CLSOCPY004 - The Psychology of Transformation in Times of Turmoil

Let difficulty transform you. And it will. —Pema Chödrön

Has the idea of resilience lost its meaning during the last year? We have experienced widespread, unusually prolonged stress that has left few aspects of life untouched: a pandemic, heightened awareness of racial injustice, economic hardship, political strife, and more. Imagine a rubber band stretched to its limit and held there. If resilience is the ability to experience stress, manage its effects, absorb its lessons and return to equilibrium, what happens when we struggle to regain equanimity? Can we lose our elasticity forever? In this experiential course led by psychotherapist Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick, explore how growth can emerge in times of upheaval from holding the tensions of our experience together. In a small, virtual community designed to foster insight, connection, renewal and growth, we consider lessons from history, spiritual traditions and contemporary psychology through presentations, discussions and interactive exercises. Dr. Danielle King, director of the Rice University WorKing Resilience Lab, joins as a special guest to discuss the intersection of resilience and diversity.

Note: This course is offered for educational purposes only. Please consult with the professional of your choosing if you are seeking specific therapeutic or medical advice.

• The historical context of turmoil: Protracted turmoil is new to us. It isn’t to humanity.
• Grieving lost ways of life: Grief does not have five neat stages.
• Making sense of the inexplicable: “Nothing human is alien to me.”
• Privilege, prejudice and personal pain: The problem with “first world problems.” With Danielle King, Ph.D., Rice University.
• The engine of psychological growth: Holding the tension of opposites.
• From turmoil to transformation: Post-traumatic growth can follow post-traumatic stress.

CO-SPONSOR: The Jung Center