March 26

Download PDF Thursday Workshops here.

9:00 a.m. - Special Pre-Conference Workshop

121 - Shhhh! The Ethical Dilemmas No One Talks About

Mary Jo Barrett

The ethical rules for therapists used to be straightforward and unambiguous: no gifts, no self-disclosure, no dual relationships, no out-of-session contact, and, of course, no sex. But today the rules against boundary violations aren't so straightforward anymore, nor do the old prohibitions always seem clinically useful. Compassion fatigue also can impede our judgment, making us more susceptible to improper conduct. In this workshop, we'll explore both the ethical dilemmas we face and the compassion fatigue that makes us vulnerable to boundary confusion. We'll discuss the importance of self-reflection, peer supervision, sharing concerns with colleagues, and establishing and maintaining clear boundary guidelines. We'll focus particularly on self-care, with participants developing a professional wellness plan to keep them grounded and mindful in their professional lives. Note: This workshop fulfills many state board requirements for training in ethics and risk management.  Registrants receive 6 hours of CE credit.

Mary Jo Barrett, M.S.W., is director of the Center for Contextual Change and teaches at the University of Chicago. She's the author of Systemic Treatment of Incest and Treating Incest: A Multiple Systems Perspective.

Thursday All Day Workshops
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

101 - The Language of Your Body's Energy

Donna Eden and David Feinstein

Do you sense that there's more to health--and healing--than Western medicine understands? Do you want to take back control of your body's own healing capacities? In this experiential workshop, you'll discover the wisdom of cultures attuned to plants, nature, and the energies that underlie all life. You'll learn how to feel your body's subtle energies as tangible forces from the author of a classic book on energy medicine, and how to work with these energies to improve your vitality, health, and happiness. You'll leave with tools you can put into immediate use for reducing stress and anxiety, improving mental acuity, and clearing your energy fields.

Donna Eden, who's been at the forefront of holistic healing for more than three decades, is the president of Innersource. She's the coauthor with David Feinstein of the bestselling books Energy Medicine, Energy Medicine for Women and The Promise of Energy Psychology.

David Feinstein, Ph.D., has been on the faculties of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Antioch College.

102 - Laughing and Crying at the Movies

Desson Thomson

Though movies are considered part of the "entertainment industry," we generally don't go to films merely to be entertained, but to experience genuine emotion--laughter, tears, surprise, suspense, even fear. But after we walk away from a powerful movie, we rarely take the time to reflect on what caused those emotions, why that particular film "spoke" to us. What is it about Tootsie that makes us laugh or Casablanca, as we watch Bogie say goodbye to Bergman, that makes us tear up? What are the "triggers" to emotion in the movie-going experience, and why do certain movies evoke something in us akin to an actual mystical experience? In this workshop, we'll explore these and other questions, as we watch clips from a host of great movies, both funny and affecting.

Desson Thomson was a film critic for The Washington Post for 21 years. He's a film expert who addresses groups around the country on topics pertaining to films and how they're made.

103 - Seeking Wisdom in a Troubled World

Richard Moss

Many of us experience sensations of vague dissatisfaction, the loss of our authentic selves, the feeling that we're somehow invisible and unseen by others. Typically, our reaction is to control these feelings by giving them a conscious shape or name, such as inadequacy, failure, or pointlessness. But if we can learn not to flee from these feelings but rather face them wordlessly, with precise, expansive, and welcoming awareness, they can become sources of strength and wisdom--a way of coming into our true selves. In this experiential workshop, we'll use a process called The Mandala of Being to learn how to stop struggling with these feelings, fully inhabit them with body and mind relaxed, alert, and fully conscious, and experience through them the deep richness of reality in the present moment.

Richard Moss, M.D., has guided people in the use of focused awareness for more than 30 years. His books include The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness and The Black Butterfly: An Invitation to Radical Aliveness.

104 - Finding Your Voice

Dana LaCroix

Singing, one of the most primal forms of human communication, has been used since the dawn of history to mark life's milestones, overcome challenges, accompany rituals, and bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds. Many of us yearn to express ourselves in song, yet, in our time, singing has come to be regarded as the sacrosanct territory of the professionally trained. In this workshop, you'll have the opportunity to find your own singing voice in a safe, supportive environment where uninhibited musical self-expression is the goal. Through the use of breathing exercises, traditional work songs, gospel music, musical theater games, and the exploration of rhythm, you'll have an opportunity to sing, shout, laugh, improvise, and experience the thrill of lifting your voice and blending with others in a communal celebration of song.

Dana LaCroix, is a professional singer, songwriter, and critically acclaimed recording and touring artist. She's written songs for feature films, been director of music at the New Drama School in Copenhagen, Denmark, and worked as a vocal coach at the Danish Academy of Music.