
Self-Study Course

6-week structure (adaptable)
with Optional Live Community Component

Some of us need to come back to things three times before they land. We do our best thinking at 11pm, or need to pause mid-practice and make tea. This course is built for that.Compassion Journalling is a guided journey through self-compassion practice – not as a concept to understand, but as a relationship to develop. At your own pace, in your own time.Through video meditations, poetry, reflective writing prompts, and embodied practices, you'll begin to hear your compassionate voice more clearly – and trust it a little more than you did before.Your step by step companion guide travels with you throughout, alongside guided meditation recordings and poetry videos exploring lovingkindness, self-nurture, and beginning to relate differently to your inner critic.Optional Compassion Circle
Monthly drop-in sessions for reflection, questions, and company as you work through the course.Free for Substack subscribers while the circle is running. £72 for non-subscribers.

Course Price: £130

Substack

Working With Me

Creating spaces for authentic growth and connection through creativity, reflection, and care.

Individual Sessions
Research and Collaboration
Testimonials

I specialise in Compassion Journalling – a methodology I developed through my MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes, drawing on Compassion Focused Therapy, self-compassion research, and person-centred practice.My work focuses on the places where voice gets lost: in caring roles, through burnout, within systems that didn't recognise the full story. Through creative writing and reflective practice, I support people to challenge internalised narratives – particularly the stories of dysfunction or marginalisation that were never really theirs to carry.I work across private practice, social prescribing partnerships, and community and organisational settings. Past partners include Age UK and Ruils; I currently work with Peabody Trust and am delivering a funded Compassion Journalling course through the Metanoia Institute's Reach Out programme.My course is also a resource on Athabasca University's MA Writing the Self programme. I deliver courses and workshops for practitioners and therapists seeking to develop their own reflective and compassionate practice.You can follow my ongoing writing at Self-Centred on Substack.

Individual Sessions

One-to-One Therapeutic Writing

Online Via Zoom | £80 per session

Take time to pause, explore, and create – reconnecting with neglected and under-represented parts of yourself, and cultivating a fuller, more self-directed and connected way of being. These sessions place writing and voice at the heart of the process, supported by sound, image, and other creative tools for wellbeing.Together, we’ll focus on what matters most to you, nurturing your strengths, giving voice to overlooked parts of yourself, and discovering fresh ways to navigate life with clarity and confidence. Sessions are gentle, collaborative, and shaped entirely around your needs and interests.

REQUEST FREE INTRODUCTORY CALL

Compassion Journalling Course

A 4-Week Creative Course to Build Self-Trust & Wellbeing

Do you find it easier to be kind to others than to yourself? Do you know, intellectually, that you should ease up – but find that the critical voice just gets louder?Compassion Journalling works from the inside out. Using two-pen dialogue, visual mapping, poetry, and mindfulness, you'll develop a relationship with your own compassionate voice – not as a performance of self-care, but as a genuine, felt resource.Drawing from Compassion Focused Therapy and self-compassion research, the course explores why self-criticism runs so deep, and offers creative and reflective tools to respond differently – with curiosity, care, and honesty.Over four sessions you'll begin to develop a different relationship with your inner critic, explore what drives your responses to yourself and others, and build a sustainable self-compassion practice that's genuinely yours.Each participant receives a 47-page companion guide, weekly trackers, and resources for ongoing practice.Graduates are invited to continue deepening their practice through monthly Compassion Circles.

🔗 Full Course Outline (click to download)

Offered in person & online via Zoom | Limited to 8 participants | £225

Testimonials

What participants say…
“This course provided a gentle, safe space to explore the importance of being compassionate to ourselves through the power of writing. Kate is an excellent facilitator and I felt attended to and held throughout the course. I came away feeling lighter and much more aware of the need for compassion to be present in my life – for me. I also loved writing the joint pantoum with our small and lovely group.” — Alexandra Harrington“I really would recommend trying it if you have any interest in building or repairing your inner dialogue with yourself. Insightful and fun.” — Hamish“Thanks to you, I was able to devote more time and reflection to compassion and to recognise that I became even more mindful of the meaning it holds in my life. These Monday sessions were the best kind of disruption I have experienced in a long time. I feel it takes someone special to be able to hold this kind of space.” — Poonam“Self-compassion brought me awareness of my inner self – my experiences, feelings and expectations. A gentle touch, non-judgmental, a kind voice seeking a space. Highly recommend self-compassion to discover your authentic emotional self.” — Goreti Marinho, RUILS and Age UK member“The setting you created allows inner world wisdom to emerge. I felt less alone – other people have similar thoughts, the things people do not talk about in daily life. A beautiful setting to share.” — Elizabeth, Compassion Journalling course participant“I loved this so much. You are a wonderful facilitator. The way you listen and engage with us is so warm. Genuinely such a lovely introduction to Compassion Journalling – supportive, encouraging and informative. You’re very skilled at taking what we say, honouring our truth and adapting it to suit the rest of the group, while still honouring what each person said.” — Saskia, Compassion Journalling course participantWhat organisations say…“Kate showed such understanding and compassion while working with us, always thinking about our wellbeing as a priority. We appreciate all she has done so much. Our world needs love and Kate brought love to ourselves and to writing.” — RUILS Creative Writing Group“He felt comfortable sharing his feelings in that room, surrounded by other people opening up. It gave him a safe space and the confidence to share his story and his feelings – something we haven’t seen before during his 10 years with Peabody. It’s a real moment of realising how much these services matter.”
— Val, Support Worker, Peabody TrustWhat colleagues say…“Having worked closely with Kate on Lapidus International’s board, I can attest that she is the real deal.” — Rick Wilson, Lapidus Treasurer, 2023–2025

Research and Collaboration

I have been involved in research projects, publications and collaborative projects that demonstrate the transformative power of compassion-led, neuroinclusive creative practice. This approach can create meaningful change for individuals and communities.

Independent Living Organisation

What Ruils say...

"Kate showed such understanding and compassion while working with us. Always thinking about our wellbeing as a priority for all.We appreciate all she has done so much. Our world Needs Love and Kate brought Love to ourselves and writing."

— Ruils Creative Writing group