Falling in Love with State One:

For clinicians who would like to broaden their AEDP practice by increasing their comprehension of state 1 in the four-state transformational model.

Maria's photo.jpg

Workshop Description:

State 1 in the four-state transformational model of AEDP constitutes both the red light phenomena of defenses and emotion-inhibiting affects such as anxiety, shame and guilt, as well as the green light signals of transformance drive (e.g., resilience, motivation to heal). States 2, 3 and 4 embody softening of defenses to allow for the processing to completion of core affective experiences, successive rounds of metaprocessing and the emergence of core state (i.e., new understandings and truths about the self).

Inevitably, we want to accompany our clients passed the murkiness of defense-laden state 1 experiences to the break- through healing phenomena of subsequent states. Within this trajectory, state 1 often gets a bad rap. Clinicians feel disheartened, stymied, if much of their ongoing sessions with clients remain in state 1. In this context, we may question our self-efficacy as psychotherapists and approach sessions with ambivalence, anxiety or self-doubt. We sometimes experience a lack of accomplishment or a sense of personal failure when we remain, time and time again, in the muddled waters of state 1.

Through both didactic discourse as well as through the presentation of video recordings of sessions, this workshop will help clinicians to:

  • dispel some of the myths about state 1

  • appreciate and grasp the profundity of this first transformational state

  • embrace the intricacies, nuances and richness of state 1

  • work more effectively in state 1 by broadening one’s skill set and developing more tools

In this workshop, I share my personal journey of falling in love with state 1 and invite you to do so as well.

Presenter Bio: Dr. Maria Angelina, RCC. I am a clinical counselor working both in post-secondary and in private practice in Vancouver, B.C. I have over 15 years counseling experience and am a certified AEDP therapist and supervisor. My foray into the AEDP world started with my doctoral research which aimed to better understand the attachment processes within psychotherapy. Like many, I immediately found and continue to "find home” in AEDP as my therapeutic orientation. Within this modality, I have felt a deepening, a honing of skills, a grounding into self and other, a releasing into process, into relationship, a synchrony, all of which continue to feel infinitely meaningful and creative. I can say with certainty, I am in every way a better person, partner, parent, and psychotherapist because of AEDP. Since undertaking the immersion, I have completed Essential Skills 1 & 2, Core Training, and have assisted at multiple AEDP courses, workshops, and trainings. Additionally, I have presented my AEDP clinical work and research at several psychotherapy conferences. I look forward to connecting with participants in our growing Vancouver community.

Date & Time: November 16, 2019 from 9am-3pm

Prerequisite: AEDP Immersion (or equivalents such as AEDP individual or group supervision; Core training; Essential skills; or Advanced AEDP skill courses)

Cost: $100

Location: Langara College

Registration: Registration is limited to 20 participants. For registration and location details, please contact psychotherapyworkshops@gmail.com