Drawing on the findings of her own mythic life and work in over 100 countries, 40 cultures, and with leaders the world over, Dr. Houston will offer a workshop rare for its ability to evoke new ways of being through the consideration of the dynamics of both old and emergent myths and stories of transformation. Participants will experience state of the art methods in experiencing sensory, psychological, symbolic and spiritual growth, and discovery in ways both practical and profound. Liberating thoughtways, shifts in perception and understanding, and growth in capacity will enable the participant to take these discoveries back to his or her own clients, communities and organizations. Full of music and high theatre, and often hilarious (Houston’s father wrote the joke, “Who’s on First?”), this workshop will explore the mystery of living in a time of whole system transition when what we can do as individuals can make a significant difference in the lives of many.
This workshop will explore archetypical and imaginal sources for Social Artistry, and address states of consciousness research as it applies to exploring the possible human and the possible society.
Couples’ expectations about the role of sexuality in intimate relationships have changed dramatically over the past 40 years. We will explore the main ideas of the romantic ideal: how we want our partner to fulfill our needs for connection, belonging and continuity, as well as give the sense of transcendence, mystery and passion. Examining the cultural values of love and respect, freedom and responsibility, and interdependence vs. autonomy, we will map a culturally relevant approach to work with the dilemmas of desire in couples. We also will probe the difference between clearly assigned gender role repartition and the post-feminist egalitarian model.
The StoryPlay® model weaves together the elements of story/metaphors, creativity, expressive arts and play to form a unique and proven method of therapy to effect positive change, healing and problem-solving. Deriving its theoretical foundations from the principles of Milton H. Erickson and indigenous teachings, StoryPlay® emphasizes cultural diversity, natural healing abilities and creative solutions.
This workshop explores how the Native American belief system contains ingredients to keep the mind and body in harmony and promote well-being. We will explore adding time-frames, respect and gratitude; the circle of life, and symbols as reminders of the "right" path.
Arabs, Muslims and Middle Easterners are well-established populations in North America and are still growing. In this presentation, we will examine their various backgrounds, religions, mentalities, professions and subcultures as well as their psychological needs, struggles and aspirations. The challenges they face and represent also will be discussed. Practical and therapeutic guidelines for all types of caregivers dealing with this population will be presented.
The use of stories, anecdotes and metaphors greatly facilitates "brief solutions" as the therapeutic message is encapsulated in a highly condensed form in the teaching tales and humorous anecdotes typical of Sufi Approaches. In these tales, utilizing trance phenomena, the message is available for recall far beyond the time of the actual therapeutic encounter. This approach quickly, thoroughly and lastingly effects therapeutic change. In this workshop we will focus on Teaching Tales in combination with music. The approach is experiential: participants will actually experience a traditional Sufi Session of Story Telling, based on which the theory and technical aspects will be taught.