Sussex Pathways at Inaugural Kintsugi Conference

Earlier this month, Carly Baxter and Paula Lee represented Sussex Pathways at the inaugural Kintsugi conference held at the historic Royal Bethlem Hospital in London. The event brought together a diverse group of professionals committed to restorative practice and personal transformation. Attendees shared inspiring stories of how Kintsugi—rooted in the art of embracing imperfection—has been adapted to support individuals and groups in cultivating self-acceptance and resilience. The conference highlighted the growing momentum behind Kintsugi as a therapeutic and relational approach across various settings.

Kintsugi sessions encourage participants to embrace their emotional scars and life experiences as part of a healing journey, symbolised by creating and mending clay objects with gold pigment. The workshops foster self-reflection, compassion, and open dialogue about personal trauma and recovery, helping individuals find beauty in their brokenness and empowering them to take ownership of their stories

Carly and Paula delivered a powerful presentation showcasing the work Sussex Pathways has been doing with its Kintsugi groups. They shared insights into the structure, impact, and evolution of the programme, emphasising the meaningful progress participants have made. Delegates were particularly impressed by the scale of engagement, with many expressing admiration for the number of individuals already supported through our Kintsugi initiatives. It was an affirming moment for our team and a testament to the transformative potential of this approach when embedded within trauma-informed, person-centred practice.