SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
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Round Three: Saturday 1:30 – 2:45 P.M.

301       Working with the Star Diagram:   Whole Person Therapy

              (Recommended Introductory Course)  

              Janet Messer, Ph.D.

Using lecture and direct experience, participants will be introduced to Assagioli's "Star Diagram" of the seven psychological functions (thoughts, emotions, impulses, imagination, intuition, sensations, and will). Applications for personal use and working with clients will be addressed, including using these concepts to deepen awareness, acceptance, and change in therapy.

   Dr. Messer is a member of the AAP Steering Committee and is a licensed psychologist in private practice and adjunct faculty at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. She uses psychosynthesis in her practice and teaches it to mental health professionals and laypeople.

Learning Objectives: Attendees should be better able to:

1. Describe and access the seven psychological functions in themselves.
2. Assist clients in identifying and accessing the seven psychological functions.
3. Analyze and select  when and how to use these methods in therapy.

302       Resiliency in Practice: Promoting Better Health in Helping Professionals

              Christine Michael, Ph.D.* and Nicholas D. Young, Ph.D., Ed.D.*

This presentation will cover the seminal theory and research on human resilience, discuss its application to those in the helping professions, and explore ways that this work can be applied in our daily practice to ensure well being while in the service of supporting others.

   Christine Michael is a graduate faculty in psychology and education whose teaching and professional career has spanned more than thirty years.  She currently is a faculty member in the Department of Graduate Psychology and Counseling at Union Institute & University(UIU).

   Nicholas D.Young professional career has included teaching and practicing in the broad fields of psychology and education for twenty years. He is the founder and Director of the Department of Graduate Psychology and Counseling at UIU.

Learning Objectives: Attendees should be better able to:

1. Explicate theories of human resilience.
2. Describe scholarly research on resilience.
3. List factors that may cause stress and burnout in the helping professions.
4. Discuss ways to use resilience theory and research to promote well being for practitioners and those they serve.

303       Things I Wish I Had Been Taught in Medical School

              Robert Anderson, M.D.

Psychosynthesis, in eclipsing old models of human behavior and growth, becomes the ideal model for reaching beyond Western conventional medical management with concepts of whole-person care in redefining health, disease, healing and curing.  The value of my medical school education pales in comparison to the principles derived from these real stories of 40 years of patient encounters and medical practice.

   Bob practiced medicine from 1960 to 1992 and was certified in Psychosynthesis by Ed Turner and Edith Stauffer in 1979. He founded the American Board of Holistic Medicine (currently 1,040 physicians) and teaches The Art of Medicine at Bastyr University.

Learning Objectives: Attendees should be better able to:

1. Describe a new proactive model of health, disease, cure and healing. 
2. Articulate applications of concepts pertinent to personal healthcare and that of persons with whom they interact. 
3. Apply cogent principles of mind-spirit-body experience both personally and professionally.

304       Synthetic Problem Solving for Families and Groups

              Deborah S. Onken, Ph.D.

A psychosynthetic way of problem solving allows the family or group involved to fully express their view point on a problem or issue and physically, emotionally, and intellectually explore what are the pros and cons of any choices. Often the family is stuck in only one choice or one viewpoint and this viewpoint may have been inherited from previous generations. That is explored and accepted as well. What is different is following Assagioli's model of synthesis with the family or group to experientially "solve" an issue.

   Dr. Onken is a Psychosynthesis trainer, lecturer, licensed psychologist, faculty member at Washington University, St. Louis, Director of the Family Synthesis Institute, and author of the book The Family Self Help Book: Exercises in Family Synthesis.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will be better able to:

1. Discuss methods families use to solve problems when there is conflict.
2. Describe Hegel's cycle of "thesis, antithesis, and synthesis."
3. Apply an alternative process for family problem solving.
4. Describe the Psychosynthesis terms "both/and" and "synthesis of opposites."
5. Compare the meaning of compromise with synthesis.

305       Using Your Counselor Role to Consciously Evolve Yourself

              Thomas Levy, M.Ed., LMHC

Through our own desire for spiritual growth, we attract particular clients and problems to us that can draw from us those exact qualities we need to develop in order to expand our awareness and expression of the universal consciousness that dwells within us. Through experiential learning, participants may get a direct experience of this reality and learn how to consciously work with it as counselors.

   For over 30 years, Thom has explored numerous forms of spiritual practices including meditation, yoga, qigong, and various forms of energy healing. For the past 18 years he has been utilizing the principles of psychosynthesis as a psychotherapist in private practice, in residential settings and in outpatient clinics, and enjoys training and leading groups in counseling and awareness.

Learning Objectives: Attendees should be better able to:

1. Understand how to consciously use the counselor role as a path for their personal evolution.
2. Use a journaling technique which helps foster an observer space which can help counselors improve their ability to help themselves and their clients.
3. Apply a reflective technique that can help keep counselors more engaged and inspired about their work with clients.
4. Utilize a process that can help counselors begin to experience the interconnectedness of all beings and their own power to manifest reality.    

306       Systemic Constellations                                             

              (Double-length workshop: 1:30 – 4:15 P.M.)

              Svante Bjorklund, MSEE

An introduction to constellation work according to Bert Hellinger, a German psychotherapist. Includes practical demonstrations with representatives in spatial relationships in the room. The presentation will include Self, I and subpersonalities, approaching the person as a being in a system of family and organization in which all relevant energetic bindings and influences are revealed.

   Svante Bjorklund studied psychosynthesis counseling for four years and psychosynthesis organizational consulting for three years at HumaNova in Sweden. He has 30 years of international industrial experience, concurrent with 25 years of work in human development programs. During the past five years he has integrated psychosynthesis, yogic healing, and Systemic Constellation work in his studies and in teaching and consulting. He has studied Systemic Constellations with leading practitioners in Europe.

Learning Objectives: Attendees should be better able to:

1. Describe an overview of Systemic Constellations, an effective and useful method that is complementary to other psychosynthesis tools and methods.
2. Apply practical means for helping participants bring their personal issues to assess and investigate systemically.
3. Prepare the environment to assist clients to see resolution of difficult systemic issues with the help of representations of psychosynthesis concepts in spatial relationships.
4. Describe the meaning of systemic energies.
5. Utilize and experience various representations of the systemic energies.
6. Assess and describe how personal knowledge of systemic energies can offer a procedure that is relevant and helpful for working with others.

Round Four: Saturday 3:00 – 4:15 P.M.

401       From Self, With Love                                                    

             Jon Schottland, M.A.

Transpersonal psychology, and psychosynthesis in particular, give us a powerful view of love.  This workshop will bring the subject of love into focus as a transformational force for personal and social change, with implications for therapy as well.  Come explore where love fits into counseling theory and practice

   Jon Schottland is an educator, trainer and psychotherapist in private practice. He currently teaches in the professional counselor training program at The Synthesis Center in Amherst, MA.

Learning Objectives: Attendees should be better able to:

1. Summarize the personal and transpersonal dimensions of love
2. Describe the effect of these dimensions on our capacity to receive and express love.
3. Apply techniques of meta-practice (loving-kindness) to therapy in order to transcend the polarities or sources of inner conflict in relationships.
4. Describe the relationship between will and love.

402       Psychosynthesis and Business: Bringing it All Together                                             

              Gwin Stewart, Ph.D., CASAC, and Eric Blatchford*

The St Louis Wellness Center brings together a quality group of holistic health-care providers.  As a continuous and organic process, Psychosynthesis facilitates the natural flow of growth and development. Let us show you how the Center has implemented these principles to guide clients, providers, and the larger community toward wholeness.

   An experienced psychologist and addictions counselor, Gwin is Co-Director of St. Louis Wellness Center, a holistic health-care facility. She uses Psychosynthesis to bring understanding to her work in therapy, consultation, supervision, and teaching.

   Eric’s path has taken him from being a Stock Broker in New York to being a  Financial Advisor in St. Louis to working as a Real Estate, Investment, and Mortgage Consultant.  He is mindful to embrace change, develop his weaknesses, and search for a wholeness within.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will be better able to:

1. Apply Psychosynthesis principles to their business objectives.
2. Use some of the key elements described in the principles in developing their own business plans.
3. Explain the importance of delineating these principles in the daily operations for their centers.
4. Apply the methods from their business/Center models into the larger community.

403       Clients in Crisis: Personal and Professional Challenges

              Andy Vengrove, Ed.D.*

The development of crisis intervention skills is a necessary part of a counselor's repertoire. There are both professional and personal challenges (i.e. client safety, establishing the proper mindset for crisis counseling) that are inevitable when engaged in crisis work with our clients. These and other introductory issues will be explored.

   Dr. Vengrove is a Professor at the Union Institute and University. He holds his  M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Tufts University with a focus in School Psychology, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be better able to:

1. List the characteristics of a crisis.
2. Describe the basic theories of crisis intervention.
3. Describe the characteristics that make effective crisis workers.
4. Explain the importance of "not catching the crisis."

404       The Way of Practice                                                     

              Martin Mullins, M.Sc.

Participants will be introduced to Meditative Practice in its two aspects: Firstly, Practice in Daily Life; i.e. taking time out to be present to ourselves. Secondly, Daily Life as Practice; i.e. doing with more awareness what we have to do anyway.

   Martin Mullins has studied and practiced psychosynthesis and transpersonal theory for the past seventeen years. His seminal training was at Eckhart House, Institute of Psychosynthesis and Transpersonal Theory in Dublin, Ireland. Martin has also studied at the Institute of Psychosynthesis, London and participated in programs at the Durckheim Center, Germany.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be better able to:

1. Describe the challenges of the so called "crisis of duality:" How is it that a person may set aside time to meditate each day and yet there is not real Transformation in their everyday lives?
2. Discuss the concept of "disidentification."
3. Describe and experience the practice of disidentification, the letting go to receive who we are.

405       Psychosynthesis and Madness in Ancient Literature

              Julie Strong, M.D.

This talk explores two tragedies, Sophocles’ Ajax, and Euripides’ Heracles from a psychosynthesis perspective. It examines the myth of Psyche and Eros to reveal how the Higher Self, in conjunction with Nature, guides a woman on her journey from depression to wholeness.

   Julie Strong has practiced general medicine in Nova Scotia, Canada for the past 25 years. Psychosynthesis has guided her life for past 15. She has practiced psychosynthesis for five years, and is in the process of establishing a Halifax Psychosynthesis Society.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will be better able to:

1. Describe the narcissistic personality disorder and its hereditary pattern.
2. Demonstrate a better understanding of how to do psychotherapy with NPD clients.
3. Discuss how therapist attitude and timing of interventions impact treatment in patients in acute distress.
4. Apply the healing power of myth and nature on distressed clients.

(Updated March 16, 2008)

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