The Forum - Psychoanalysts in Dialogue | A Well Gardened Mind

The garden may be seen as a refuge from real life, but gardening can offer a deep connection with nature, a mental as well as physical activity. Getting our hands in the earth connects us with the cycle of life in nature, where destruction and decay are followed by regrowth and renewal, thus answering to deep existential needs. Tending to plants can foster the gardening of inner space, allowing the working through of feelings and problems, and as research has shown, may alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The psychiatrist, psychoanalytic psychotherapist and passionate gardener Sue Stuart Smith has delved deeply into these issues in her bestselling book, “The Well Gardened Mind”. Uncannily, though five years in the making, this book was published on the cusp of the first Covid lockdown and the author’s ideas help us understand why so many of us (re-)turned to our gardens for solace and space at this unprecedented time. She will be in dialogue with the psychoanalyst Eileen McGinley, a keen gardener herself. They will explore our connections with nature and the link between body and mind in such activities, as well as the therapeutic use of gardening. The dialogue will be chaired by the psychoanalyst Susan Godsil.

Please note: These dialogues will be held on Zoom and will also be available for the following 48 hours to all registered participants. This is to allow international attendees to enjoy the event at a more appropriate time in their time zone. After this time, the recording will no longer be available. 

Registration for this event will close an hour before the live event begins.

REFUND POLICY: Tickets are fully refundable until 14 days before the event, after which time no refunds will be issued.

Concession tickets are available, for students, BPAS candidates and NHS trainees. Please email [email protected] if you are unsure if you qualify for a concession ticket. 

Views and opinions expressed by speakers are their own and do not represent the views or opinions of the Institute, event organisers or other speakers. We expect delegates to respect the confidentiality of clinical material discussed in our events. The content must not be recorded, conveyed or disseminated in any format and participants must not share access to the event with non-registered participants.