Supportive Conversations provides a space for artists working in creative health or in community contexts to come together and to reflect on their practice with the support and guidance of qualified educational and child psychologist, Dr Esther Aslan.
In 2025, we invited applications from artists to join our most recent cohort of 12 artists to work with Dr Aslan and each other over the year. The programme is free and is designed to provide:
“I really love how Esther is able to open up the group, and let people talk. She is an amazing speaker with great skills, and even just from that there is a lot to learn ,and this on the top of all the information we address at these sessions. My specific goal is to focus more on the human connection, by offering a non-judgemental environment and letting people on my courses freely express themselves. Each and every person carries their story with themselves, and wants to be understood and heard in some way. I think this is also what we talked about at the first session. To connect with people is not easy but I believe it is a skill that can be developed.”
"Having space to learn from other professionals and share experience and practice was invaluable and highly motivating. The settings artists work in when engaging can vary greatly, and sometimes it is difficult to know what approach is best. Having a simple baseline of what I hope people leave with, and keeping that present during engagement, has been a powerful way to steer the work."
Dr Esther Aslan is a chartered Educational and Child Psychologist providing psycho-educational assessments, low-level mental health support, and consultation services for families and schools, catering to children and young people between the ages of 0 to 25. Her services address a broad spectrum of developmental, learning ,attention, behavioural, and social-emotional needs.
Applications to join the Supportive Conversations programme 2025-26 are now closed.
Supportive Conversations are organised by Milton Keynes Arts Centre and Arts for Health Milton Keynes.
