At Silence Speaks we provide talks & workshops that integrate professional, academic, & lived experience. Silence Speaks Up Talks & Workshops are facilitated by our in-house counsellor Steven Crichton, Founder of Silence Speaks, covering a range of topics.
Our Lived Experience Talks are designed for groups of any size, covering subjects that can often be challenging to find a starting point to carry on a conversation from. Area’s that we cover include: suicide, childhood trauma, addiction, criminal offending & men’s mental health.
Talks
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Both. We cover all of South Wales in person, & can host any group of any size remotely through Google Meet, or through your preferred online meeting method (Zoom, Teams, etc).
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Our talks follow the same format as a presentation, with the added difference being that time is allocated toward the end for a Q&A.
The aim of our talks is to create an environment where people feel empowered to ask questions, by presenting the topics covered with authenticity & honesty, to create a non judgmental space where an open conversation can take place.
If you do not wish to include a Q&A we can reduce this solely to a presentation.
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Each talk lasts between 30-45 minutes, with time allocated afterward for a Q&A. This allows all talks to fit into a one hour format, but the Q&A can be extended if the group would like to engage for longer.
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A list of our Talks
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From bereavement, to ideation, & then attempt. Suicide is a subject that I have been personally affected by since I was 6 years old, having first lost my father, before making an attempt myself almost 2 decades later. Although unsuccessful, my fixation of suicidality did not end there, & it is something I struggled with for a further decade more.
Having come to understand the mechanisms, risk factors, preventative measures, & thought processes that inform suicidality, this talk delivers an impactful representation of how ‘those’ thoughts, feelings, & motivations can be understood, listened to, & made to feel safe again.
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From ‘Notice to Detained Persons’ to First Class Honours degree. The research behind Adverse Childhood Experiences has continually shown that as ACE’s increase, so does the negative consequences toward a persons health, behaviours, & the outcomes of their life potential. So why, in some cases, are roses able to find space to grow between the little cracks in the concrete? This talks explores links between adversity, resilience building, & how to foster both for healthier outcomes.
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Does grief have a timeline? Can something positive somehow be nurtured from such a negative emotion? How can we grieve for moments as they pass, without the luxury of time standing still to do so?
Grief is a highly complex & personal matter to each of us, but somewhere in the process there are moments that we experience that are as relatable as pride or joy. This talk explores the very essence & nature of grief, from what’s been lost, to how to move on with what is left.
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Moving from adolescence to adulthood, replacing chemicals & criminal records with a career, certainly left some lasting psychological scar. Over time, & during my career progression, this manifested into “I shouldn’t be here, I’m not enough”, or what I’ve now come to know as Imposter Syndrome.
For a long time throughout my career the anxiety that came along with this was almost dehabilitating, until one day I was finally freed! & I felt so … unbelievably … incredibly … lost. Years later, I’m happy to say that I found my little imposter again, & I now plan on keeping him around until retirement. Why? Because I now understand why challenging the imposter, but accepting the syndrome, is something we all should do when we worry we’re not enough.
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![Silence Speaks Up Talk Review]()
"I’ve known Steven for over a year now, and I’ve had the pleasure of hearing not just one, but two of his speeches. As someone with a notoriously short attention span, I can honestly say he captures and keeps my focus every single time he truly delivers. His story can move an entire room to tears, and he is, without question, a genuine gentleman through and through." G, Lewis. Owner - Lewis Independent Broker
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![Silence Speaks Up Talk Review]()
"Watching Steven speak is like watching someone open a window in a room you didn’t realise had gone stale. He doesn’t ‘perform’ so much as invite you into a moment with him - raw, unpolished, human, and somehow steady all at once. There’s a courage in the way he tells his story that disarms people; you feel the room shift as he speaks, because he gives people permission to feel their own truth without shame. His talks linger long after he’s finished, not because of drama or theatrics, but because he connects in a way that feels deeply real and unexpectedly hopeful. Steven doesn’t just deliver a talk, he creates an experience that stays with you." M, Cee.
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"When you look for people doing remarkable things in the world, you will always find them and Steven Crichton from Silence Speaks is absolutely one of those people. My life’s mission has always been to seek out individuals who are transforming pain into purpose, those who use their own lived experience to make a genuine difference in the lives of others. At the Mental Health & Wellbeing Community Network, I had the privilege of hearing Steven share his story. From the moment he began speaking, he held the entire room in absolute stillness. His honesty, his presence, and his ability to articulate such profound moments of his journey were nothing short of captivating. What struck me most was the depth of connection he created with people he had only just met. It’s a rare and beautiful thing to feel immense pride and admiration for someone within minutes of hearing them speak, but that’s the impact Steven has. His work is powerful, necessary, and deeply inspiring. I left feeling grateful, moved, and reminded of the extraordinary strength that can rise from the hardest chapters of our lives. Steven is a true testament to the power of sharing our stories." Lisa
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"We had the pleasure of booking Silence Speaks for our Fieldnotes Stiwdio event in the summer. Steve was a fascinating and engaging speaker who brought the attendees out of their shell, involving everyone in the discussion, and staying behind after the event to connect further and answer questions. Informed by his own lived experience, Steve was able to cover sensitive topics with humility and tact; it’s fair to say that we all left the session with a renewed sense of purpose 😊 Thank you, Steve! " Millie Sutherland-O'Gara, Stiwdio Officer
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