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Abigail Nelson
dramatherapist
Upcoming
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Myth and the Self: Creative Explorations of Gold and Shadow
Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 8th November, 10am-3.30pm, £25/£40
Explore your shadow and uncover your inner gold! ​Through guided visualisation, storytelling, drama activities and reflective art-making, you’ll explore ancient myths that carry both universal wisdom and personal relevance. Rooted in dramatherapy principles, this creative process invites insight, healing and connection in a supportive group setting.
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What participants say:
“Abigail is simply WONDERFUL! I’ve been lucky enough to attend two of her workshops, and both were amazing. I left with so much more understanding of myself and what’s going on in my heart and mind.”
“I found the process powerful and moving. It helped me to cement my sense of self and inner confidence.”​
Previous
Create space
Creative Arts Therapies Space, August 2025
In this drop in workshop, I worked alongside art therapist Sarah McMahon to bring creative calm to the Fringe. We had guided art and writing based exercises to get stuck into, or participants could do their own thing with the arts materials all provided in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
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With three rooms each with their unique vibes, the afternoon was hosted at The Creative Arts Therapies Space where I provide reduced cost (sliding scale) dramatherapy on Wednesday afternoons.
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Social media for therapists
Online, August 2025
As therapists, we have all the tools to engage our clients in the therapy space. We can talk for hours about our passion for therapy. But can we translate that to social media? Do we even want to?
In this comprehensive training we creatively explore the whys and hows of social media for therapists, including...
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the differences between the platforms in audience and purpose
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what the dreaded 'algorithm' is
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why social media? Marketing, psychoeducation, social proof or something else?
Summer Day Retreat
The Wellness Barn, July 2025
Guided by principles of Environmental Arts Therapy and led by a qualified dramatherapist, this day retreat is designed to allow you to find stillness in the busyness of summer to (re)connect with your inner world, held and inspired by nature. Come as you are and find your intuition, your unique wisdom, your authentic creativity and your innate connection to nature.​
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Styling your authentic self
Creative Arts Therapies Space, July 2025
As children, we instinctively knew that what we wear can be a joyful, powerful form of self-expression. But as adults, it’s easy to lose touch with that spark. Trends, rules, and fashion “shoulds” can drown out our inner voice. This playful, creative workshop lead by stylist Elena (of Yellow Souls Studio) and dramatherapist Abigail invited participants to reconnect with their authentic style, discover their inner parts and find out how their wardrobe can reflect and support the whole self.
Summer Moodboard Magic
Flare the Fare (Leith Arches), June 2025
This uplifting and relaxed table-based session gently guided participants through playful dramatherapy-inspired exercises and hands-on collage-making to reconnect with their authentic self, honour their needs, and manifest their desires for the summer ahead.
Dramatherapy Experiential Day
Creative Arts Therapies Space, June 2025
An open day to discover dramatherapy at the Creative Arts Therapy Space (CATS) on Easter Road, meet HCPC-registered dramatherapists and take part in gentle dramatherapy-based exercises at participant's own pace.​ Alongside my private practice, I provide sliding-scale cost dramatherapy sessions at CATS on Wednesday afternoons. Get in touch to find out more.
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Creative Souls Retreat
Scottish Highlands, November 2024
In the traditional Celtic calendar, the year doesn't start in January, or even in spring. It starts in November, when nature begins the descent into stillness, letting go of the old in order to make way for the new. In this retreat participants were guided by creativity, ritual and nature to explore their inner worlds, honour the inner elder, make space for stillness, and plant seeds for the future.​
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"It gave me a place to rest and to come home to myself." - Retreat participant
The many faces of you
Exhale Festival, October 2024
In this interactive online workshop, participants were introduced to the fascinating concept of subpersonalities and how they shape thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Through dramatherapeutic exercises designed to bring subpersonalities to life, participants left with a deeper sense of internal wholeness and a newfound appreciation for the complexity of their being.
Exhale Festival is an annual health and wellbeing festival featuring workshops, groups and talks.
Loving all of me(s)
FLARE* Festival, June 2024
What are subpersonalities? Can I really love every part of me? Where do I even begin? At this dramatherapy workshop, participants were given tools to creatively explore the different parts of themselves, in order to bring them into the light and give them the love they need to thrive. FLARE* runs sober festivals, fairs and events to facilitate wellbeing through community wellness.​
Dramatherapy workshop
Residential care home, May 2024
I delivered a dramatherapy taster workshop to the young people and staff at a residential care home. The session focused on relationship-building and creatively, safely expressing yourself and your emotions using games, stories and discussion.​​
Your Inner Wardrobe
Edinburgh, May 2024
This workshop drew on the knowledge of stylist and fashion expert, Elena from Yellow Souls, and of dramatherapist and creative wellness facilitator Abigail Nelson to help participants not only express themselves more authentically through their wardrobe, but draw on clothes to bring out the best version of themselves. Find out more.
Explorations of gold and shadow
FLARE* Festival, January 2024
I provided two dramatherapy/creative wellness workshops for FLARE* Festival at Summerhall. These workshops used myth and story to allow participants to access their inner gold and inner shadow. With storytelling, art-making, embodiment and discussion, we unlocked our inner worlds through the power of myth.​
Wellness Walks
Monthly nature and wellbeing walks, 2023
Discover the natural, astrological and symbolic lessons to be learnt each month while feeling grounded in nature. On these monthly walks, participants connected with like-minded people, got away from the daily grind and left feeling refreshed. Though unique monthly themes, I guided participants in using nature to connect with themselves, others and the world around them. They could join in with the meditative quiet or creative activities, or just spend the time in nature.​
The Art of Being Human
Leith Arches, July 2024
Through a live art-making exhibition, creative wellness workshops and interactive elements we explored and celebrated the creative process of art and life. All profits raised went to The Alma Project, a local charity who run arts groups and creative therapies for adults in Edinburgh experiencing mental health challenges. Thanks to the support of everyone who donated to the event, we raised £470.63 for The Alma Project.
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As humans, we're not perfect, finished works of art. We are constantly in process. Living in the mess, changing constantly and experiencing our own beautifully unique journey. This is the art of being human.
What's my story?
St George's School, June 2023
I was invited to run a creative wellness workshop on the final day of work experience week for soon-to-be high school leavers at a high school in Edinburgh. The workshop gave the girls a chance, in all the busy-ness and hurry to get to their futures, to stop and reflect on their time at high school. To wonder, what's my story? And how do I want to remember it? This involved creating timelines using writing, drawing, collage and objects.
Print-making drop in
Corporate Partnership with Eden Locke, Edinburgh
In May 2023 I partnered with local artist, Karina Pasiut, to provide a unique screen-printing drop in workshop at Eden Locke (George Street). Eden's guests and members of the public could experience print-making and take away their own wearable creation. Participants could choose from two original prints - one inspired by Edinburgh and one by the aparthotel - or one of Karina's classic designs to print onto a tote bag. We all enjoyed the fun and surprising process of print-making, seeing each print come out as unique and individual as the print-maker!​ Discover the artist.
Spring Retreat
Lochgoilhead, April 2023
Within the gorgeous landscape of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, this retreat provided the opportunity to refresh, reflect and renew by re-connecting with the inner child, with creativity and with out innate link to the natural world through a mix of group and individual creative activities, both indoor and in nature, inspired by Dramatherapy and Environmental Art Therapy.
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"I have never experienced outdoor therapeutic work before, and was genuinely blown away by the power of it. I was really grateful and inspired by the powerful nature of working outside and along with others in nature. " - Retreat participant
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Goddesses of War
The Wellness Barn, March 2023
In March, a month named after Mars, God of War, we gathered together as women to explore our innate, feminine, wisdom and courage. By first exploring Athena and Minerva, Goddesses of Wisdom but also fierce warriors, the participants were led to access and explore their personal inner Goddesses through meditation, visualisation, movement, art-making and discussion.
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"I really enjoyed the connection to my inner goddess - the session was really empowering and helped me to find lots of inner calm" - Workshop participant
An Evening of Candlelight
Online, February 2023
The 2nd of February marks the midpoint between the shortest day of the year and the spring equinox. For some it is Candlemas, the festival of light, a symbol of protection and prosperity. For the Romans and Celts, it was the beginning of spring. In mythology, it marks the return of Persephone from the underworld.
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Together, over zoom, we brought in the hope of a new month, and a new season. Through meditation, storytelling and art-making, I guided the group to spend quality time with themselves set intentions for the season to come, by the light of a candle.
What is Dramatherapy?
St George's School, February 2023
I was invited to speak at a Careers Lunch for the Creative Arts at St George's School in Edinburgh. When I was at school I didn't know dramatherapy existed, so it was a privilege to share about the Creative Arts Therapies to the next generation.
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I spoke about the pathways to a career in the Creative Arts Therapies, what dramatherapy was, who dramatherapists work with and where they work,
Valentine's Day Self-Love Cards
Corporate Partnership with Eden Locke, Edinburgh
I worked with Eden Locke, apart-hotel in Edinburgh, to provide them with Valentine's Day cards for all their residents and guests. The cards focused on self-love and gratitude. This partnership also involved running a public creative wellness workshop hosted at the hotel​.
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If you work for a business and would like to promote wellness amongst your staff or customers, please get in touch​
November Retreat
Scottish Highlands, November 2023
In the traditional Celtic calendar, the year doesn't start in January, or even in spring. It starts in November, when nature begins the descent into stillness, letting go of the old in order to make way for, and provide nutrients for, the new. This retreat was aimed at fostering a connection to the self and others through nature, inspired by dramatherapeutic principles.
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"The retreat helped me to bring back my inner child and creative self. I realized that all the creative energy and ideas I carried as a child are still within me, I just must spend time to connect with them. It is easy to get lost in the rat-race when working full-time and keeping things together, so having the space and people to connect and be creative with was amazing." - Retreat participant
Move and Meditate
Online meditation series, April-May 2021
This project started when I was providing weekly online meditation classes for college students with disabilities. This resulted in the production of 20 videos of guided meditations and visualisations, available publicly. The project developed to include three live, filmed collaborations with other wellness facilitators involving: a yoga flow and meditation for connection; a workout and meditation for strength; and a workout and meditation for self-love. The final component was being interviewed for a podcast and filming a live follow up interview and meditation.
