Events with Suzanne Fageol
Spiritual practice, spiritual direction, and working with trauma
Co-Sponsored by Sacred Ground and Wisdom Ways
Suzanne Fageol is a spiritual director, teacher and supervisor of spiritual directors. She is also a licensed counselor, somatic trauma educator and craniosacral therapist. Among the first women to be ordained by the Anglican Church, she directed “Soul Friending,” the Lorain Association Center for Incarnational Spirituality’s Masters in Spiritual Direction program, and taught for the Claritas Institute for Interspiritual Mentoring. She lives on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest.
Surviving the Whirlwind:
Guidance for Working with People with Trauma
Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20, 9:00am-5:00pm both days
Everyone has experienced trauma at one time or another. This can interfere with balanced emotions, social interaction, work function, and quality of life. This workshop is designed for educators, clergy, spiritual directors, life coaches, body workers, first responders and healers, and will help participants be more effective working with clients challenged by trauma. Participants will learn:
- what balanced brain, heart, and nervous system functions look like;
- the neuroscience of flow and creativity, and how to recognize when neither is present;
- the necessity of empathy and compassion to regulate trauma;
- how to recognize the signs of trauma and steps to avoid vicarious secondary trauma;
- how to do simple and effective somatic trauma clearing; and
- how to assess when referral to a therapeutic trauma specialist is needed.
You’ll leave this workshop more centered, more effective in your work and more available for your clients. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing.
WHEN: Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20, 9:00am-5:00pm both days
COST: $225, includes meals
Workshop is limited to 30 participants. If you are a member of Sacred Ground please call 651-696-2798.
The Neuroscience of Spiritual Practice
Monday, October 22, 9:30am-3:30pm
This workshop explores the connection between body, mind, and spirit as experienced through spiritual practices. We will look at different modes of spiritual practice and the neurobiological pathways for these practices. We will learn how to optimize our spiritual practice based on these neurobiological discoveries. Drawing on examples from different faith traditions, we will learn which spiritual practices work best for people and why they are effective from a brain-function perspective.
We will cover the basic neuroscience of the nervous system, and the ways in which spiritual practices optimize flow and access to the sacred. We will look at the role of the vagus nerve in stimulating the brain in chant, lectio visio, heart and mindfulness meditation, prayer, and moving meditations like chi gong, tai chi, and yoga. We will also focus on the neurobiology of gratitude, empathy, and compassion. Come prepared for a day of learning and fun. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring your favorite spiritual practice with you.
WHEN: Monday, October 22, from 9:30am-3:30pm
COST: $75.00, includes lunch.
If you are a member of Sacred Ground, please call 651-696-2798 to register.
Intensive Workshop for Experienced Spiritual Directors:
Working With Trauma in Spiritual Direction
Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27, 9:00am-5:00pm
This is an experiential workshop about dealing with trauma for spiritual directors with at least 100 hours experience working with directees.
We will discuss the neuroscience of the basic capacities of spiritual direction: presence, attunement, resonance, and trust, and how they lead to a solid foundational relationship between the director, the directee and the sacred. We will see how these capacities are also the foundation for working with people in trauma. We will consider the Ignatian Principle and Foundation as a spiritual form of “secure attachment,” a necessary foundation piece in healing relational trauma. Participants will learn how to recognize indications of trauma and how relational and acute trauma can affect not only the spiritual direction relationship, but also the directee’s ability to connect with the sacred. We will cover spiritual trauma and practice some somatic techniques for clearing trauma.
During the final afternoon, there will be an opportunity to present a few case studies of your challenging sessions with directees in trauma. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. This workshop is limited to 30 participants.
WHEN: Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 from 9:00am-5:00pm both days. Individual consultation can be scheduled for Friday evening.
COST: $225, includes meals
For this workshop only, registration, application, and more information is through Sacred Ground at (www.sacredgroundspirit.org) or call 651-696-2798.
