Delegate: Penelope Kolovou
Affiliation: Minimal Stories of Health and Writing
Short Bio: Penelope Kolovou, MA, MSc, is a classical philologist, health counselor, and therapeutic writing facilitator, with a multidisciplinary academic background that includes postgraduate studies in educational psychology, applied health sciences, and intercultural care. She has extensive teaching and training experience across Europe, in both academic and community settings.
Her work focuses on the intersection of language, health, and personal development. She designs and delivers workshops that combine therapeutic creative writing and health education—particularly in areas such as sleep hygiene, resilience, and well-being. As the founder of Minimal Stories of Health and Writing initiative, she supports individuals and groups in exploring inner resources and self-awareness through writing.
She is a certified therapeutic writing practitioner (DPT Köln), an Erasmus+ expert and guest lecturer, and a member of the German-speaking Society for Poetry Therapy and Bibliotherapy (DGPB). She currently teaches at Bielefeld University, and offers professional trainings in communication skills for medical doctors.
Contact: e-mail: penelope-kolovou.com | facebook: @writingforhealth
Activity: In celebration of World Sleep Day, I designed and led a unique experiential workshop titled “Magical Stories… for Sweet Dreams!”, merging sleep education with therapeutic creative writing. The initiative, hosted by the NGO IASIS at WORK in Thessaloniki, Greece, brought together evidence-based practices from health counseling, educational psychology, and systemic therapeutic approaches, aiming to promote sleep hygiene and emotional well-being across the lifespan.
Why this initiative? From infancy to adulthood, our sleep undergoes constant changes—and challenges. This workshop invited participants to explore their relationship with sleep through mindful writing, storytelling, and group reflection, empowering them to create personalized bedtime routines rooted in emotional awareness and creativity.
Workshop Objectives: This World Sleep Day workshop aimed to raise awareness about the vital role of sleep hygiene in mental and physical well-being, while introducing mindfulness techniques and bedtime rituals to support restorative rest. Through therapeutic creative writing, participants explored self-awareness, emotional expression, and personal reflection by crafting their own symbolic “goodnight stories.” The session fostered connection, imagination, and self-esteem within a safe and supportive group setting.
Outcome: A particularly insightful outcome of the workshop was how quickly participants overcame their initial hesitation toward writing, opening-up to share their sleep experiences. They discovered that, when it comes to insomnia, it’s often more effective to mindfully explore and understand our personal sleep mindset—rather than simply revisiting the problem itself. This shift in perspective opened up space for creative, constructive engagement with their own sleep habits and emotional patterns.
Location: Thessaloniki
Date of Activity: 14.03.2025
Submitted by: Penelope Kolovou
