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Many workshop environments have been very, very helpful to me. Most of the types of workshops that I have been drawn to, have provided an environment of intensive focus on raising consciousness. This provides the opportunity to break through the many layers of inhibitive ego, to get to a place of seeing with vision, with clarity, with wisdom, with the heart, with emotional intelligence, and with higher consciousness. An appropriate workshop can provide an environment that provides enough safety to facilitate the letting go of resistance and fear long enough to see the programmed patterns that have been adapted out of survival strategies but that are no longer serving. The next step is to uncover the core beliefs that are driving the patterns. If the old strategies are no longer helpful, the next step is to bring in new, more enlightened ways to live. My experience has been that many engrained patterns we carry have been set up to attempt to cope with wounding in the emotional body. Part of the work is to bring a balance and congruence to the interplay between the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies. I have been to some workshops that do not honor these four elements of the human self equally. Not that they cant have some level of value without, but if you want a balance in yourself you will need to be discerning about how to apply the information from workshops that is useful, and how to leave behind what is out of balance.
Workshops can obviously have a variety of different purposes. First you can look at what purposes the workshop is claiming to support you in achieving, and if those purposes interest you. Some workshops are well tailored to accomplish the purposes they intended while some others are not nearly as effective at it.
I do not think there is necessarily a right or wrong way to do a workshop. Yet, depending on what someone wants to accomplish, I think there are certain methods that will support the results desired and other methods that can be counter productive or even wounding.
Following is a list of workshops I have experienced. I have also been to many workshops that I won’t list here, as their value was mediocre to me (or I have forgotten about them). There are some that I will list that I think have some good value but that I also think have some potential to be disempowering or even detrimental if not approached with a strong sense of discernment intact.
What I like to encourage over and over again is for people to use the highest level of discernment they can muster. If a person has developed their discernment and intuition; they wont give their power away, they will be able to sense what serves them and what does not, and they will be able to stand their ground without collapsing under the influence of others. With that in place a person can fearlessly walk into any workshop environment, (or other situation in life) knowing they have the power to look after themselves even if something that is inappropriate for that particular individual is presented to them.
On the other hand many people do not have well developed intuition and discernment. When that is the case one can only hope that whoever is setting up the container of a workshop, (that the person plans to attend) has lots of integrity combined with wisdom. Or the participating person might be in for learning some lessons the hard way.
Some facilitators assume they know what is best for the client and so they do not encourage their clients to use their own discernment and intuitive connection to see if what is being offered fits for the clients unique personal journey. This sets people up to give their power away to the facilitator.
A facilitator can make their theories sound great, especially when they deeply believe in them. If the facilitator takes a stance of indisputable authority it encourages people with underdeveloped discernment to give their power to the facilitator and the theories presented.
The dynamic of a group can feed this further. If many people are giving their power away and just blindly agreeing with the facilitator it can give the impression that the facilitator must be "right" because of the numbers of people that are in agreement.
I would suggest that a wise teacher is willing to consider that they may be mistaken about what they think they know. An empowering teacher encourages others to be discerning about whatever the teacher presents because it could be a mistake and/or it might not apply to the clients unique situation.
Even if what is being presented is not a mistake and could potentially serve the student, no matter how great the teaching is, if the student just buys in at a theory level without checking internally to see if it is truly appropriate for his or her own unique journey, it keeps them in a childlike place of disempowerment rather than in an adult place of ownership and accountability. The teacher then ends up carrying the role of the all knowing parent and the student stays in the role of a child.
For example if a teacher tells you that you have a warm loving heart and you just receive the words without checking in internally to see if you are really willing to own your warm loving heart, you will stay in a underpowered place. You have the words but not the deep internal knowing that comes from real ownership. Then any time you doubt yourself you will be dependent on the teacher or someone else to tell you again that you have a warm loving heart. It is like the child that keeps coming back to the parent with the same inquiry such as "Am I really beautiful Daddy?" Until the child owns their beauty internally they will never 'get' that they are truly beautiful.
Another example: A teacher speaks about some theory on how to create abundance. The student hears the words and assumes the theory is correct even though they have never checked inside to see if it fits for them and if they can truly own and embody the teaching or not. In turn the student regurgitates the theory to others as if they know that it is sound even though they have never had a personal experience of it them self.
We have probably all encountered people who give advise that sounds like a direct quote of some theory that they read or heard somewhere. Although the words may sound true we can feel there is no substance to it. The theory has never been fully owned and integrated. It is only in the mind and has not been established in the heart, the soul and the everyday living of the person. In contrast when an individual takes ownership of what does and does not fit for them, it can lead them to empowerment and recognition of equality because no power has been given away to someone else's theory about what will or will not work for them as a unique individual.
In the list of workshops below I will give a grading when I think extra discernment is needed. After the words “discernment needed”, if I put one or more *‘s it is because I think there is an environment of (usually unconscious) encouragement to give your power away to the facilitator's belief systems rather than encouraging you to evaluate for yourself, what fits with your journey, and what does not. In other words the facilitator may not be owning that the belief systems they are presenting, and their evaluations of participants, are her or his perceptions and not necessarily the "truth". You will also find *'s if I observed belief systems presented that I thought were potentially detrimental. The more *‘s I have used the more careful use of discernment I would suggest. (And to add: facilitators often grow and get better at their craft so some of the people below may be even more skillful now, than they were when I first participated in their offerings)
Of course these evaluations are subjective and are based on my own personal experience of anything from attending an evening workshop, to multiple weekend workshops, to 45 day intensive trainings. Your personal experience may be quite different so please trust your own intuition rather than give your power away to my opinions.
A Course In Miracles; Self study and study in groups Spirituality principals
Al Benarroch; Handling Sensitive Information Child Protection
Andrew Schneider; Transformational Healing Spiritual Philosophy Contact: 250 823-8483
Andrine Morse; Teaching Pathways of the Rainbow Lodge Native Spirituality Discernment suggested *
Anjali Hill; Getting Yourself Understood: The Dynamics Of Successful Communication Communication Skills
Annette Aubrey & Bruce Hoffman; Family Constellations Workshop Healing Family Wounds
Brock Tully; Cycling For Kindness Serving Through Kindness Contact: speaker@brocktully.com
Carol Hechtenthal and Jan Inglis; Integrative Body Psychotherapy Body and mind integration work Contact: 403 289-0086
Carol Laurich & Jerry Stilson: Family Life Education Council; Leadership Training Course Small group facilitation
Context Associated; The Excellence Series Accountability principals, Life purpose and general awareness Discernment suggested *
Chris Smith; Rayid Training Personality typing through eye formation Contact: 403 274-7070
Christopher & Su Mei Moon; Sacred Psychology Emotional awareness, uncovering of inherent giftedness Contact: cmoon@netidea.com
Chuck and Lency Spezzano; Psychology of Vision Emotional awareness, uncovering of inherent giftedness Discernment suggested **
Curtis Cripe; Living Your Sacred Dream Awareness
David Shackleton; Stages Of Spiritual Growth Awareness
David Walsh: Enneagram Personality Typing Discernment suggested **
David White: Ken Keyes College; Inner Child Work Emotional healing
Denis Schram; Journaling for Personal Growth
Denny Johnson; Rayid Training Personality typing through eye formation Discernment suggested *
Diane Edwards; The Power of Unconditional Love Inner Child Work
Dr. Beth Hedva; Ending Self-Betrayal Looking at the cycle and effects of betrayal Contact: bhedva@cadvision.com
Dr. Brian Gorman; Stress Management Understanding and releasing stress Discernment suggested *
Dr. Frank Young; Lucid Dreaming Accessing lucid dreaming Contact: 403 220-9436
Dr. Jagdeep (Jug) Johal; The Five Elements and Active Listening Chinese 5 Elements System Contact: 403 244-5847 saatcha@shaw.ca
Dr. John Demartini; The Quantum Collapse Process Uniting Polarizations Discernment suggested **
Dr. Steven Aung; Qi Gong Qi Gong and Chinese medicine training
Dr. Warren Farrell; Why Men Are the Way They Are Men’s Awareness Work Discernment suggested *
Doug Von Koss & Thomas Eldridge; Finding the Fire Within Men’s Awareness Work
Douglas Gillette & Dido Morris; The Ape Within Men’s Work
Edward Rice; Multi-Dimensional Healing Past Life Alignment Discernment suggested *
Elan O'Brien; Inter-Dimensional Healing Awareness Work Discernment suggested * Contact: elanobrien@aol.com
Francesca Blackstock; Tantra: Ecstatic Loving Sacred Sexuality Contact 403 238-8909
Fred Pryer Seminars; How to Manage Conflict, Anger and Emotion Anger Work Discernment suggested *
Garuda and Inge Benda; Gateways to Intimacy Open processing Discernment suggested **
Gerry Glock & Mark Fraser; What are You Waiting For? Awareness Discernment suggested *
Grace Lea; Rebirthing Process and awareness accessed through Breathwork
Gregory Possman; Past, Present, and Future Life Healings Emotional healing, awareness Discernment suggested ** (if / when he does channeling) Contact: 704 265-3493
Guy Corneau; Parental Influences Men’s Work, Healing wounds
Gwendolyn Jansma; Sacred Sexuality, and Coming Into Balance Awareness work Discernment suggested ** Contact: 619 481-3076
Henri McKinnon; Creating Healthy Relationships Sacred Psychology, emotional healing Discernment suggested **
Holly Jones & Dale Quinnell: Attunement Body & energy work, crystal bowls
Inner Community Outreach; Emotional Release and Vision Work
Inscapes Seminars; The Enneagram Personality typing, awareness Discernment suggested **
Irene McDougal; Living with Money Principals Of Manifesting
Jacob Liberman, Truth Paradise, Rainbow & Sky Canyon: Unconditional Life Awareness, Emotional release
Jay Creasey; Full Challenge Awareness through body/mind, Ninjitsu training Contact: 403 263-0206
Jay & Cory Fiset; Relationships of Love Relationships Discernment suggested *
Jean Pendulak, Christine Helman and Jan Sheppard; Liberating Relationships Listening & communication skills
Jennifer Steed; Ecstatic Dance Body Awareness, Movement Contact: www.yogajourneys.com
Jerri-Lynn Morrison, Dream Study Group Dream Interpretation
Jim Sorrenson; Humor: Sourcing Joy Opening to joy
John Akim Gosaw; Tibetian Bell Meditations
John Bradshaw; Healing Relationships and Healing the Shame Healing past traumas
John De Ruiter; Heart Mystic Awareness work, Spirituality Discernment suggested **
Jon Scott; Men: Sustaining Passionate Relationships Men’s work
Jon-Lee Kootnekoff; Living Life With Purpose and Passion Purpose Discernment suggested * Contact: kootywithlove@yahoo.com
Joy & Gordon Gardner-Gordon; Personal Evolution Through Vibrational Healing Awareness Work
Judy Armstrong; The Joy of Sound Healing past wounds through activating the voice Contact: judy@lexi.net
Judy Young; Transformational Psychology Awareness
Karen McNamera; Power, Pleasure and Freedom Sacred Psychology
Ken Keyes; Study Group Awareness, Spirituality
Kiara Fine; Listening Hands Therapy Body & Energy Work
Kyle Pruett and Warren Farrell; Fatherhood: Past, Present, and Future Understanding the value of fathers in children’s lives Discernment suggested *
Layden's Therapy Centre; Reflexology
Leanne and Maynard Dalderis; Beyond Controlaholism Awareness, Spirituality Contact: dalderis@vitagenics.ca
Mareea Finney; Transformation Game Exploring personal transformation
Maria Kliavkoff; Sacred Circle: Abundance Opening to receiving abundance
Marlene & Russ Kirk; Honoring Your Inner Child at Work Acknowledging our sensitivities and emotions Contact: kirkmar@telus.net
Maynard Dalderis; Vita Flex and Color Therapy Body healing techniques Contact: dalderis@vitagenics.ca
Men's Network (Calgary); Men's Group Men’s awareness work
Michael Palmer; Stepping Through Fear to the Promise of Your Heart, and Leadership Now Sacred Psychology, Emotional healing, Awareness of gifts Contact: guideavailable@dccnet.com
Mount Royal College; Massage Certificate Program Body Work
Nadene Rogers; Expressing Spontaneity Through Your Inner Clown Contact: 403 270-3432
Naomi and Doug Moseley; Going Into Intimacy Group therapy Discernment suggested ****
Nathaniel Brandon; Self Esteem Awareness
Otto Haller; Living Giftedness Emotional healing, Spiritual awareness, Gift recognition Contact: 403 863-9898
Owen Swartz; Awakening To Our Soul Spiritual awareness
Paul Carter; Sacred Loving Healing sexual wounds, Opening sexually Discernment suggested * Contact: niyaso@maui.net
Paul Galowitz; Prosperity Awareness Comfort with money, Manifesting principals
Paul Lowe; Process Therapy Awareness Discernment suggested ****
Perri Enkin; Creative Psychology Awareness
Personal Best; The Couples Workshop Relationships
Personal Best; The Money Workshop Prosperity
Pietro Abela; The Journey to Conscious Awareness Path to consciousness Contact: www.thearcinstitute.com
Rebecca Monet; Destiny Bound NLP Neurolinguistic Programming training, reprogramming unhealthy patterns Discernment suggested *
Rick Hatala; Transformation Spiritual awareness, dream analysis Discernment suggested **
Robert Michael Kaplan; The Power Behind Your Eyes How traumas effect vision Contact: beyond_20/20@sunshine.net
Rose Topp & Brian Copping; Radical Forgiveness Forgiveness Work Contact: www.radicalliving.com
RoseMarie Pierce; Heart To Heart Communication Process Work
Roxy L. Wright; Psychology of the Aware Ego Personal Awareness
Sage Berret; Art Of Balance Educational Sensory Integration Contact: artofbalance@netidea.com
Saira Jamal; Healing Our Brothers Awareness, Emotional healing Contact: 403 208-7864
SheLa Leonard; Course In Miracles Group Awareness, Emotional healing Contact: 403 685-3051
Sheldon Bilsker; Wholistic Integration Awareness Discernment suggested *
Steve Kushner; Integrating Our Shadow Emotional healing, Awareness Contact: kush@total.net
Susan Letourneau; Meeting Your Inner Child How our younger ages effect us Contact: 403 240-0352
Susan Madsen; Inner Child Healing past wounds
Suzanne McMillian-McTavish; Practical Applications of Spiritual Revelations Awareness
Tad James; Neurolinguistic Programming and Healing with Huna Reprogramming unhealthy patterns Discernment suggested *
Taron Puri / Leanne and Maynard Dalderis; Retreat to Center Spiritual awareness Contact: vitagen@tcel.com
Terry Kellog; Healing Wounds and Enjoying the Journey, and Addictions and Family Systems Emotion healing
Troi Lenard; The Power of Healing Sound and Color Spiritual awareness Discernment suggested *
Vision Mountain Leadership Training Centre; Leadership Training Sacred Psychology, Emotional healing, Gift awareness Contact: cmoon@netidea.com
Warren Redman; Inner Balancing Listening & communication skills, healing unhealthy patterns Contact: warren@innerbalancing.com
Yvonne Racine; The Challenge of Loving Sacred Psychology, Emotional healing, Gift awareness Contact: yracine@accessweb.com
