Through the Looking Glass:
Using Imaginal Resources to Heal Shame

We are all born with powerful, imaginal resources. We can easily imagine people, places, and things that have never existed in our everyday reality. Children learn to cope with life largely through play and fantasy. As we get older, we may use this ability less and less, but it still stays with us. Our imagination not only makes life more interesting, it helps us survive.

When clients get stuck in shame, the most powerful way to help them get unstuck may be to activate their imagination. In the Imaginal Realm, logic and time are fluid and flexible. What actually happened can be explored and changed. What was stuck in the cognitive realm can be reexamined and shifted. Shaming situations from the past can be revisited and resolved.

In this workshop, we will utilize techniques from Drama Therapy, Focusing, Expressive Arts Therapy, Jungian active imagination processing and Hakomi. We will explore the critical voices and/or the childhood scenes that are still driving the internal shame dynamic in the client.

You will learn to help clients:

  • Externalize shame so that it can be worked with directly.

  • Work with roles, parts and shame-based introjects.

  • Access strength, resilience, inner resources and role repertoire.

  • Find a deeper understanding by working with objects you already have in your office.

  • Utilize imaginal techniques to give the shame back, so that it stays in the Imaginal Realm.

Once the shame is worked through in the Imaginal Realm, the client can interact with the world differently.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Explain how imaginal techniques can be used to create optimal distance.

  • Apply work with parts to get clients out of their heads.

  • Utilize Focusing techniques to increase self-understanding and self-compassion.

  • Design role-play to recreate and change shaming situations.

  • Select objects to represent feelings.

  • Use three imaginal techniques to help clients create a new coherent narrative.

  • Create a protector to defend the child.

  • Identify four drama therapy techniques that can counter shame.

Course Level: Beginning

There is no prerequisite for this course. It can be taken by itself or as part of a sequence.

CE credits are available only for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs in California – CAMFT Approved CE Provider #134393

This workshop is offered in the following formats:

  • Live, interactive workshop on Zoom in 2-day or 4-day format

  • Live, in-person, 2-day workshop (Note: Live, in-person workshops are currently suspended due to Covid-19.)

For a basic course agenda, click here. (Those registering will receive a full course agenda prior to the workshop.)

The Center for Healing Shame is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs in California – CAMFT-approved CE provider #134393. Courses meet the qualifications for 13 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 

The Center for Healing Shame maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

WORKSHOP CANCELLATION POLICY

We do not offer refunds. The amount paid can be applied toward a future workshop within 12 months. Registrations are not transferable.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED

The Center for Healing Shame welcomes people who have disabilities. Our training location is wheelchair accessible. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs.

GRIEVANCE POLICY

The Center for Healing Shame seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner.

If you have a grievance, please include your name and contact information and submit it in writing to Sheila Rubin (sheila@healingshame.com).

Grievances will receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.