FCRP INTEREST GROUPS 2023
1. DREAMS AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL: A Jungian Perspective
Debra Thompson
Carl Jung writes, "A dream is theater in which the dreamer is himself the scene, the player, the producer, the author, the public and the critic." This group will explore Jungian dream theory through lecture and discussion. Members also will share short personal dreams, if desired. When reflecting upon dreams, we will utilize Jeremy Taylor's method, "If it were my dream." This method does not interpret, advise or offer judgment on any dream. Our focus of discussion will be on symbols, dream characters, colors, shadow and light. Our dreams also will be reflected upon as poetry. Confidentiality is necessary for group attendance.
Debra Thompson, Ph.D., is a Jungian-oriented psychotherapist practicing in suburban Philadelphia. She is a qualified administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, an instrument that extends and develops Jung's theory on personality types. Debra holds graduate degrees in family therapy and clinical social work. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Clinical Social Work and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
2. TAI CHI: Learning to Be More Fully Present in the Body
Beth Perry
This is a gentle exploration of tai chi, an ancient martial art, that helps participants achieve a relaxed demeanor towards outward challenges in daily life. The practice is a counterintuitive way of moving that surrenders tension. We learn how to do less, yet become more present and assured in our movement. One reward from the practice is calm attention. This is also a practice we can enjoy as we age.
Beth Perry began study of Cheng Man Ching’s Yang form of tai chi in the early 1980s. She is a student of the martial arts application of ‘push hands.’ Beth teaches tai chi in retirement homes, adult education schools, senior centers, and at Friends Center in Philadelphia. She has worked in Uganda and southern Sudan, and done famine relief and anti-apartheid work with the American Friends Service Committee and the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Beth is a member of Radnor, PA Friends meeting.
3.FAMILY CONSTELLATION WORKSHOP
Randy Goldberg
This is a gentle approach for recognizing family dynamics that can span generations. It’s a group process, developed by Bert Hellinger in Germany, that helps participants create “a living map” within the group, so important family patterns and stressors can be visualized. This works reminds us that there is power in knowing where we came from, where we belong, and where we want to go.
Randy Goldberg, LMT, is a graduate of the DC Hellinger Institute and of advanced studies in Family Constellation with Heinz Stark of Germany. He is a former Yoga monk, Craniosacral therapist, and astrologer (both Western and Vedic), whose work and words have been featured in the Washington Post, on NPR, and on CNN. He facilitates Family Constellation therapy for individuals and groups.
4. ATTUNING TO WHAT LIES WITHIN: The Internal Family Systems (IFS) Experience
Jan Mullen
Through discussion and exercises, we will consider key IFS concepts, and explore how these relate to BodyDreaming. Participants also will engage with their own inner system and share their stories. IFS says that the nature of each person is to have a dynamic core Self, which is supported by a system of dynamic subpersonalities. How this relates to spirituality, in particular Quaker thought, will be touched on. Activities are likely to include journaling, group sculpting and entering into the inner system.
Jan Mullen, LCSW, is deeply rooted in the interweaving between spirituality and psychology. She is a Quaker who feels that mystical experiences come from the embodiment of spirituality. Jan has worked as a therapist in many settings. She has been practicing IFS with others for 30 years, teaching workshops throughout the U.S.
5. YOUR ONE AND ONLY: Coming Home to Your Body
Rebecca Narva
This interest group will focus on coming home to the wonder of our bodies through fun and safe movement in dance. No experience is needed to feel the music as our partner. We express in our own manner because there is no wrong way. Periods of stillness and silence will be offered, along with discussion. Our goal is to find an appreciation of our body, our truest home, using expressions from dance, martial arts and yoga. Music will be positive and eclectic.
Rebecca Narva is a Black Belt Instructor of Nia, a dance/movement practice based on the joy of movement for people of all fitness levels. Drawing on her work as a certified meditation instructor for the School of Mindfulness Program, she works with elementary school children and their teachers in Philadelphia, teaching them to use breath and movement to manage their energy. Rebecca also served as a Buddhist Healthcare Chaplain at New York Presbyterian Hospital and spent a decade teaching in the Albuquerque Public Schools. She has an undergraduate degree from Harvard and earned an MFA in Theatre Education from Emerson College.
6. MIMESIS: The Use of Mythology, Storytelling, and Play for Insight and Growth
John DiMino, Ph.D. and Liza O’Hanlon DiMino
Mimesis is a unique group process derived from depth psychology and myth studies that allows for the exploration of a powerful story in a supportive environment. We invite participants to enter a story in stages to appreciate its depth and meanings: First by listening deeply; then through meditation; next through an enactment; and finally, through discussion. Each step reveals personal resonances as well as universal elements. Participants explore their personal relationship to the story and archetypal themes.
John DiMino, Ph. D. and Liza O’Hanlon DiMino have been doing Mimesis workshops for more than thirty years. Liza is a writer, editor and storyteller. John, a licensed clinical psychologist, is the former director of counseling services at Temple University. He uses Mimesis in the training of professionals and graduate students in psychology and social work. He is the author of the book,"Shadow Work and Sacred Space." John and Liza are co-directors of the Mimesis Center in the United States. They are currently working on a book for those interested in learning to facilitate the Mimesis process.
7. EXPLORING THE SELF IN COMMUNITY THROUGH SOULCOLLAGE®
Ramona Ndlovu
We will invite our minds, bodies and voices to play in this expressive arts practice. Using a variety of images, we will begin to create a SoulCollage® deck of cards, which represent parts of the self and parts of our community. The cards can become a form of wisdom, offering – when consulted—an evolving collage of the Soul. Our group process will include: dyad, triad, and group discussion; guided visualization; use of voice; exploration of body sensations; writing; and cutting and gluing. No previous art, voice, or music experience is required.
Ramona Ndlovu is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed massage therapist, certified somatic therapist, SoulCollage® facilitator, spiritual director, Reiki Master/Teacher, and artist. In her private practice she uses her formal and informal education primarily to help women reconnect to their spirit’s inner knowing and the body’s wisdom. Ramona is a person deepening into what it means to be human in this world. She is curious, loves reading, being in nature, and working with her hands.