Mon 13 Sep 2010

Inner Emotional Balance and Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Posted by Carol under a delicate balance
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In this lecture, Carol will introduce the strange word “dialectics” and begin a dialogue around how to help clients view perspectives that are different from their own so that the process of change can be evoked. She will present the main DBT Skills Sets that are woven into each therapy session. In order to facilitate change while inserting skills, a therapist must be able to manage a stance that will embrace several core principals. These principles will be described and demonstrated. Also to provide effective therapy, the therapist must be cognizant of several core dynamics that may be invoked in the client that rival all preparedness on both their parts. Carol will name the biological and social dynamics at play. Then for the grand finale, a brief modeling of how to juggle it all so that everything can come together in a therapy session . Now that is a delicate balancing act!

This lecture is geared to novices as well as seasoned students, therapists and seekers who want to learn about Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Carol’s challenge is to take this complex theory and present it in a colorful and visual way so the listener can take away in their mind’s eye a blueprint of the therapy.

Because the size of the audience will be limited to 12 people, it will be important to register for the lecture. If there is a greater demand for the lecture, dates will be posted on the website.

Date: October 25th, 2010
Time: 7:00PM

Best way to register is through email: carol@carolemersonlcsw

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Mon 18 Jan 2010

Bluebeard’s Basement (Unplugged)

Posted by Carol under Uncategorized
[271] Comments

My challenge has been to create a collage for each artist’s opening show for the first year of The Painted Desert Gallery. To do this, I look at the show pieces, get a sense of the artist’s stance, then listen to my interpretation .

This collage, Bluebeard’s Basement (Unplugged), evolved as a result of looking at Rose’s painted pieces for her first solo show.

AJ photographed three of Rose’s pieces in this show, printed each photo on archival paper and gave them to me for use in the collage.

As I sat with Rose’s show, there was a sense of swirling undefined newness. I imagined a three dimensional piece that would evoke loose associations that were layered yet connected. I wanted to cut the photos apart and stack the colors in a way that suggested a centralized theme between the shapes yet individual configurations. I wanted to capture a sense of depth as well as movement in space thus the idea of the basement evolved. Here were colors and shapes that spoke to development, harmony and the wild.

As this fun piece evolved I was drawn from my right brain into my left brain where images of myth and archetypal stories point to the psychic development of the feminine. In the story of Bluebeard, there is an attempt of the predator to intervene when a woman is in her naïve, soulful and intuitive self. Thus in this piece I see the colors swirling, the multiple layers and the separate constructs as indicative of the woman’s active intuitive and alive self. It was down in the basement that Bluebeard planned to capture the woman’s curiosity; then punish her for it. Bluebeard would like to sever the wild connection and take away from the woman her intuitive knowing, stop her in her tracks, doubt herself and be fearful. In this piece, Bluebeard is unplugged for the feminine has made itself into beauty in the form of swirling colors, layers of meaning, strength and depth of knowing. Plus the key is visible and not bloody which communicates access and freedom for the feminine psyche.

I see Rose’s first show as symbolic of her own wrestling with the predator who would have loved to have her not do the show. But instead she faced the challenge and can now swirl amongst the knowing that she has unplugged Bluebeard.

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