“Resilience and Hope in the Face of Change”

Jeffrey Raff, Ph.D..

Presentation: Reflection On Fate
Workshop: Working With Oracles

According to ancient Chinese sages, the only thing constant is change. Whether we wish for it or not, change will either slowly—or suddenly and dramatically, transform our lives. The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is a repository of wisdom designed to teach people to harmonize with change and view it as fate— something that is neither haphazard nor meaningless—so that we may find truths about ourselves that we might have learned in no other way. Dr. Raff will share his own experience with change created by a devastating disease; focus on ideas contained in the I Ching, explore how change can reveal mysteries if we know how to meet it, and discuss how we may incorporate change into our daily lives.

Ann Belford Ulanov, Ph.D., M.Div.

Presentation: Transition and Change: The Perils of Wholeness

Individuation is dangerous, not a pleasant progression to wholeness. Wholeness means all the parts, all four feet in, not just one or two, and that means a sustained hunt for the missing parts, the lost or rejected ones, the ones too wonderful to receive. Often the parts hunt us, pressing to be included. The mix and match of our intentions and the psyche’s match of our intentions means transition, even change. To consent brings the necessity of hope, and surprise at the resilience of the psyche..

Lionel Corbett, M.D.

Presentation: Resilience and Forgiveness
Workshop: Resilience and Hope

Over the course of this week, Dr. Corbett will focus on the importance of forgiveness for our mental and physical health; the psychological process of forgiveness; the psychological barriers that prevent forgiveness—and the issue of forgiveness when it arises in the process of psychotherapy. Additionally, in workshop format, while considering some of the spiritual, philosophical, and depth psychological writers in this area, he will discuss the nature of hope, the sources of hope in development, the ability to maintain hope under stress, the problem of immature or false hope and the issue of hope in psychotherapy.

Manisha Roy, Ph.D.

Presentation: Resilience and Hope in the Face of Change

Workshop: Change—Individual, Cultural and Archetypal Perspectives

Approached with consciousness, change is inevitably followed by creative and positive hope—an outcome in keeping with the archetypal rhythm of the universal law of Nature. Alternatively, stretched too far, the same malleability of accepting change, can paralyze an individual (or a nation) into hopeless submission to a situation that can cause disaster. In presentation and workshop, Dr. Roy will illustrate how resilient individuals seem not only to tolerate sudden changes (even adverse ones) better, but also apparently are able to benefit from them.

Jeffrey Rubin, Ph.D.

Presentation: Accessing Realistic Hope in Challenging Times

Workshop: Staying Hopeful in an Insane World

Hope is psychological oxygen; it is essential to our survival. Hope makes us more resilient and creative and empowers us to change. It also helps us move boldly into the future. But hope can have a shadow side. False hope—relentless optimism and blind idealism—can deny reality, impeding our capacity to address the challenges we need to face for personal change. In his presentation and workshop, Dr. Rubin, from both Buddhist and Jungian perspectives, and in a combination of lecture, dialogue and experiential exercises, will help illuminate what genuine hope is—and how to access it.