Calendar of Events
The time shown for all events is UK TIME
INSS Spirituality, Mental Health and Wellbeing SIG
Online meeting
The Importance of Lived Experience in Mental Health Research and Practice
Presentation by Dr Emma Watson
Monday 27th April 2026: 12.00pm - 1.15pm
Emma Watson is Programme Lead for Research, Evaluation, Publications and Development for Imroc, a mental health charity providing training and consultancy that promote recovery focused practices and lived-experience expertise.
This session will explore the role of lived experience in shaping more human, relational and recovery-oriented mental health services. Drawing on research and practice from the charity Imroc, the presentation will consider lived experience as a distinct form of knowledge, one that brings insight into meaning, identity, connection and hope.
The session will reflect on how lived experience can influence care at individual, service and system levels, including through peer support, co-production and lived experience leadership. It will also open up questions about the relational and values-based dimensions of care and how these are held (or overlooked) within contemporary mental health systems. The presentation will invite discussion on how lived experience perspectives can help us move towards services that support recovery in its fullest sense.
The presentation will be followed by questions and a group discussion.
Welcoming all INSS members to this SIG focussing upon spirituality, mental health and wellbeing across diverse contexts, including in relation to study, research and practice.
The group emphasises co-creating a safe yet focussed space to reflect, explore and share skills and inspiration together.
The SIG Chairs: Dr Katja Milner, Dr Jill Buckeldee
Emails
This Spirituality and Education Special Interest Group welcomes people to explore the interplay of spirituality and education. Our interests are diverse — from across the life course in educational and professional contexts, voluntary organizations and community settings.
We are pleased to welcome Professor Michael Weiss to our SEDSIG on 29th April 2026, 3pm UK time. Professor Weiss introduces the Trilogos Method as an educational approach to personality formation and consciousness development, situated at the intersection of spirituality, education, and reflective practice. Drawing on transpersonal psychology and parapsychology, and standing in the tradition of the Human Potential Movement, the Trilogos Method seeks to support people in unfolding their human potential across the life course.
The presentation outlines the theoretical foundations of the method, its pedagogical structure. It also presents selected research outcomes and ongoing studies that explore participants' experiences of learning, meaning making, and personal transformation when engaging with this method.
The presentation will last approximately 20minutes, followed by group discussion.
We would also like to remind participants of the forthcoming INSS International Conference on 15-17 July 2027 in York, England International Network for the Study of Spirituality - Home.
We look forward to getting together Wednesday 29th April at 3pm UK time.
Warm regards, your co-chairs Sara and Trisha
shortondeutsch@usfca.edu AND p.carlisle@qub.ac.uk
Just click the link below at the time of the event to access the call. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86433633600?pwd=RmozM0RmQitKUlJUSXhnclJwZ1FkZz09
The SIG Chairs: Sara Horton-Deutsch, Patricia Carlisle
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