Dharma Bum

Foreign Affairs Therapy @ The Peoples UN

A couple of weekends ago I had the privilege in participating in a 2 day event as part of Mexico City based artist's Pedro Reyes exhibition The People's United Nations at the Hammer Museum. For the two days I facilitated what Pedro called "Foreign Affairs Therapy," where  two delegates representing nations that share historical connections yet have spent much of their past in the turmoil of conflict, where invited to join in a kind of couples therapy trying to work together to improve communication, understanding, and looking for ways to rebuild and strengthen partnership. It was a transformational experience for me. I had the privilege of working with people representing countries like Israel & Palestine, Armenia & Turkey, and USA & Mexico to name a few. The conversations that happened were powerful and rich. I am still digesting it all and imagine I will for some time. Some pics from the weekend follow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrative Therapy/Mediation at the Hammer Museum

Hello Friends-

Wanted to let you know about a project that you might find interesting that combines two of my passions, art & narrative therapy..

I will be participating in a 2 day event as part of Mexico City based artist's Pedro Reyes exhibition titled The People's United Nations at the Hammer Museum. Throughout the two days I will be doing "Foreign Affairs Therapy," which invites two delegates representing nations that share historical connections yet have spent much of their past in the turmoil of conflict, to join in a kind of couples therapy trying to work together to improve communication, understanding, and looking for ways to rebuild and strengthen partnership.

pUN is an exhibition as well as a two-day gathering on May 2nd and 3rd, that brings together everyday citizens connected by birth or family ties to the 195 member and observer nations of the UN. Reyes’s hypothesis is that conflict-resolution techniques used in social psychology, theater, and art can help solve the world’s most challenging problems, from climate change, to fair wages for women, to food shortages.

Throughout the weekend the public will be able to participate in tours that will leave on the hour and will be able to observe the sessions. For more info please click on the exhibition link.

http://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2015/hammer-projects-pedro-reyes/

I hope to see some of you on May 2nd & 3rd.

Workshopping

Yesterday I had the chance to attend not one, but two workshops facilitated by Julie Tilsen at San Diego State University. The first one was on Feedback Informed Treatment which I plan to implement at the California Family Institute. I believe FIT provides a path for those that want to work narratively/collaboratively in a world that is requiring the use of words like evidence based practice. The second workshop was on Working With Queer Youth and was held at SD State's community clinic. It was a great time and I had the opportunity to have dinner with Julie and Gerald afterword which was an education in itself. Great conversations.  A pic of Gerald and Julie follows:

iHOPE

This month I will be starting up counseling services for iHOPE in San Clemente. iHOPE's mission is to  provide basic services to the homeless, at-risk, underserved, and working poor in south Orange County. I am very excited about this opportunity and believe it can grow into something special.

For more info on iHOPE check out this article from the San Clemente times and help if you can.

Hi All- If you have a chance take a look the March issue of OC Family Magazine. I'm quoted in a couple of places in regards to rites of passage and the over-scheduling of kids. Check it out.