Join Workshop Leader Darlene Stewart in a gentle yet transformative exploration of the stories and narratives that limit us and cause us pain.
Who would you be without your story? Is it true?
Most of us live with painful and self-limiting stories and narratives about ourselves and others that are never challenged. We have thoughts and stories about our relationships, body image, addiction, fear and more. This daylong experiential workshop is based on "The Work," a method of self-inquiry developed by teacher and author Byron Katie (Katie) to help us identify and question the truth of these stories so there is more joy and ease in our lives.
Katie, in the midst of a 'normal life', sank into a debilitating 10-year depression that become so severe she required in-patient care. Then one morning in 1986, Katie woke up to find that her suffering was gone, replaced by a deep joyous clarity. In that clarity Katie realized that every painful feeling – anger, loneliness, fear – is the result of believing a thought that isn’t true.
“I discovered that when I believed my stressful thoughts, I suffered, but when I didn’t believe them. I didn’t suffer and that this is true for every human being. Freedom is as simple as that. Suffering is optional. I found a joy within me that has never disappeared, not for a single moment. That joy is in everyone, always.” --Byron Katie
Katie’s realization resulted in a method of questioning the validity of stressful thoughts so we can see for ourselves if what we believe is actually true or not. Katie calls this process of self-inquiry, “The Work”.
The Work asks 4 questions:
- Is this stressful thought true?
- Can I know absolutely that it’s true?
- How do I react when I believe this thought?
- How would I be without this thought?
The 5th step is called The Turnaround. This is a fascinating process for examining the thought from 3 different perspectives. The Turnaround reveals hidden inconsistencies, projections and conditioning in a way that, if we are open to it, is utterly freeing. This workshop will introduce the “Judge Your Neighbor Worksheet”, which each participant will complete with a stressful thought of their own to provide a template for the day’s work of self-discovery.
“As long as you think that anyone or anything else is responsible for your suffering, the situation is hopeless. It means that you are forever in the role of victim, that you can’t help but suffer. Behind your suffering is an unexamined thought. So examine your thinking and begin to set yourself free.” --Byron Katie
Our FCM workshop presenter, Darlene Stewart, has attended workshops with Katie since 2012. In 2017, she attended the 9-Day School For The Work, which focused on learning to do The Work for oneself as well as how to facilitate it for others. Darlene does The Work regularly for herself and has facilitated Worksheets for many others who have found it particularly helpful in resolving conflicted, stressful situations.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be introduced to the “Judge Your Neighbor Worksheet from “The Work” of Byron Katie
- Participants will learn how to:
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- Identify one stressful thought
- Ask 4 clarifying questions about that thought
- Turn the thought around 3 ways to test for validity
This class is approved for 6 Continuing Education Credits for LMHC; LCSW; LMFT
Darlene Stewart retired as Vice President of Clinical Services for Children’s Advocacy Center of Volusia & Flagler Counties, where she worked for 16 years supervising clinical trauma services to child victims and families of abuse and neglect. Before that, Darlene worked as Clinical Supervisor and Mental Health Counselor providing direct services to clients in outpatient mental health centers in Oregon and Florida, working with children & families, alcohol/drug treatment and general mental health issues. Darlene has practiced mindfulness in her daily life and at work since 1997.
*Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider Number 50-14766. This course is approved for 6 CEU’s. Credit will only be awarded with verification of attendance.
*Grievance Procedure: Mail a statement describing your complaint to Director of Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals; 6501 N. Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604
