Mindfulness-Based Practice -

A Workshop in Presence for Healers and Change-Makers

“We don’t set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people’s hearts.
-Pema Chodron

As social workers and healers, we use ourselves–our personality, voice, perspective, view point, energetic presence, practice wisdom, sense of humor, sense of compassion, capacity as witness, dedication to justice, and commitment to our craft–as tools of transformation. As co-creators of wellness, we are asked to witness the vast range of human experience, from the depth of pain, grief and despair to the elation of joy, possibility and the bright spark of human resiliency. Of each other, we ask that we bring our best selves, trust, vulnerability and willingness to be present to our range of deep emotions. Of ourselves, we must continue to ask the same, building skill and capacity for this continual work of presence and mindfulness-based healing.

This workshop is an exploration of the use of–and deepening skill with–presence in practice. Together, we will offer a supportive, experiential learning environment for deep, reflective practice growth, exploring the intricacies of meditation and mindfulness, compassionate presence, self reflection, intentional impact, radical acceptance, grounding and centering, re-centering under stress, tending secondary trauma and use of presence as a tool of intentionality and justice. With awareness of the cumulative toll of vicarious trauma and the energy demand of deep witnessing, we will gain skill with many accessible and achievable tools for supporting our own self care, as well as our ability to remain present and engaged in the vital work of liberatory wellness.

(co-held with Sheila Walker)