Symptoms as Solutions: Transforming Chronic Suffering into Positive Solution

Generative Psychotherapy sees a client’s negative states—depression, anxiety, addictions, negative habits-- as not-yet-valued attempts to satisfy core needs. The premise is that each core human experience—anger, vulnerability, not-knowing, playfulness--has equivalent potential to be positive or negative, depending on its human connections. Thus, a child’s anger becomes a negative symptom when met with hostile rejection, but a resource when engaged with skillful compassion.

This workshop will explore ways that this understanding can transform negative problems into positive resources. A general framework will be presented, illuminated by multiple techniques, mini-demos, case examples, and a guided process. A major emphasis will be on the underlying nonverbal presence needed to make all this work.