Creating a Sanctuary for Shame and Shadow: Auckland Workshop

A psycho-educational and experiential workshop for therapists  and spiritual directors

Presented by Karen Lorimer and Dr Ruth Lawson-McConnell

“Shame can and often does stifle love. But if we simply refuse shame, we may find that we have also refused love – in all of its vulnerable exposure – as well. Can we afford such a refusal?” Virginia Burrus (2011, p.xii)

Shame, by its very nature, is highly contagious, does not like to be named or talked about, and plays a primary role in the creation of our shadow. And yet, it has much to teach us as individuals, persons-in-relation, and self-as-therapist. The neurophysiological patterning of shame, similar to that of trauma, can profoundly disrupt persons’ social engagement system. Shame-constrained persons are unable to reach out to participate in the relational repair that could end their isolation. To work effectively with shame, it is important to know as much as we can about our own relationship with shame and the ways our body-mind resists and veils our awareness to the presence of shame. In this workshop we will explore body-based and mindful practices that can support us to know shame from the inside out, so we remain present with self and our people when shame makes its power-full presence felt.

Please Note : Attendance at this event is a pre-requisite to attending the weekend Retreat.

Karen Lorimer is a therapist and spiritual director. Her special interest is in working with chronic and core shame associated with relational trauma and attachment injuries. Participation in the Internal Family Systems online circle and continuity programme provided Karen the long awaited opportunity to integrate into her practice, this strength-based, constraint model that supports us to connect with our inner wisdom to facilitate the integration of shadow aspects of self hidden and contained by shame. Karen’s other training interests include narrative therapy, the neurobiological legacy of trauma, and psychotherapeutic modalities of attachment, mind-body, sensorimotor, shame and compassion focused therapies. Karen lives in Auckland. She has four adult daughters and two grandchildren.

Dr Ruth Lawson-McConnell has a PhD in Counselling Psychology, is a counsellor, trainer and clinical supervisor, who has trained and worked in the UK, Canada and New Zealand, and grew up in the Amazon region of Brazil. Her areas of interest include attachment-based counselling, neuro psychotherapy, working with partners of sex addicts and betrayal trauma, as well as parent consulting on emotional and behavioural issues related to attachment dynamics in children. She trained with Dr Gordon Neufeld in Vancouver in the Developmental Attachment paradigm and is a Professional Associate of the Neufeld Institute. She has lectured in England, New Zealand and Australia and is a popular conference speaker and workshop presenter. She lives in Auckland with her two adult daughters, a labradoodle and two cats.

Location: Mercy Spirituality Centre, 104 The Drive Epsom Auckland

9:00 Registration

9:30-4:30 event

https://www.google.com/maps/place/104+The+Drive,+Epsom,+Auckland+1023/@-36.8971722,174.7672507,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6d0d4626c086b6f9:0xab2a9d9e30f2c1f!8m2!3d-36.8971765!4d174.7694394

Cancellation Policy:

Registration closes one month prior to event. In the case that not enough participants have registered then the organizer reserves the right to cancel the event and offer a full refund to those already registered.

If the participant cancels with one month notice then a full refund is offered (minus a $25 admin fee); with 3 weeks notice then a 50% refund is offered; with 2 weeks notice a 25% refund is offered. With less than one week notice, no refund will be given.

Morning & Afternoon Tea and a nutritious lunch will be provided (Eat My Lunch is a local charity who donates one meal to a schoolchild for every meal purchases)