Forging and Repairing Healthy Attachments With Art, Poetry and Love Letters

This session is not available for CE credits.

Because ubiquitous psychological issues such as trauma, loss, compulsivity, and disordered attachment styles can negatively impact our ability to express love fully, it is no surprise that unexpressed love has become rampant in contemporary society. So we reach out for a greeting card when we need to express love to a cherished person on a special occasion. It's an easy solution, since the message provided is typically generic and emotionally non-threatening. As a result of unexpressed love, people suffer with a remarkable amount of suppressed grief, which in turn fuels increased psychic numbing and emotional distancing from the very people "closest" to them. The presenters will provide a simple-to-follow structured process of creative techniques which we will introduce, discuss and practice in this 6-hour pre-conference workshop. The workshop will include a lecture, meditation, free association journal writing, Haiku poetry, painting, and a love letter. Although this creative process may evoke intense emotions, these therapeutic exercises can be used within a variety of clinical contexts with individuals, groups, and couples of all ages. Would you like to write a love letter worthy of a French troubadour? Come increase your "love letter literacy" and help your adult and adolescent clients work toward greater connection and enhanced intimacy.