Course Descriptions

Course for people who:

depend on others for self-definition experience self-hatred and self-doubt are defensive and reactive in significant relationships abandon themselves to the opinions of others want to develop the ability to express their inner experiences more clearly in relationships experience anxiety and limit their flexibility and creativity have issues that impact health

Description:
Reflect on the ways that we limit our full expression and creativity and assess the 'fit' of our preconceived beliefs about self esteem, body and self image. Explore our capacity for flexibility, as well as our propensity to become secure and comfortable with old, familiar stances that eventually contribute to rigidity of body, mind and spirit.

We yearn for and search for self-recognition through relationship with others. Early in life, we adopted messages (often inferred) from others as the 'truth' about ourselves and about our bodies. We are unaware that these reflections were often distortions of flawed mirroring. If these 'truths' remain unexamined, we live our life in reaction to others. In fact, the myth of the mirror impacts our relationship with our body and our current relationships with partners, children, friends, bosses, employees and co-workers. We perpetuate the pattern of giving, receiving, and believing distorted feedback.

This course provides an opportunity to explore and update the messages of both personal and 'purchased' mirrors. We explore the impact of these distortions in our lives and in the development of our personal values, our creativity, our willingness to risk change and to make choice. We will learn about direct, honest, personal mirroring and use this style of feedback as a practice ground for nurturing honest, intimate relationships.

A deeper understanding of this process is beneficial in relating, parenting, creating opportunities for health, making congruent decisions, and managing people, employees, co-workers and team members.


Continuing Education Credits:
Approved for Continuing Education Credit hours by the Canadian Counselling Association (www.ccacc.ca) .

Faculty:
Wendy Huntington, Cathy McNally

Dates:

Apr.02-Apr.05, 2009 Thu-Sun;	Register	Tuition: ($495.00) $540.00	For 2009 by Dec 15, 2008 $480.00
Register for 2009 courses by December 15th, 2008 and pay 2008 Tuition fees. (early) regular fee: the price in brackets is the "Early Bird" rate for those who register and pay in full at least two weeks before the course begins. The price without brackets is the full price. Prices in Canadian dollars. Meals and accommodation not included. Full room and board is available for an extra charge. See Resort Prices for details.
Testimonials: "This course has already had a huge impact on how I interact with those around me." June 2008 "This is a sleeper of a program! I learned how I'm constantly mirroring and being mirrored in the world. Seeing the depth of how distortions in peoples' reflections of me has shaped how I see myself was profound and liberating. Having the experience of giving and receiving conscious, clear mirroring was truly awesome! Amazing results for such a short program." —Bob Matthews, June 2003 "For many years I have been trying to love myself. I didn't know how to get to that place of self-love and self-acceptance. I asked my counsellor, my friends, my family and I took other Haven courses. All to no avail. In Mirroring, when I looked in the mirror, for the very first time who I saw looking back at me was my lovely self! I finally found her after years of searching." —Julie Panneton, June 2003 "I've taken many courses at Haven and have grown with all of them in various ways, but the thing that really struck me about "Mirroring" is how absolutely invaluable I thought it could be for people who are parenting. Obviously we're all affected by the parenting we've been given in our lives, (that's probably why Haven is so darn successful), but I never would have guessed a course could SO clearly define the origins and pathways of those messed-up messages. For me, I now have more clarity on a day-to-day basis about destructive messages in my head that are old reflections, no longer needed or useful. It was surprising to learn how even a parent with the best of intentions (eg. "I'll never do to my child what my parent did to me") can do the same damage or more as one who openly abuses. It's an eye-opener, whether you're currently parenting a child, plan to be a parent, or...once upon a time, had a parent." —Robin K., 2004 "Just like the mirrors that make us so tall & skinny or short & fat, I learnt in a recent Mirroring program at The Haven that in childhood parents unknowingly do the same thing. Telling their children how great they are or conversely that they have to do better. Although the parents may have had good intentions, these messages can have surprising negative consequences for the child. These messages stay with us and when we get married, or become parents or a boss in the office, we tend to use these same ineffective styles of communication to get what we want. No doubt you remember being angry or hurt when you have been on the receiving end of one of these unpleasant messages, or feeling quite uncomfortable when you received an insincere compliment. In this Mirroring program I learnt how to deliver the straight goods, or if I was on the receiving end, how not to get hooked into an argument or power struggle. The program leaders provide the theory, lots of opportunity for discussion, and relevant practice to cement the learning. I will use this new knowledge and skill in my intimate relationships & friendships and in all important or difficult conversations. This experience and my previous learning at The Haven have also been useful in the office where political situations and power struggles often take place. With these new skills I find it easier to be be personal and less likely to get into difficulties - and when I dont then at least I am willing to back and clean things up later! So once again I appreciate The Haven, its great leaders, and the learning opportunities that they provide. You have made such a difference in my personal & professional life!" —Dave Tyler, June 2004

Course Evaluation:
A student/participant who attends a minimum of 90% of the total course sessions shall receive a "Pass" grade. A student/participant who is absent for more than 10% of the session will receive an "Incomplete" grade and credit will not be granted.