Train the Trainers: Therapeutic Photography Course
Introduction
Belfast Exposed has pioneered the use of photography as a tool for wellbeing, resilience, and community connection. Building on over a three decades of experience in therapeutic photography with groups such as WAVE Trauma, Northern Health & Social Care Trust, Alzheimer’s support groups, cross-community women’s centres, men shed and collaborations with the Zachery Geddis Foundation we are now launching a “Train the Trainers” programme. This initiative is designed to equip practitioners, artists, community workers, and health professionals with the skills, methodologies, and confidence to deliver therapeutic photography in their own contexts.
Aims & Objectives
- To build capacity across the arts, health, and community sectors by sharing Belfast Exposed’s expertise in therapeutic photography.
- To train facilitators in structured methodologies including PhotoVoice, SHOWED, journaling, collaging, and reflective practice.
- To ensure participants understand ethical considerations, safeguarding, and trauma-informed approaches.
- To embed therapeutic photography as a sustainable practice within organisations, enabling wider community benefit.
- To create a supportive network of trained practitioners who can share learning and extend impact across Northern Ireland and beyond.
Structure of the Programme
The Train the Trainers programme will run as an intensive 6-day course, followed by ongoing mentorship and peer-support sessions. The weekly sessions will take place from 10:00am-3:00pm on Saturday 24th, 31st January, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th February. Each session will include a 1-hour lunch break, where participants are advised to bring a packed lunch or buy lunch from the many shops/cafes in Belfast city centre and is an opportunity to network with your peers.
Day 1 – Foundations
- Introduction to therapeutic photography: history, principles, and evidence base.
- Case studies from Belfast Exposed projects (mental health recovery, older people, trauma support, asylum-seekers).
- Framing photography as a tool for resilience, expression, and social connection.
Day 2 – Core Methods
- PhotoVoice and SHOWED techniques.
- Image-making exercises: guided walks, object-based practice, and self-portraiture.
- Facilitating safe group discussions.
Day 3 – Trauma-Informed Practice
- Working with vulnerable groups: safeguarding, consent, confidentiality.
- Boundaries of therapeutic photography vs clinical therapy.
- Ethical image-making and responsible storytelling.
Day 4 – Practical Facilitation
- Designing workshops for different groups (older people, young people, trauma survivors, cross-community groups).
- Hands-on facilitation practice: participants lead short sessions with peer feedback.
- Creative techniques: collage, journaling, text-image integration.
Day 5 – Embedding & Sustainability
- How to design and fund therapeutic photography programmes.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and measuring social impact.
- Building networks: partnerships across health, community, and cultural sectors.
- Group exhibition and reflection.
Day 6 – Reflection, Recap & Revision
- Recap of key theories, methods, and facilitation practices.
- Open space for participant reflection and peer learning.
- Troubleshooting challenges: managing group dynamics, sensitive topics, and practical barriers.
- Revision through group discussion, practical exercises, and scenario-based learning.
- Final evaluation: participants design their own project plan and present it.
- Closing circle and next steps, linking to mentorship and peer network.
Post-Training Support
- Mentorship: Monthly check-in for a 6-month period with Belfast Exposed facilitator.
- Resources: Access to toolkits, templates, and curated reading lists.
- Peer Network: An online forum for trained practitioners to share experiences.
- Certificate: Certificate of achievement from Belfast Exposed, with pathways to advanced training.
Outcomes
- Participants gain practical skills to deliver safe, creative, and effective therapeutic photography workshops.
- Expansion of therapeutic photography provision across Northern Ireland.
- Increased capacity for community organisations and health providers to address issues of loneliness, trauma, and wellbeing through the arts.
- A sustainable network of practitioners embedding photography as a tool for social change.