We are human – we can only understand the world in stories.

If we see an umbrella on a bench, we immediately, involuntarily make up a story in our minds: maybe someone was in a hurry and left it there; maybe it fell out of someone’s bag as they were frantically looking for something in it; maybe someone left it there on purpose as a sign for their lover; maybe the umbrella simply decided to have a rest on this bench; maybe Mary Poppins has just gone to get a cup of tea, leaving her umbrella on the bench to keep her place until she comes back.

If we overhear a piece of information like ‘and she said no, of course’, we immediately, involuntarily create a story around it in our minds: maybe someone horrible asked to marry her; maybe her boss made an inappropriate pass towards this woman; maybe her husband suggested that she should have plastic surgery to make her nose straighter; maybe someone wanted to involve her in a drug dealing business; maybe her child, an amateur tattooist, offered to tattoo a burning skull on her forehead.

For all of us, in order to get around in everyday life, it is necessary and unavoidable to constantly create stories in our minds.

Furthermore, we have chats, we have discussions, we gossip, we speculate, we daydream, we plan – non-stop creating stories.

Stories are as old as mankind.

Stories soothe us, intrigue us, explain the world for us.

Did someone once tell you bedtime stories? Do you tell bedtime stories to someone? Do you read novels or short stories? Do you watch films? Stories are everywhere.

We are not equally interested in each and every story we encounter, but there are some stories that really touch our souls and maybe even accompany us all our lives. Why? Because we crave explanations, affirmations, hope, encouragement, camaraderie, love – and stories give us all of these.

That is why we can consciously and purposefully use stories to heal our souls.

In a Therapeutic Stories group session, some people just listen. They might not say a word but they still profit from listening to stories. Some people discover that they are passionate storytellers. Some people even get encouraged to write their own stories. Most of us simply enjoy to listen to other people’s stories, to take part in creating stories together, and to make our own stories in our minds.

Frankly, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we all encounter stories that we have never heard before, or stories that resonate with other stories we heard, or stories that touch and heal our souls.

Also, it’s fun!

Therapeutic Stories for Everyone

Workshops in the Oakington Pavilion, near Cambridge

15 February 2025 and
8 March 2025

from 10 am to 12 noon.

£20 / person for two hours of stories and refreshments.
No need to book.
For more information: cats@koka.me.uk