Before becoming a full-time close-up magician, I worked for over 20 years in healthcare and education. In 2002, I trained and then worked as a mental health nurse, in various hospital and communities settings.  Although now no longer a mental health nurse, my career spanned throughout practice, research and academia and finally onto being a Mental Health Trainer & Consultant.

My own personal experiences of mental health, gives me a unique insight into perceiving the world from different viewpoints. Coupled with my work as a magician, I have combined these two areas in innovative and inspiring ways (see below):

 

(1) Madness: Reality or Illusion?

In 2018 I wrote, produced and performed this show in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018 at The Pleasance Courtyard and Palm House. ‘Madness: Reality or Illusion?‘ is a thought provoking entertaining exploration of what is real and not real; how do we know and who decides? Drawing on my background in mental health, magic and spirituality, I invite the audience to consider these questions and more, illustrating my musings with magic tricks, stories and experiences as a mental health nurse.

As part of my company ‘Beyond Belief Magic’, I am now taking the show on tour at conferences, events and festivals throughout 2019-2020.

For more information – CLICK HERE

 

(2) Learning Magic can boost mental health and well-being

Can learning and performing magic help boost people’s mental health and well-being? Although, exploration in this area is in it’s infancy, the evidence clearly points to the answer being YES!

From my own personal experiences I am aware how learning and performing magic has helped increase my mental health and well-being. Plus, with increasing research and evidence that this is the case, I am sure this area is going to increase. Check out the link below:

Wiseman & Watt (2018) Achieving the impossible: a review of magic-based interventions and their effects on wellbeing

With this in mind, I am moving more towards teaching magic to people with mental health problems and/or people who want to increase their mental health and well-being.

With my previous background in education, training and mental health, I am in a unique position to provide this service, breaking down the magic tricks into steps, so I can teach magic in a simple, gentle and effective way.

For more information – please do get in touch –
https://www.beyondbeliefmagic.co.uk/contact/


UPCOMING EVENT

Scottish Stammering Network
 Magic and Stammering: Tricks for 10-14 years plus parent information/discussion session.  A free 2 hour event at The Quaker Meeting House in central Edinburgh.  The young people will have the opportunity to learn two card tricks to amaze friends and family afterwards, led by Jim from Beyond Belief Magic.  The group will bring together young people who stammer in an informal activity designed to develop communication confidence.  At the same time, parents will the have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of stammering, by sharing and finding further ways to support the young people in their lives who stammer.  Refreshments provided, but no creche facilities are available.  More Information and Booking coming soon, contact Jim the Magician to be sent information when available – CLICK HERE 

 

(3) Raising Awareness of Mental Health

This is a new area I am exploring and still unsure where it is going to go. So far I have written a blog post, which I was invited to write for Dean Williamson, a magician in Manchester, exploring mental health in magicians. If you have any other ideas on how I can use my magic in raising awareness in mental health, please do get in touch. Check out a link to the Blog below:

Why don’t we talk about our Mental Health?