An article I wrote for UKC about climbing in Albania is now available on their website: www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/climbing_in_albania-14411

Here is 'Container Exercise' the last of my contemplation and relaxation recordings added to youtube.. the footage is from Lake Ohrid, by the village of Lin in Albania. I had a bit of a pause before this one, having voice recorded the exercises in Spring 2020, which I shared on soundcloud. Over the next year I also shared them on youtube learning basic editing using Imovie. That stopped working when I updated my operating system but Rush is very similar, which I used for this yesterday. It's great how accessible video editing has become!

This series was DIY and self-initiated but designed to be supportive more widely during the covid outbreak and for use in therapeutic environments.  I made an extra one along the way of relaxation techniques and coping strategies, videoed on Mount Dajti, Albania quite spontaneously. I'll post that below too. There are also three articles in The Professional Mountaineer that I wrote for similar reasons, which you can access here

I'm not sure if I'll keep using the channels, the platforms are free so if I don't add to them I will still leave the material there.

Relaxation Techniques and Coping Strategies video below.

Below are screenshots from the youtube and soundcloud channels with the collection of recordings.

Link to the pages here:  youtube and soundcloud under The Adventure Art Therapist

Here is the relaxation exercise 'Four Elements', with some video imagery of landscapes I took using a go pro and mobile phone. I'm quite enjoying putting these podcasts to moving image. The next one is safe / special / calm place - whichever title suits your place best. 

Before the year is out, I've updated my portfolio to include key works from 2000 - 2020, in my usual postcard format. The images are quite small to keep it light.
If you would like a higher quality, printable  version email me lee @ lasimmons.com

Below are cards from the last three years, 

And fun with lava cube... if you click on the image to enlarge it, you can then use the arrow to make me climb at speed, like a digital flip book. 

Yesterday I received a PDF of my article (previous blog post) from Mountain Training, in their magazine The Professional Mountaineer​. 

You can download it here: 

Van on Hill ® ​

Introducing Van on Hill: a vehicle that enables art, therapy and climbing under one small roof, or internet connection.



 #art #painting #installation #socialart #writing #soundrecording
#climbinginstructor #climbing #rockclimbing #hillwalking #scrambling #tradclimbing 
#climbingtherapy #therapeuticclimbing
#onlinetherapy #emdr #arttherapy #psychotherapy #traumarecovery 

Tonight this fun event will take place online. I’m on first for 400 seconds of The Birthday Projects:

'L. A. Simmons, is an artist whose practice is based in painting; moving to and from that traditional format as if the canvas is a trampoline.⠀
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Her paintings have incorporated sheep, goats, firemen, a choir, a band, the ocean. They are often temporary and social, resulting in photographic evidence.⠀
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Lee's talk will share The Birthday Projects, where she biennially uses her birthday to make a new fine art piece or actualise a project outside of the usual framework.'⠀

'Come and join us for another PK Leamington Spa night online. We will be streaming live to your home on Youtube.
Our wonderful line-up of speakers offer a broad range of subjects. These include spoon carving, cake, how our cities speak to us, a body percussion tutorial, birthday art projects, community supported agriculture, darkroom photography, a plant swap, design as remedy, and we even have a professional viola musician to play for us from Italy. Side note: be prepared for the body percussion tutorial...don't sit too closely to your family on the sofa!
Jamie Chalmers, otherwise known as Mr X Stitch, will be co-hosting the event along with our regular host, Sarah Lowry. Join us for some much needed distraction and entertainment. You might even learn something new!
Tickets are available at different prices: free or with a donation to the Ecotherapy group held at Foundry Wood, Leamington Spa. You choose which ticket you would like. 15% of the ticket fee will cover our admin costs.

Ecotherapy is open to anyone struggling with their mental health, social isolation or addiction recovery. It has been running every week on a Tuesday at Foundry Wood for the past 5 years. Sessions are free to attend and typically 20 to 30 people attend. 
The group operates as a mutually supportive community.  Participants take part in activities based around the 5 Ways to Wellbeing- including connection with nature, mindfulness, sharing a meal together and woodland maintenance. The social connection is also vital and the sense of acceptance by people who understand how you feel. 
Tickets are unlimited, location is no barrier, babysitters not required and pets are welcome. Points will be awarded for the most innovative drinks and snacks, and make sure you save the best spot on the sofa! 
Wherever you are, we would love you to join us.

The talks will start at 7:15pm BST.'