SCA CONNECTIONS November-December 2010

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2010

letter from the president

Gila Fein MA, LMHCA

President's Message November 2010

Meetings

Our November meeting is quickly approaching! Friday, November 19^th Dan Keusal, MS, LMFT will be presenting on "Psyche and Sky: An Introduction to Astrology for Therapists". Be sure to see his full article below.

In case you missed them, we opened the new SCA year with an amazing turnout for our first two meetings. Speaker Peter Hannah delivered an awesome presentation on Web Marketing in September and Jackie Leibsohn shared some great information about working with Eating Disorders at our October meeting. We left both meetings with some useful tips and tools to bring into our own practices. In response to your feedback we are now starting our meetings one hour later, at 9:00 a.m. Our higher meeting turnout seems to be affirming that change as well.

Website update

I'm pleased to report that we have secured a web designer to complete the work on our website. Work began the week of October 11^th. More information will be provided as the final pieces of the project are completed.

Finding Community

One of my core beliefs about what makes a good well-rounded therapist is connection with a community of colleagues. It provides a place to connect, keep our ideas fresh and folks to check in with when we are feeling isolated, unsure about a particular problem we haven't faced before or needing a new outlook when things get especially challenging in our work.

SCA has been a place I can have that sense of community in my work. I am a relatively new therapist, in the process of building a practice and finding my niche. I've found SCA meetings a place I can show up, feel connected and explore my interests with a dynamic group of peers.

At the beginning of each SCA meeting we begin with time for folks to introduce themselves and share a little about their practice. For me it has been a time to check in with myself about where I am since last month, what has the most juice for me in my practice and put into words what I often think I don't have words for.

Some months the words just flow and the experience gives me a sense of confidence about myself and my practice. Other months I struggle with what I want to say, not sure how to put a positive spin on how I see myself and end up stumbling through my introduction.

It has been those times when I didn't perform as well that have reminded me of the power of community; that I don't always have to present well to be allowed in - that those times when I'm feeling less than adequate are the times when I need community the most. Connecting with others at the meetings and learning together helps me feel more connected to myself and my own sense of worth. I often come away with new ideas and feeling re-energized about my practice.

I hope you will find SCA a community where you can show up in your brilliance and your vulnerability and find a welcoming and supportive community; where we can sometimes help you remember who you are when you forget.

Gila Fein, MA

SCA President

Psyche and Sky: An Introduction to Astrology

for Therapists

presented by Dan Keusal, M.S., LMFT

Jungian Psychotherapist and Astrologer in private practice in Seattle

Astrology is a powerful tool for facilitating self-awareness, transformation, and healing. It is perhaps the oldest form of psychology. Astrology's underlying principles and methods have much in common with family systems, depth psychology, and other forms of therapy. Many therapists are curious about astrology and how it can support their work with clients, but also feel daunted by the esoteric jargon...and wary of the ways they've seen astrology used simplistically ("Today, all Libras will..."), or misused ("You have Saturn in the 7th house so you will never get married"). This lecture, which presumes no prior experience with astrology, will introduce you to a deeper, more grounded and nuanced approach to integrating integrating astrology with therapy. You will learn:

Why the best astrology is prescriptive ("You're a Scorpio, so you're here to learn...") rather than descriptive ("You're a Scorpio, so you are ...")
How astrology can shed light on a client's core issues, and suggest strategies for healing and change that suit the client's unique journey.
Ways that astrology complements and deepens your therapeutic work with clients.
The crucial role of free will and consciousness in utilizing astrology.
Guidelines for using astrology ethically (especially as a beginner) including when not to use it.
How to effectively collaborate with a professional astrologer to better serve your clients.

For more than 20 years, Dan has led workshops on psychological, astrological, and spiritual topics for a wide range of organizations, including Microsoft, Providence Health Systems, Seattle University, and dozens of churches, professional organizations, and community groups. By integrating practical examples with stories, humor, and the arts (film, music, poetry, and more), Dan has gained a reputation for making complex ideas accessible, for speaking to the heart as well as the head, and for building bridges between psychology, astrology, spirituality, and the arts-disciplines he has come to see as cousins in soul-making.

Dan holds a master's degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University and is a WA State Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. He has studied Analytical (Jungian) Psychology at the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. He has also served as president of The Seattle Counselors Association.

After two years of training with Seattle-area astrologers Sheila Belanger and Laura Nalbandian, Dan completed a five-year astrological apprenticeship with internationally renowned astrologer, author, and teacher Steven Forrest. In moving from student to teacher, Dan has been invited to serve three times on the faculty of the Northwest Astrological Conference (NORWAC), one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious astrological conferences.

Dan holds a degree in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, and completed basic training in shamanism with The Foundation for Shamanic Studies.

In his spare time, Dan enjoys baseball, photography, and playing the guitar. More information about Dan and his work is available on his web site: www.DanKeusal.com.