~ February 2011 ~
In This Issue
FREE WORKSHOPS
UPCOMING COURSES
INSIGHT TO ACTION COACHING
WRITING FROM THE SOUL
Quick Links
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

"FREEING THE TRAPPED MUSE" INTERVIEW WITH DEBBIE FORD

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THE GIFTS OF PRESENCE
 

What does it mean to be present?  When we are present, we're all here.  We bring all of ourselves to each moment, engaging fully with inner and outer experiences as they unfold.  We don't impose our will on events and situations.  No longer insisting that people, places, and circumstances conform to our demands and expectations, we are open to what is.  As we live this way, we experience more ease and flow.  We become awake and alive.

 

Relationships improve.  We're able to truly meet others where they are.  Setting aside our agendas, such as the need to change, control, impress, or fix others, we simply attend to what's occurring in the immediacy of the moment, and respond to that.  Rather than just listen to our thoughts and beliefs, we listen to ourselves and the people we are connecting with from our whole being - mind, body, feelings, and spirit.  We're open, authentic, and unrehearsed. People feel safe and "seen" in our presence, and they often open up to us in ways they may not be able to with others.  Our presence may evoke presence in them. Because our hearts are not guarded, we feel more empathy and compassion. People feel genuinely cared for by us.

 

How do we practice presence?  We pause many times throughout the day to check in with ourselves and see if we are here or, if not, where we are.  We get to know the particular ways that we get distracted and that we leave the moment.  Then, without self-judgment, we gently choose to return to the here and now.  Sometimes it's helpful to direct attention to what's going on in your body: notice sensations, sense your feet making contact with the floor, sense your hands, and your breath.  At other times, "unhooking" from a mind state can snap you back to the now.  Once you are back, relax and stay open to what is present in your awareness.

 

Maintaining presence is not easy.  One evening, a number of years ago, my daughter, Heidi, was at my house and she was in a lot of pain in her lower back and rib cage.  I offered some "motherly advice", but it wasn't what she needed at that time.  She turned to me with a strained look on her face and said, "Please, Mom. I'm really hurting.  Just love me.  Please - just be here."  I stopped talking, went over to her, and put my arms around her.  That was a turning point for me in deeply understanding the importance and power of presence.  She might just as well have been a Zen teacher in my living room that evening, exhorting me to "Wake Up!"

 

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FREE WORKSHOPS

WRITING FROM THE SOUL: 
Writing for Creative Expression and Spiritual Growth


Tuesday, March 29, 2011
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Fairfax Library
Fairfax, CA

No prior writing experience is required.


BOUNDARIES AND CAREGIVING: 
An Afternoon Workshop


We will explore how healthy and unhealthy boundaries can greatly influence many aspects of caregiving. This workshop is for family and professional caregivers, including health care practitioners, psychotherapists and interns, social workers, teachers, and coaches.

Topics include:

  • What are Boundaries?
  • Characteristics of Healthy and Unhealthy Boundaries
  • How Healthy Boundaries Can Help to Prevent Burnout
  • The Power of "No"

Saturday, February 19, 2011 

1:00 - 5:00 pm
San Rafael, CA
 
 
THE SOUL OF CAREGIVING: 
Tools for Resilience and Self-Care


An afternoon workshop for family caregivers and caregiving professionals, including healthcare practitioners, psychotherapists and interns, social workers, teachers, and coaches.

In this workshop, you will:

  • Receive Tools for Accessing Inner Wisdom to Aid You in Caregiving
  • Explore the Personal Meaning and Transformative Potential of Your Caregiving Experience
  • Learn "In the Moment" Guided Imagery Techniques to Foster Resilience
  • Identify Resources for Emotional and Spiritual Renewal and Self-Care

 

Saturday, March 5, 2011 

12:30 - 5:30 pm
John F. Kennedy University
Room S213
Pleasant Hill, CA

For information, or to register for free workshops, contact me at [email protected] or (415)721-0766.

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UPCOMING COURSES

ADVANCED GUIDED IMAGERY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

Telecourse and Free Teleseminar Preview Call

In this five session certification telecourse, you will learn innovative imagery techniques and guidelines for the successful use of imagery for your own healing and transformation and/or to expand the scope of your practice and your work with clients. This course is for helping professionals of all kinds:  teachers, coaches, somatic practitioners, hypnotherapists, psychotherapists, social workers, nurses and physicians.  Nurses and hypnotherapists will receive CEUs.  Pre-requisite: training in guided imagery or hypnosis/hypnotherapy.

Topics and Activities Include:

How to Use Psychosynthesis Subpersonality Work to Heal and Transform "Shadow Selves," such as the Inner Critic

Addiction, Recovery and Spirituality

Joy and the Brain: Techniques to Increase the Capacity to Experience Joy

The Psychospiritual Dimensions of Illness and Healing

Guidelines to Increase the Effectiveness of Imagery

Marketing Tips and Tools 

The telecourse begins Tuesday, February 15 and continues on Tuesdays for five weeks.  Each class begins at 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET and lasts for 90 minutes.  All classes will be recorded, so if you miss any, you can listen via recording.  The single payment discounted fee (before February 11) is $217.  After February 11, the fee is $247 and can be paid in one, two or three payments.

FREE TELESEMINAR PREVIEW CALL - "In the Moment" Guided Imagery Techniques  

You will learn simple guided imagery techniques that you can use "on the spot" in your personal and professional life.  Practices to relieve stress, create interpersonal boundaries, evoke desired qualities, such as joy and aliveness, and more, will be presented.

 

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
5:00 pm (PT)/8:00 pm (ET)
45 minutes

THE SOUL OF CAREGIVING:
Tools for Resilience and Self-Care 
 

An afternoon workshop for family caregivers and caregiving professionals, including healthcare practitioners, psychotherapists and interns, social workers, teachers, and coaches.

In this workshop you will:
  • Receive Creative Tools for Preventing Burnout
  • Explore the Personal Meaning and Transformative Potential of Your Caregiving Experience
  • Learn "In the Moment" Guided Imagery Techniques to Foster Resilience  
  • Identify Resources for Emotional and Spiritual Renewal and Self-Care  
This workshop is sponsored by Protecting Our Elders, The Center for Aging and Spirituality, and the Stanford Geriatric Education Center.  It will be offered at Sunny View Retirement Community, 22445 Cupertino Road, Cupertino, CA 95014 on two dates:  Friday, March 4 or Saturday, March 19, 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. 

Cost:  $20, includes lunch. 4 hours of CE available for BBS, BRN, RCFE and NHAP hours applied for. CE certificate is $20.

 
For information, or to register for courses, contact me at [email protected] or (415)721-0766.

 
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INSIGHT TO ACTION COACHING
  
INSIGHT TO ACTION COACHING phone or in-person coaching can help you:
  • Achieve your personal and professional goals
  • Navigate through periods of transition
  • Develop strengths and seed potentials
  • Find your purpose and passion
  • Overcome blocks and limiting patterns
  • Quiet the voice of the Inner Critic
  • Access inner knowing for decision-making and clarity about your goals and life direction
  • Ignite and sustain your creativity 
  • Create action steps that generate tangible results
I specialize in helping clients overcome blocks of all kinds and translate ideas and visions into concrete action.  Fees for individual sessions are based on a sliding scale.  A coaching package is available, as well.

Contact me if you'd like a FREE CONSULTATION.

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WRITING FROM THE SOUL
Writing for Creative Expression and Spiritual Growth 

In these ongoing, drop-in groups you will learn processes to free your imagination, develop ease and confidence in writing, cultivate your unique writing voice, and overcome blocks to writing.

 San Rafael, CA (Call for address)
Alternate Thursdays
7:30 - 9:30 pm

Oakland, CA (6239 College Ave.)
Last Sunday of each month
6:15 - 8:15 pm

All levels of experience and all types of writing are welcome. 

INDIVIDUAL COACHING SESSIONS (phone or in-person) to assist you in any or all stages of the writing process: 
  • Start, develop, and/or complete writing projects
  • Learn how to ignite and sustain motivation
  • Overcome writer's block
  • Discover your natural writing voice
  • Develop confidence and ease in writing
  • Create attainable short and long term goals

A FREE CONSULTATION is available.

 
Click here to visit my website if you'd like to learn more about my phone or in-person Insight to Action Coaching, Caregiver Coaching, Writing from the Soul Programs, or The Soul of Caregiving. 

A Free Consultation is available.  You can also sign up for my free monthly newsletter.
 
to sign up for a FREE CONSULTATION with Susanne West