Workshop a: February 4, 2023

Workshop B: March 4, 2023

Times: 10:00AM to 2:00PM (CT)

Trainer: Dr. Rhonda Goldman

Format: Online

Workshop Rate: $100

This series of two workshops will be devoted to developing the conceptual knowledge and specific skills necessary to conduct chair work dialogues in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). A cornerstone of the emotion-focused therapeutic approach is the use of markers and tasks designed to access, deepen, and transform emotion. While there are many tasks undertaken in the course of EFT, the self-critical and unfinished business chair work tasks are used most often and are likely to effect deep emotional change. Chair work tasks are infinitely interesting and complex, and therapists often feel they can work on and sharpen their skills to the benefit of their clients.

 Workshop A - February 4, 2023

The first workshop in the series will focus on the self-critical (negative self-treatment) dialogue. We will focus on how to recognize markers of self-criticism, self-coercion and negative self-treatment and in response, set up a chair work dialogue. We will build the skills of activating the negative critic, working with the anxious and depressive critic, distinguish between the ‘coach critic’ and the underlying critic, work with the collapsed self, deepen underlying primary emotions, discuss when and how to ask for the need, how to facilitate a softening, and promote negotiation and integration.

Workshop A is sold out. Reach out by email if you are interested in future trainings on chair work.

 Workshop B - March 4, 2023

The second workshop in the series will focus on the chair work task of unfinished business with a developmentally significant other. We will focus on how to recognize markers for unfinished business, distinguish between current interpersonal and unfinished business, vary the dialogue in the context of trauma, activate the negative other, work with underlying primary emotions and promote need expression, work with self-interruption in the context of unfinished business, and recognize when the ‘other’ is softening. We will talk about different aspects and forms of resolution including self-soothing, self-affirmation, holding the other accountable, forgiveness and understanding. Finally, we will discuss how to help people integrate changes into their everyday lives.