DEEPENING THE PROCESS OF

AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA

NATIVE COUNSELING

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

 

Integrating American Indian/Alaska Native Culture into Your Counseling Sessions

AN EVENT SPONSORED BY SWAN CIRCLE

AND

                         COORDINATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA/ ANCHORAGE

                                                       August 8th, 9th, and 10th

 

We are excited to offer this workshop as a new training topic for school counselors, social workers, mental health workers, substance abuse counselors and others working with students and their families.  

The purpose of this conference is to creatively deepen the process of counseling American Indian/ Alaska Native client’s by building on their traditional ways of communication and healing.  Dr. Reimer and Josh Thom have developed this Creative Journey to include the communication process for healing.  They have recently been featured by the ACA in an article by Angela Kennedy which first appeared in Counseling Today, Feb. 2006, “Tribal training: Inupiat Eskimo counselor helps to bridge the multicultural gap” Volume 48/Issue 8.  It may also be read at www.NativeBiz.com.  They recently trained counselors in Barrow, Alaska.  Some participants comments included: 

~ Extremely relevant.  Excellent instruction – reinforced importance of using Inupiat values and traditions.

~ Yes, would recommend training and attend additional training.  Would like to see more of the same.

~ This is one of the best conferences I have ever attended.  All educational presentations would benefit attendees 90% more if presented in these formats with participation.  Catherine’s shining spirit and radiant soul are a blessing to us and Josh is an example of the results of her bounty, growth, education, art, music, self discovery – these make life into real life.

~ I appreciate your generosity of spirit and willingness to give individual instruction.  Thank you so much for coming.

~ Excellent! Finally, a training which meets my expectations.  I’m learning skills that I can use with my clients.  I’m learning skills that mean something and that I can realistically incorporate into my practice.

Back by popular demand, this three day training will also provide a day with Joan Cullinane MA, Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy.   Joan will lead the group into playful but meaningful ways of using drama in the counseling process.  Josh Thom will use his expertise in music to provide ways of healing through music. Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer, an Inupiat Psychologist, has years of experience in the Counseling world, student world, and Indian and Native world. In her words: "The unconscious work of Jung was aligned with our people’s way of doing things through stories and actual directed activities. So much of the counseling work is very "clean" and comes from a Western Approach to learning. This is good; but it is really directed to the conscious mind. Many of our people want to be talked to and worked with at a deeper level where they get it…an Ah ha! Experience. We must talk to clients in their language. This is why stories, metaphors, drama, music, directed cultural activities, and rituals are so promising and meaningful. This workshop is novel because it is planned to GO THERE with the hope that even the dreams of our participants become expanded and opened to new possibilities as they become involved in the learning process.

So take a journey and listen to the research but follow your ancestor’s roots, memories, deep recollections, and dreams; and take home some practical applications to use from Head Start to Old Age.

Please help us by passing this on to other educators, mental health workers and counselors who work with Alaska Natives and American Indians. Also, please bring a Native or Indian Joke and write out your best and most effective practice with Native Americans."

Objectives

·         Create lesson plans based on cultural values

·         Explore the Indian concept of Communication, worldview, values and Healing

·         Explore ways of Learning that are effective among Native and Indian people

·         Discover the components of metaphor and practice the skill as well as learning Nature metaphors

·         Integrate music into counseling (research conducted by Josh Thom)

·         Integrate art and symbol into your counseling

·         Discover effective ways to heal  personal trauma through rituals

·         Expand your counseling by integrating spirituality, symbols, art, music, and drama.

·         Explore the worldview and spirituality of Alaska Natives and American Indians

·         Learn why humor, games and the environment are  powerful interventions

·         Understand the components of dreams and how to use them effectively with clients

·         Understand the components of  Voice Dialogue (Created by Hal and Siddra Stone based on Jungian and Gestalt Psychology).

·         Experience drama exercises that can be integrated into counseling practices

·         Learn how to integrate storytelling into counseling sessions

·         Experience and learn how to conduct a Talking Circle as a way of group counseling

 

Workshop Facilitators:

 

Dr. Catherine Reimer has worked with Native Americans for over 27 years. She is an independent consultant for businesses, universities, schools, and mental health agencies. She received her doctorate in counseling/psychology from George Washington University. Her book called "Counseling the Inupiat Eskimo" is used by the University of Alaska. Recently she research another Inupiat project for NIAAA and the University to understand the relationship between suicide, spirituality, and alcoholism. She has been a counselor in all grade levels and has taught and counseled graduate university students. She also has her own practice and was a clinical supervisor for Indian clients at an Indian Rehabilitation Center. She has done a variety of national training and her training for the National Indian Child Welfare Association in Voice Dialogue has been well-received. Currently, she also does training for those interested in Voice Dialogue which she calls The Talking Circle Within

 

Josh Thom is an Inupiat Eskimo who received his A.A. degree from Haskell Indian Nations University and his B.A. degree from Fort Lewis College. He has served as a counselor’s aid, voice dialogue facilitator and is interested in pursuing Music Therapy. He is the author of "Commitments to Excellence", a self-help book in progress. He has done research in Marine Biology at Cornell University and SUNY at Stonybrook before changing his major to music with emphasis on piano. He is also a composer, musician and piano teacher with interest in music for healing purposes. He has been involved with gathering information for music healing with Native Americans in the form of stress reduction, self esteem improvement, spiritual connection, impact of drum circles as a cultural preservative as well as the negative impacts of other music (i.e. alcohol/drug abuse, gangs/violence, and loss of cultural values/spirituality.

 

Joan Cullinane MA ,Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy.  She earned her degree at the California Institute of Integral Studies.  She is an Actor, Improviser, Comedian, Director, and Counselor, at the South Central Counseling Center, Anchorage, AK

 

LOCATION:              The University of Alaska Anchorage

                                    The Commons (located in the UAA Housing Complex)

                                    3700 Sharon Gagnon Lane

                                    Anchorage, AK 99508

ROOM:                      The Commons – Room #107

CUT OFF DATE:       Monday, August 1st , 2006

 

TO REGISTER:                                                                                                                   
Complete the attached registration form and mail to the address on the form.

SCHEDULE

           

 

Tuesday, August 8th

 

7:30      Registration

8:30      Introductions and overview of conference

9:00      What research has to say and what we need to do to work effectively with our Alaska Native clients – Dr. Reimer will share her research and Josh will share his in the afternoon.

10:00    Break

10:15    Historical Trauma, Soul Loss, and Photo Therapy. Talk and activity

12:15    Lunch

1:30      Music therapy and research- talk and activity 

3:45      Break

4:00      The power of symbols – activity

5:00     Fill out evaluations

                       

Wednesday, August 9th

 

8:30      Morning activity

9:00      Spirituality – how to use in counseling

10:30    Break

10:30    Creativity through Storytelling, metaphor, literature, art, and music  

(Requesting each participant to bring a short story to tell, share, or read)

12:15    Lunch  

1:00      Humor and its importance in counseling (each participant brings a joke please)

            Indian karaoke

2:00      Celebration Activity – participants bring crayons, colored pencils or markers-  get ready to create!

3:30      Break

3:45      Each group presents

How to counsel Alaska Natives.... going beyond Talk Therapy.

 

                                                                                                           

Thursday, August 10th

 

8:30      Activity

 

9:00      How to use Drama in your counseling practice – Joan 

            All day training

 

3:15      An Introduction to Voice Dialogue – Catherine

 

For those interested, Catherine will be giving a two-day intensive training on Voice Dialogue August 11th and 12th:

Price:  $150.00 for two-day training

Please contact cathreimer@aol.com or joshthom1@hotmail.com for more information and details.

 

 

 

 

 

The Creative Journey Counseling

Conference 2006                                                              

August 8th – 10th, 2006

                   at the
University of Alaska Anchorage, U.S.A.

                                                                                                 

The Swan Circle Group and its organizing committee encourage attendance at the

Deeping the Process of American Indian

 Alaska Native Counseling Conference

 

For information on the conference please go to www.swancircle.com

 

Annual Conference Registration

 

Online Registration & Payment is available at:

 

 

 

Please fill in the blanks below and send your completed registration form AND payment by the listed deadlines.

 

Complete one form for each conference attendee

 

Name:                                                                         E-Mail:                                                                                    

Address:                                                                                              City                                                                 

State:                           Country:                                  Zip:                              Phone:                                                

Agency:                                                                                   Title:                                                                           

Registration Options:       All Rates listed are per person registration                                                      Total

Conference Registration--received by May 30th, 2005                                                      $295                 $                     

Conference Registration--received after May 30th, 2005                                                   $335                 $                     

Group (3 or more) Registration Discount - received by May 30th, 2005                              $275                 $                     

Group (3 or more) Registration Discount - received after May 30th, 2005                           $300                 $                     

Student Registration--received by May 30th, 2005                                                             $235                 $                     

Student Registration--received after May 30th, 2005                                                           $250                 $                     

One Day Participation Registration                                                                                  $200                 $                     

 

Accommodations:             Check-in date:                                                 Check-out date:                                  

 

UAA Housing:    Select one option from the list below) All beds are single person beds

 

Single Suite 1 single bed w/private bath.  (Limited # availability)                                         $50/night           $                     

 

Double Suite 2 bedrooms w/ 2 single beds total & private bath                                           $70/night

                                                                                                            (Shared) (2)       $35/night ea.     $                     

 

Quad Suite 4bedrooms   w/4 single beds total & 2 private baths and living area.                  $110/night

                                                                                                            (Shared) (4)       $27.50/night ea. $                     

 

Roommate 1:                                                                             Roommate 3:                                                                

 

Roommate 2:                                                                             Roommate 4:                                                                

 

Gender: M                     F          (circle one)

 

If you would like to share a suite & need a roommate:       (Please Check Box) & use Shared Suite rate.

 

* You will receive an emailed confirmation * Please list email address clearly *

 

Total amount enclosed:   $                     

Payment Options:

 

Check # or Money Order #                                              (Make Payable to UAA Conference Services)

Credit Card:       (Please circle One)                    VISA                            MasterCard

Credit Card Number:                                                        Expiration:                                3 Digit V Code

Other Type of Payment:                                                 

Sending Options

Mail Registration to:       UAA Conference Services

                                                                        P.O. Box 141606

                                                                        Anchorage AK   99514-1606

                                                                        Attn: The Creative Journey Counseling Conf 2006

Or                                 Fax:                              (907) 751-7377

Or                                                                                                                                  E-mail:                                    tinav@uaa.alaska.edu

Or                                 Phone:                          (907) 751-7211

Questions?

Conference Registration or UAA Guest Housing:  

                       

Tina Veldkamp               907-751-7211                 tinav@uaa.alaska.edu

 

Programs:                                                        

 

Josh Thom                    602-954-1518                 joshthom1@hotmail.com