Facing Self Judgment - Richmond - Early Bird $299 *thru April 15

Facilitated by Amber Rice, LMFT, and Meg Rafanelli

June 1 & 2, 2019

Location: Charterhouse School

3900 West Broad Street Richmond Virginia 23230

Cost: $349

$299 Early Bird Registration through April 15

Saturday and Sunday

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Coffee and light snacks provided

Facing Self-Judgment is a 2 day intensive workshop experience designed to equip you with practical skills to use to when you find yourself stuck in a self judgment pattern. You will be introduced to information, experiences, and processes that will support you in approaching self judgment in a whole new way. Instead of ignoring your pain or attacking your inner critic, you will learn to adopt a more curious and relational approach that is needed for self compassion to develop.

Not one of us is immune to self judgment. Despite the affirmations, the positive self talk, the therapy, and the attempts at restructuring our thoughts, we may still experience the harsh effects of our inner critic. Shaming yourself into good behavior is not sustainable and it does not serve you in the long run. What we need, instead, is a new way of thinking about personal failure, suffering, and imperfection that promotes understanding, self kindness, and perspective.

Let's face it. If judging ourselves worked, we would be perfect by now.

After the Facing Self Judgment Life Change Course, you will:

• Be able to identify what contributes to and can perpetuate self-judgment.
• Use the guided process taught to address self-criticism and shift it to self-care.
• Develop a empathetic understanding of your behavior and engage in less “shame spiraling.”
• Understand how your self-judgment has been working for you to get your needs met.
• Approach yourself with expanded kindness and care when you are hurting instead of ignoring your pain with a “stiff upper lip.”
• Gain a healthier perspective on imperfection that fosters connection and belonging.
• Experience more joy, freedom, and self appreciation that a self-compassion practice brings.

We are happy to be partnering with UMFS and the Charterhouse School in Richmond. 10% of proceeds will be donated to Charterhouse School’s fund for art-based and experiential therapeutic activities. UMFS’s Charterhouse School provides specialized education and treatment programs for kids throughout central Virginia. Through generous donations, students at the school have access to art-based and experiential therapeutic activities including yoga, creative movement, drama, visual arts, music, mindfulness, and hip hop workshops. www.charterhouseschool.org www.umfs.org

FAQ:

Is this workshop experience for me?

Do you often engage in self critical self talk?  Do you have a persistent feeling of unworthiness and shame? Do you often compare yourself to others and feel inadequate or not good enough? Do you have a hard time expressing what you really want, need, think, or feel? Have you tried using positive affirmations, prayer and/or meditation to stop the self judgment but are still feeling stuck in a self critical pattern? If so, then Facing Self Judgment is for you!

What is self-judgment?

Self-judgment is the experience of holding critical, negative thoughts about ourselves that result in unpleasant feelings of shame, anxiety, depression, and anger. We may then respond to our feelings with problematic behaviors including isolating, lashing out, worrying and obsessing, compulsive eating/drinking/shopping/gaming/working, aggression, withholding, avoiding, and playing small. We judge ourselves harshly based on unrealistic or outdated expectations and standards, usually as a means of motivating ourselves to “do better.”  Self judgment is often intended to be an act of self protection from pain, failure, imperfection, and rejection.

What is self-compassion?

Self-compassion entails being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism. The very definition of being “human” means that one is mortal, vulnerable and imperfect.  Therefore, self-compassion involves recognizing that suffering and personal inadequacy is part of the shared human experience – something that we all go through rather than being something that happens to “me” alone.  It is a non-judgmental, receptive mind state in which one observes their thoughts and feelings as they are, without trying to suppress or deny them because we cannot ignore our pain and feel compassion for it at the same time. (adapted from Dr. Kristen Neff)

What should I expect during the program?

We do our best to create a warm, nurturing space for you to explore this very personal and often painful story of self judgment.  You can expect to be joined by other whole-hearted people who are engaging in this vulnerable and transformative experience. We invite you to participate with courage, and to stay connected to your boundaries. There will be group discussion, teaching, reflection exercises, small group work, art processes, music, mindfulness exercises, and gentle movement processes. Personal sharing will be encouraged as there is great value in the hearing and telling of our shared experiences. You are encouraged to bring a journal.

Who is Amber Rice?

Amber Rice is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the states of Washington and California.  She is a skilled trauma therapist, having over 20 years of direct clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults who have been impacted by trauma. Amber is a skilled educator, trainer, and group process facilitator and has developed and facilitated workshops and trainings in clinical settings on topics including countertransference, codependency, social thinking, self compassion, and trauma.  Amber holds a special interest in the personal and professional development of clinicians and has devoted her career to creating safe spaces for clinicians to lean into their growing edges. A core concept in Amber’s approach to development of clinical professionals is that the best clinical tool is one’s Self, and that the best clinical experience is gained in the clinicians’s process of personal growth and healing. Amber holds a designation as an AAMFT Approved Clinical Supervisor and brings her unique focus on personal process as a means of professional growth to her work as a clinical supervisor with counseling associates and interns.  She is an adjunct graduate professor at Antioch University in Seattle in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Department. Amber currently lives in Bothell, Washington with her 12 year old son.

Who is Meg Rafanelli?

I can't afford the fee. Are there payment plans or scholarships available?

YES! We want Facing Self Judgment to be available to as many people as possible, and so if you are in need of a payment plan or a scholarship, please contact us and let us know. There are a limited amount of scholarships for a reduced fee available, so please reach out to us to apply. You can email us at amber@amberrice.org

OUR CANCELLATION POLICY

Events and Trainings:

For all events and trainings registered Reclaim-Yourself, we offer a full refund less a 10% processing fee if cancellation is at least 15 days prior to the start of the event; otherwise, any payments or deposits are nonrefundable. For questions, please email amber@amberrice.com