The Hero’s Journey: From Page to Stage

The Hero’s Journey: From Page to Stage

3.0 CEs for NYS LCAT*, LCSW, LMSW, LMHC 
Friday, May 3, 2019
5:30-8:30 pm
Location:  The Drama League of New York, 32 Avenue of the Americas, NYC
Taught by: Mark Beauregard, MA, LCAT, RDT, BCT and Hollis Witherspoon, MA candidate in drama therapy
Fee: $90

Individuals with whom we work can often get stuck, on the precipice of something, or have difficulty in reaching goals or desired outcomes. What tools can we use to guide them through the process of getting where they want to be?

This workshop will be highly experiential, involving use of writing, visual art, movement and dramatic improvisation.   

This workshop will provide participants with a clinical understanding of how to use Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey as a theoretical and practical tool in therapy. The hero’s journey provides a rich and structured way for therapists and clients to identify personal goals and obstacles in the way. The model calls upon accessing internal and external resources as guides in helping combat adversity to realize personal strength. We will emphasize how to utilize the hero’s journey in various formats: moving from visually on paper, to use of objects, and finally into fully  embodied and improvised role play. Facilitators will discuss when it is indicated to use one format over another. We will explore the use of hero’s journey as both an assessment and an entry point into deeper clinical work. Challenges in this work and how best to ethically use this model in therapy will be highlighted, such as when to engage fictional story versus reality, as well as how to make adaptations to specific work settings and clinical populations.

A description of the teaching methods to be used:

• Visual and written storymaking
• Experiential group warm-ups, improvisation and role-play
• Group discussion of experiences and impressions of activities to enhance learning and to gain perspective on experience as both therapist and client

The learning objectives of the course. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the stages of the hero’s journey and how it can be applied clinically
2. Identify 3 methods of creating and working through the hero’s journey (visual mapping, object representation, and embodied improvisation), and under what clinical circumstances to utilize which.
3. Understand and describe principle of aesthetic distance and how it is used to maintain physical and emotional safety with clients.
4. Understand application of the hero’s journey in both individual and group psychotherapy
5. Gain education on drama therapy practice and further training.

Cancellation policy: If class is cancelled prior to two weeks before a scheduled training receive a refund minus a $15 processing fee. Participants who cancel their enrollment less than 10 days before the first continuing education session will not be refunded but can receive credit towards a future training. A full refund or credit is given to participants with unexpected medical or personal emergencies.