My Story
Welcome
My name is Nana Tomova, and I am the founder of the Story Apothecary
I believe that stories can help us find our place in the world. I found refuge and belonging in stories as an adult. I finally came home.
I've worked in the mental health sector for over 10 years, and have worked with healing stories over the last three years.
I create the Story apothecary Podcast, where I dispense stories as medicine. I run Nature Story Walks and I am a Nature Guide, a Story Circle facilitator and a Pharmacist.
My Bio
Nana Tomova MPharm PgDip MRes PgCert
Storyteller
I trained with Roi Gal-Or in 2018, and in 2019 in biographical storytelling, and continue my training with Shonaleigh Cumbers, a Jewish tradition bearer from the Drut’syla tradition. I am part of her Walking the Wildwoods Course, a 3 year course by invitation.
Nature Guide
I gained my Lowland Leader Qualification in 2018, and did my Mountain Leader Training in 2019 with Bryn Williams Mountaineering. I am a member of the British Mountaineering Association.
Wilderness Mentoring with Natasha Lythgoe from the Art of Rewilding for a decade. This has included creative mentoring, the Artist Way course, photography teaching, re-wilding programmes, nature retreats, a Vision Quest as part of "Peace, Power, Lover and Wildness Programme", and 1:1 ongoing mentoring.
Mental Health Pharmacist
I qualified as a Pharmacist in 2010 after a 5 year masters degree. I have worked for the NHS since then, mostly in specialist mental health services, some of which I have set up.
Independent Prescriber
In 2020 I qualified as an Independent Prescriber in the field of Mental Health after a year intensive programme.
Masters in Research
I gained my 2 year Masters in Research (MRes) in 2019 where I worked with people with an experience of psychosis to document their stories of treatment. I presented this at an international conference in 2021, and I have worked to disseminate the findings as a storytelling performance, for which I crowdfunded in 2020.
Motivational Interviewing training for 4 years with Steven Rollnick. I have delivered motivational interviewing training for the University of Brighton and for the NHS.
Non-Violent Communications with Daren De Witt in 2018, London. I then co-facilated the Brighton NVC Practice group for a year.
Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism, 2014-2016 at the Brighton Buddhist Centre, where I studied meditation and had my own regular practice.
Meaningful Conversations about Medicines. I developed a course for healthcare practitioners based on Motivational Interviewing, Non-Violent Communications and Stories for healthcare professionals on how to have compassionate, meaningful and empowering conversations about mental health treatment with patients.
Lecturer at the University in Brighton 2017-2022. I taught nursing students pharmacology, mental health medicines, motivational interviewing, incorporating stories in my teaching.
Sister Stories Circle Facilitation Training. Online training with Gemma Brady of Sister Stories on circle facilitation.
Ethnobotany course 7 month course with John Rhyder at the Wood Craft School 2022 (ongoing).
Acknowledgements
I'd like to thank and acknowledge my creativity and wilderness guide, Natasha Lythgoe without whom, I will still be asleep. Without her, I would not be who I am today.
Shonaleigh, who teaches me about story, respect, tradition and the power of story.
Roi Gal-Or who opened my eyes and gave me the gift of seeing myself as a storyteller.
My beloved Ollie, whose tenderness, wisdom, creativity and love nourishes me every day.
Creativity and Nature, who I forgot existed for a while and I was lost. They feed my soul.
Stories and Community. Without which life is much greyer.
