Courses

***NEW FOR 2013****

PATHWAYS TO JOY: Living a Resilient Life

This ten-week program is based on The Chemistry of Joy Workbook, our recently published guide to restoring resilience and rediscovering joy in the middle of a challenging life. Our integrative model is grounded in the latest information on nutrition and brain science, paired with the ancient wisdom of the Psychology of Mindfulness found in Eastern wisdom traditions. We’ll focus on the 9 Pathways to Joy – pathways that work with Body, Mind, and Heart.

The Body Pathways – Nurturing, Balancing, and Flowing

Nurturing your body through tending to healthy nutrition
Balancing your brain chemistry through nutritional supplementation or medication
Flowing with the cycles of the natural world and our bodies

The Mind Pathways – Settling, Opening, and Knowing

Settling your mind through the practices of meditation and mindful living
Opening to even the most difficult of emotions in a skillful way
Knowing your particular vulnerabilities and developing confidence in yourself as you respond to life’s challenges

The Heart Pathways – Connecting, Belonging, and Deepening

Connecting brings you out of shame and self-rejection into a life characterized by self-acceptance and self compassion
Belonging brings the healing power of connection
Deepening provides a fuller connection to your deepest, most authentic self

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION click here.

 

SELF ACCEPTANCE: THE CORE OF RESILIENCE

June 22, 2013        9:30 am – 3:30 pm

 Self-rejection can result in a sense of separation, shame, fear, or simply numbness and absence of enjoyment.  It may manifest in the experience of anxiety, depression, or harsh judgment of ourselves that keeps us from connecting from life in a joyful way.  In this workshop we will use Western psychotherapy and Eastern meditation-based approaches to help us move from self-rejection to its opposite – radical self acceptance. We will engage in dialogue with the Inner Critic and balance that voice by connecting with our own Essential Goodness,  In so doing we will come to experience self-compassion and unconditional friendliness toward ourselves, even those parts we have long rejected. It is possible, through insight and practice, to reconnect with our original goodness, and to experience that in our here-and-now lives.  Susan Bourgerie, MA, LP will facilitate this day-long experiential workshop.

For a detailed flyer and registration information click here.

 

 

 

SHAME AND SELF COMPASSION:  THE HEALING POWER OF MINDFULNESS

May 4, 2013        9:30 – 3:30 pm

 

For many of us there has long been a separation from ourselves, and the inability to give ourselves the kindness and compassion that we offer to others.  The origins of this suffering differ from person to person, but at the core is the experience of shame – the painfully felt experience of believing we are deeply flawed and therefore unworthy of connection.

In this day-long workshop we will use the work of Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, and Tara Brach’s book Radical Acceptance, which centers on use of the Buddhist practices of mindful awareness and compassion that offer healing from shame.  The class will be largely experiential, as we spend time in guided meditations, creating a safe container for touching into some aspects of experience that have been difficult to face – some loss, rage, shame, or fear that is in need of healing attention.  We will practice anchoring in the body, developing awareness of inner experience, staying with whatever arises, and developing the healing capacity for radical and compassionate acceptance of our experience and of ourselves, just as we are.  Previous meditation experience is helpful, but not necessary.  Workshop is facilitated by Susan Bourgerie, MA, LP.

For a detailed flyer and registration information click here.

 

SHAME RESILIENCE: Living A Wholehearted Life

September 14, 2013      9:30 am – 3:30 pm

“Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness.  It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, ‘No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough.’  It’s going to bed at night thinking, ‘Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging.”      – Brene’ Brown

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Based on the ground-breaking and inspirational work of Brene’ Brown, PhD, this day long workshop will introduce you to her theory of shame resilience, shedding light on the struggles we so often face with life-limiting shame experiences. You will gain insight and learn strategies for developing shame resilience – moving from shame induced fear, blame and disconnection toward courage, compassion, and connection.

Specific topics will include:

  • Recognizing shame and understanding your shame triggers
  • Understanding and defusing the social-cultural and interpersonal sources of shame
  • Learning to “talk shame” – giving words to these painful and often secret experiences
  • Reaching out – ending the isolation through empathic connection
  • Living a “Wholehearted Life” – one of authenticity, self-compassion, resilience, gratitude and joy

 

For a detailed flyer and registration instructions click here.