The challenge of personal transformation is faced differently in the East and West. Typically, Eastern meditation emphasizes how to cultivate higher states of consciousness that "go beyond" ego identifications, while Western therapy focuses on how to "work through" problematic states. This workshop explores an integrative model that suggests how to use both approaches in a complementary way: sometimes "transcending, sometimes "transforming", and often doing both at the same time. The connection between meditation, generative trance, and selfrelations will be a central focus.
This session will illustrate the Ericksonian utilization principle, which states that under proper conditions, a problem may easily transform into a solution. The demonstration will show how to develop such conditions via the experience of “generative trance,” such that positive shifts in a person’s somatic, cognitive and field experience lead to positive changes.
This demonstration will show how problems/symptoms may be viewed as attempts by the creative unconscious to bring transformation and healing, and how the development of a generative trance can allow that transformation to be realized.
BT12 Workshop 36 – Transforming Negative States: A Workshop in Generative Psychotherapy – Stephen Gilligan, PhD
This workshop presents the Ericksonian and Self-Relations Psychotherapy approach to human states of suffering: depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, etc. This practical and positive approach assumes that each core human experience has equivalent potential to be positive or negative, depending on the human relationship to it; and thus focuses on how problems may be transformed to resources by skillful human connection. Multiple techniques and examples for will be given, along with an exercise and demonstration.
This demonstration will show how problems/symptoms may be viewed as attempts by the creative unconscious to bring transformation and healing, and how the development of a generative trance can allow that transformation to be realized.
Generative psychotherapy is an exploration of how individuals can forge positive, therapeutic responses to life challenges. This invited address concentrates on the three core connections that allow clients to do this: (1) Positive intention and goals (What do you most want to create in your life?); (2) Somatic Centering (Where do you feel the deepest resonance in your body?); and (3) Field Resources (What can most deeply support your path of change?).
His workshop will explore how generative psychotherapy can help clients activate the creative consciousness needed to live their lives in positive, fulfilling ways. This process requires the cultivation of self-leadership (and self-COACH) skills, such that a person’s performance self and observer self-work in a mutually respectful, harmonious pattern. The workshop presents some core methods of this approach, including somatic modeling, self-scaling, and engaging the creative unconscious. A demonstration and multiple case examples will illustrate how such methods can allow psychotherapy to be a deeply positive, effective conversation.
Problems/Symptoms may be viewed as attempts by the creative unconscious to bring transformation and healing. A generative state can allow that transformation to be realized.
This workshop presents the Generative Psychotherapy approach to human states of suffering--depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, etc. This practical and positive approach assumes that each core human experience has equivalent potential to be positive or negative, depending on the human relationship to it; and thus focuses on how problems may be transformed to resources by skillful human connection.
Generative psychotherapy is an exploration of how individuals can forge positive, therapeutic responses to life challenges. This invited address concentrates on the three core connections that allow clients to do this: (1) Positive intention and goals (What do you most want to create in your life?); (2) Somatic Centering (Where do you feel the deepest resonance in your body?); and (3) Field Resources (What can most deeply support your path of change?).