Workshops and Presentations
Transforming the Externally Referenced Self
Many people have achieved certain benchmarks such as a steady income, marriage, education and career satisfaction, yet often feel stuck and unfulfilled. After thirty plus years as a psychotherapist, I have realized that the very qualities that we view as virtuous, and have contributed to our success, can disconnect us from our self and create stress . Problems often stem from defining ourselves and measuring our personal worth by our achievements and what we provide to others, rather than from our inner qualities. We become too externally focused, causing us to be overly concerned with "fitting in" and maintaining harmony , while feeling constant pressure to live up to unrelenting standards.
In this workshop you will learn to:
* Develop a more compassionate stance toward your shortcomings.
* Become more connected to yourself and others.
* Break free from outdated survival strategies that keep you focused externally and hold you back.
* Define yourself and your value by who you are rather than what you do or how others see you (which ironically increases
productivity).
* Allow your inner compass to guide your choices rather than seeking outside validation and conforming to family, societal and
peer expectations.
* Become more internally focused to know what is in your best interest, prioritize self-care, and pursue your
unique life direction.
Transforming the Externally Referenced Self
Many people have achieved certain benchmarks such as a steady income, marriage, education and career satisfaction, yet often feel stuck and unfulfilled. After thirty plus years as a psychotherapist, I have realized that the very qualities that we view as virtuous, and have contributed to our success, can disconnect us from our self and create stress . Problems often stem from defining ourselves and measuring our personal worth by our achievements and what we provide to others, rather than from our inner qualities. We become too externally focused, causing us to be overly concerned with "fitting in" and maintaining harmony , while feeling constant pressure to live up to unrelenting standards.
In this workshop you will learn to:
* Develop a more compassionate stance toward your shortcomings.
* Become more connected to yourself and others.
* Break free from outdated survival strategies that keep you focused externally and hold you back.
* Define yourself and your value by who you are rather than what you do or how others see you (which ironically increases
productivity).
* Allow your inner compass to guide your choices rather than seeking outside validation and conforming to family, societal and
peer expectations.
* Become more internally focused to know what is in your best interest, prioritize self-care, and pursue your
unique life direction.
For Therapists The Intrinsic Self in Psychotherapy
“The real self is an alive, unique personal center that wants to grow.” Karen Horney
Many of our clients are reasonably content with their career and status, yet feel stuck and unfulfilled in other areas of their lives. The tendency to define themselves and measure their worth by achievements, how they are being perceived, and what they provide for others, rather than by their inner qualities, often underlie their symptoms and self-defeating habits, while perpetuating an external orientation. They are anxious about "fitting in", dependent on outside validation, and feel constant pressure to live up to unrelenting standards.
In this workshop, you will learn specific ways to help your clients:
* Access and affirm their Intrinsic Self and define themselves according to their inner qualities.
* Break free from outdated survival strategies that distort their self-concept.
* Shift from an external to an internal frame of reference and live a more fulfilling and authentic life.
* Counteract obstacles to recognizing and affirming their intrinsic worth.
* Make choices based on inner guidance rather than relying on societal, peer and family expectations.
* Effectively penetrate destructive core assumptions by “piercing the threat”.
* Stop over identifying with particular attributes such as competence and being helpful as attempts to preserve self-
esteem, gain acceptance and feel emotionally secure.
“The real self is an alive, unique personal center that wants to grow.” Karen Horney
Many of our clients are reasonably content with their career and status, yet feel stuck and unfulfilled in other areas of their lives. The tendency to define themselves and measure their worth by achievements, how they are being perceived, and what they provide for others, rather than by their inner qualities, often underlie their symptoms and self-defeating habits, while perpetuating an external orientation. They are anxious about "fitting in", dependent on outside validation, and feel constant pressure to live up to unrelenting standards.
In this workshop, you will learn specific ways to help your clients:
* Access and affirm their Intrinsic Self and define themselves according to their inner qualities.
* Break free from outdated survival strategies that distort their self-concept.
* Shift from an external to an internal frame of reference and live a more fulfilling and authentic life.
* Counteract obstacles to recognizing and affirming their intrinsic worth.
* Make choices based on inner guidance rather than relying on societal, peer and family expectations.
* Effectively penetrate destructive core assumptions by “piercing the threat”.
* Stop over identifying with particular attributes such as competence and being helpful as attempts to preserve self-
esteem, gain acceptance and feel emotionally secure.
Would you like me to come to your Organization to Speak?
Taking better care of yourself while helping others
The stress of being in a helping role can take a toll on your health, relationships and effectiveness. Helpers are often focused on the needs of others at the expense of attending to their own needs. In addition to the stress of being in a helping role, they often have habits that undermine their efforts at self-care and increase their susceptibility to compassion fatigue. Some examples include taking on the suffering of others, going above and beyond what is expected, and equating self- worth according to the good you do for others. These tendencies lead to excessive people pleasing, difficulty setting limits and becoming overly focused on other.
In this presentation you will learn to:
* Be empathetic while maintaining clear boundaries.
* Identify and challenge obstacles to implementing self-care.
* Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy giving.
* Reduce susceptibility to burnout and compassion fatigue.
For over twenty years I have been conducting presentations for onsite staff, conferences and retreats.
Allow me to customize a presentation to the needs of your staff or group.
JFK University Extension, Esalen Institute, Chesapeake Health Education, Cal State Fresno, California Association of Rehab Professionals, CAADAC, National Homecare Association, National AIDS Conference, Judicial Council of California, BASHET, Auburn Faith Hospice, Sequoia Hospital, Ventura Behavioral Health Conference on Trauma
Taking better care of yourself while helping others
The stress of being in a helping role can take a toll on your health, relationships and effectiveness. Helpers are often focused on the needs of others at the expense of attending to their own needs. In addition to the stress of being in a helping role, they often have habits that undermine their efforts at self-care and increase their susceptibility to compassion fatigue. Some examples include taking on the suffering of others, going above and beyond what is expected, and equating self- worth according to the good you do for others. These tendencies lead to excessive people pleasing, difficulty setting limits and becoming overly focused on other.
In this presentation you will learn to:
* Be empathetic while maintaining clear boundaries.
* Identify and challenge obstacles to implementing self-care.
* Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy giving.
* Reduce susceptibility to burnout and compassion fatigue.
For over twenty years I have been conducting presentations for onsite staff, conferences and retreats.
Allow me to customize a presentation to the needs of your staff or group.
JFK University Extension, Esalen Institute, Chesapeake Health Education, Cal State Fresno, California Association of Rehab Professionals, CAADAC, National Homecare Association, National AIDS Conference, Judicial Council of California, BASHET, Auburn Faith Hospice, Sequoia Hospital, Ventura Behavioral Health Conference on Trauma