Mask Making, Drumming and Alternative Psychotherapeutic Methods with Spiritual Experiencers: Thinking outside of the box

Abstract

When someone is a spiritual experiencer, their worlds are both expansive and isolating. Hiding what you see, what you know and what you feel causes a grief reaction that includes depression, anxiety and anger. With few therapists able to identify a spiritual crisis without needing to characterize the person as a patient, there are ways to help further identify this kind of crisis. It may not be through verbal expression, or one’s ability to follow up on tasks or hold a job. What we can do is give the client ( no longer identified as the patient, aka one who is sick) a chance to communicate through more primal means. It is through these primal means—such as mask making, drumming and rattle sounds—a wealth of knowledge about the clients internal experience can be illuminated.

When you leave this workshop you will be able to:

• Identify 3 specific ways to accelerate communication
• Be willing to experiment with yourself before working with a client
• Understand the 11 phases of grief model

Presenter Bio

Edy Nathan MA, LCSWR is an author, keynote speaker, workshop leader. She combines her works as a therapist with her work within the spiritual realm. As a licensed therapist, AASECT certified sex therapist, hypnotherapist, regressionist and certified EMDR practitioner with more than 20 years of experience. She has degrees from New York University and Fordham University, with post-graduate training at the Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy. She practices in New York City. She was the therapist on A&E tv’s Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal. She specializes in grief, loss and trauma throughout the life cycle and spiritual awakenings.