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THURSDAY — 10:00 am - 5:15 pm

IT'S EASY TO W.R.I.T.E.

Kathleen (Kay) Adams, LPC, Moderator, Immersive Chairperson

In this daylong Master Class (part of a 4-day Expressive Writing & Journaling Immersive), participants will experience three dimensions of therapeutic writing that can be used to foster both clinical skills and professional self-care. The day will begin with a presentation of the W.R.I.T.E. model, a simple five-part methodology that makes therapeutic writing easy and accessible for all ages and skill levels. Bring your journals!

10 PRINCIPLES OF TRANSFORMATIVE WRITING: DYNAMICS THAT PROMOTE GROWTH & HEALING

Sherry Reiter PhD, PTR-M/S, RDT-BCT, LCSW

Whether we call it writing therapy, poetry therapy, or journal therapy, the therapeutic power of writing lies in its transformative qualities. This workshop will introduce the ten principles of transformative writing as put forth by Dr. Sherry Reiter in “Writing Away the Demons” (North Star Press, 2009). The didactic portion of the program includes samples of writing. The experiential component will include expressive writing with the option of sharing. Bring pen, paper, and your unique presence.

GUIDED AUTOBIOGRAPHY: PROMOTING HEALTHY AGING WITH THERAPEUTIC WRITING GROUPS

Carol D'Agostino, LCSW, MA

There’s a growing body of literature on the benefits of cognitive activity and social connection with regards to healthy aging. With an increasing number of older adults suffering from chronic disease, depression and cognitive dysfunction, clinicians often struggle knowing that medication and therapy simply aren’t enough. Guided autobiography provides an avenue for the aging population to gain self-confidence, connect and share with peers, and keep the brain active. It is a group writing exercise whereby members write about “life themes” together and celebrate their personal histories. As a therapeutic process, it is a very powerful adjunct to therapy, and does not require any expertise in writing. Come experience the process in this three hour workshop.

WRITING OUT OF DEPRESSION: FOUR PATHS TO WHOLENESS

Marianela Medrano, PhD, LPC, CPT

In this workshop, participants will explore four paths to overcome situational depression that stems from a painful separation from the true, whole self. The First Path is to dwell in the house of the self. The Second Path is to cultivate and preserve kindness toward the self and others. The Third Path is to use discernment to understand your story. And lastly, the Fourth Path is to practice transformative thinking and writing. Through poetry and writing exercises as well as mindful meditation, participants will learn to navigate through the Four Paths to Wholeness.

FRIDAY — 10:00 am - 5:15 pm

Your Brain on Ink: The Journal Ladder and Neuroplasticity

Kathleen (Kay) Adams, LPC

Deborah Ross, LPC, CJT

Interpersonal neurobiology is now confirming what evidence-based research has shown for nearly 30 years: expressive writing has positive effects on health, mood, and behavior. Most mental health professionals agree that writing down thoughts and feelings can be a helpful adjunct to therapy. Many advocate that their clients keep journals. However, very few clinicians have learned the theory, techniques, skills, and strategies that transform the everyday journal into a powerful therapeutic tool. And even fewer have up-to-the-minute knowledge about the powerful interaction between therapeutic writing and the new, emerging brain science. This workshop will present a neuroscientific take on the Journal Ladder, a classic journal therapy method. Parallel theories and applied practices of the Journal ladder will be interpreted through the lens of neuroplasticity. Participants will leave with a toolbox of techniques and strategies for helping their clients change their lives through their brains - on ink!

SATURDAY

Executive Conference Center

1601 Broadway (enter on 48th Street)

9:00 am - 10:30 am

Self-Supervision through the Journal

Kate Thompson, MA, CJT

Self-supervision offers therapists another way of developing a reflective practice and deepening their work with clients as well as with themselves. Journal writing can offer a useful method of self-supervision, and can be combined with other supervision arrangements a therapist may have. A supervision journal is a place to reflect on one’s own practice, consolidate learning from clients or supervisees, identify blind spots and countertransference issues, and provide professional self-support. This experiential workshop will take a look at how classic journal writing techniques can be employed in the service of one’s professional development and self-support. There will be ample opportunity for discussion and sharing of ideas. Let us give to ourselves what we offer to others.

11:40 am - 1:00 pm

Journaling Unstuck! Techniques for Enhanced Awareness & Treatment

Beth Jacobs, PhD

A fresh writing experience can channel new awareness. As such, journaling can be a powerful tool in promoting a healthy cycle of insight and integration. This writing workshop will consider how the process of journaling can reflect stages and issues of one’s internal development, and will explore different writing approaches and techniques that enliven the writing process to promote a parallel internal awakening. Ways that the journaling process can get bogged down, repetitive, complacent or stuck will be examined, and participants will experiment with methods that get journals moving again, as well as methods that add depth, emotion, and excitement to the journaling process. This workshop welcomes both new and experienced journalers, as well as clinicians working with people who journal.

2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Inner & Outer Landscapes: Bringing Environment into the Therapeutic Relationship

Mary Reynolds Thompson, CPCC, CAPF, CJF

Kate Thompson MA, CJT

Mind and matter have often been viewed as separate dimensions of reality, as if what is “out there” and what is “in here” are two independently operating things. In this 3-hour workshop, participants will explore the relationship between the psyche and the environments that we inhabit. Having a strong sense of space and place can create safety, contextualize the work of healing, and provide powerful metaphors for further therapeutic inquiry. This workshop is ideal for those who are interested in ecopsychology, or any therapist looking for additional tools to help clients explore aspects of the self and being-in-the-world.

SUNDAY

Executive Conference Center

1601 Broadway (enter on 48th Street)

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Writing, Mindfulness & Collage between Sessions: Creating a Breathing Space

Mari Alschuler, MFA, PTP/PTR, ACSW, LISW-S, PhD

Taking time for ourselves in the brief moments between sessions to heal from our therapeutic witnessing is important for clinician self-care. Through mini-collages and short stints of writing, breathing, grounding, and mindfulness meditation, participants will learn new tools to create “space” between these interstices, both literally and figuratively. In this 3-hour multimodal workshop, participants will be invited to create a poem or prose piece, and a mini-collage. No prior writing or collage experience necessary.

11:40 am - 1:00 pm

Inspiring Recovery & Empowerment Over Addiction and Trauma through Creative Writing

Susan Dingle, LCSW, CASAC

Maggie Bloomfield, LCSW, CASAC

Terri Muuss, LMSW

The Poets of Well-Being present a collaborative performance, followed by a panel discussion of how their poetry and spoken word workshops have helped people recover from substance abuse and trauma. They will demonstrate how creative writing can engage one’s inner wisdom, humor, and lyricism to empower both individuals and communities in their journeys through recovery. Through discussion, ideas on how to use poetry and spoken word as means for transformation will be explored, and the presenters will share their own experiences and insights as poet/therapists, and as the founder/facilitators of the Poetry of Well-Being workshops. With a focus on personal and professional collaboration to develop creativity and community, this 80-minute workshop invites participants to share the joy of the written and spoken word by engaging in this interactive performance experience.

2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Wellness-Focused Treatment Using Transformative Metaphor & Action Methods

Nancy S. Scherlong, LCSW, PTR, M/S

In the helping professions, there are so many ways to talk about disorders and what is wrong, but when it comes to expressing happiness, satisfaction, and state of well-being within the clinical context, fewer options come to mind. In this 3-hour workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of wellness-focused work, and practice applying some of these tenets through reflective reading and writing exercises. Prompts, poems, and psychodramatic action methods that demonstrate wellness metaphors and identify aspects of resilience will be presented through the Health and Wellness Coaching framework. Come learn new ways to work with themes of joy and resilience with your clients! No prior experience with coaching or psychotherapy is necessary; this workshop does not substitute for formal training in either.

St. Giles New York - Court Hotel

$259 single/double

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

"Expressive Therapies Summit" Rate/Group Code

Website: www.expressivemedia.org