CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
Saturday November 26, 2022 & Sunday November 27, 2022
10:30 – 17:30:
The Shadow Self, or the Shadow as C. Jung called it, is the sidelined self, the self behind-the-scenes that defines our existence, our daily life much more than we suspect. It was condemned to the shadow as impermissible during our upbringing and consists of all those feelings, thoughts, fantasies, and behaviors that are considered ‘inappropriate’ or ‘bad’ for the ‘good’ role that each of us constructs in the society where we live. But it is in this Shadow Self that the stock of our creativity, inspiration, energy, and fulfillment is hidden. Part of our being too, as long as we live in the dark, we live a half, incomplete life, even if we have ‘spiritual’ or ‘higher’ aspirations. He often causes fear in most people because he is instinctive, uneducated, and not so “familiar”, yet genuine. He visits us in our dreams as a figure of darkness or as an “inferior” creature, sometimes as a helper and sometimes as a competitor, sometimes as a luminous Guide and sometimes as a slimy shadow demanding our attention. As long as we insist on ignoring him, he will knock on the door of our consciousness, either in the form of some symptoms, or with the lack of energy, or with existential, agonizing questions that demand a solution.
In the area of the Shadow self there are also many of our talents and potentials that have been overlooked or sidelined because they were not accepted by us and our social environment, skills and abilities full of wealth and energy. Part of our inner Gold(Chrysafion) is in this space that we have forgotten or ignored in the noise of everyday life. In the deepest part of the Shadow we may also discover our Authentic Self that we have forgotten through the use of our many guises.
Shadowy does not necessarily mean “bad” but rather the one who is in obscurity and does not make his presence obvious. At the same time it is true that some of our “badness” is in the Shadow because we grew up wearing the “good kid” guise. The ignorance of our “evil” and the avoidance of coming into contact with it makes us a pawn of its power. It is when we are aware of all our sides that we start living less mechanically, we have the choice for “conscious kindness” and not the ” kindness” taught to us when we were children which is nothing more than lukewarm mechanicalness, a mask of social convention that sooner or later falls off. Someone who decides to walk the self-cognitive path of Wholeness has an obligation to face his wholeness, to include both his Light and Darkness.
Coordinated by Demis Kyriakou, Psychiatrist, Drama Therapist (R.DTh.-UK), Drama Therapy Supervisor, Homeopathic Doctor and Author. Founder and director of the former head of Dramatherapy in Northern Greece and Cyprus.
Facilitator of regular Drama Therapy groups and supervisor for the last 30 years. Inspirer of the concept of “Spagyric Drama Therapy” and its corresponding therapeutic model. He is also a publishing consultant for the magazine “AVATON” in which he writes on a regular basis. Author of three books, a poetry collection entitled “The Purple Compass” (published by Gavrielides), a spiritual diary entitled “Martyria” (published by Archetype) and another poetry collection entitled “Albedo – Alchemy Haiku” (published by Archetype). He has contributed to a number of collective works, both Greek and British on Alchemy, the Nature of the Psyche, Human Typology, etc. Creator of the first website for Dramatherapy in Greece and Cyprus (www.dramatherapy.gr) and on Facebook “Spagyric Dramatherapy”. His main research interest includes bridging, the medium of Dramatherapy, Spiritual Traditions and practices and psychotherapeutic theory and practice.
He lives and works in Thessaloniki.
*The two parts of the seminar are independent.
Cost of participation: 170€
Saturday December 3, 2022
10.00 – 14.00:
This seminar will introduce the participants to the Sesame Method also known as Drama and Movement Therapy. This method is a non-directive approach to Drama Therapy, which is based on the basic principles of Carl Gustav Jung’s theory of the human soul, Billy Lindqvist’s method of treatment through touch and sound movement, Rudolph Laban’s kinesiology theory and Peter Slade’s model for the enactment play (role play). It includes movement, the enactment of a myth or a story, and dramatized play as techniques that facilitate the exploration of parts of the self through soul-body communication and the safe distance created by symbolic images. By using these tools, we have the ability to listen to whatever narrative our body has to tell us and project our feelings onto an external symbol, which can help us bring to the light of consciousness new aspects of our personality and alternative ways to manage our difficulties.
The seminar is divided into a theoretical and an experiential part, in order to connect the theory with the therapeutic practice and will separately present the different techniques of the specific method as well as the distinct structure that the method proposes for a therapeutic session. It is addressed to drama therapists and play therapists, to professionals of mental health and social sciences, to teachers of all levels, but also to those interested in getting to know the specific method in Drama Therapy.
The seminar is coordinated by Vassiliki Gouli, Psychologist and Drama Therapist. Vassiliki Gouli studied psychology at the University of Crete and then completed the drama therapy postgraduate program at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, in London. While in London, she worked in schools with children and teenagers on the autistic spectrum, as well as in psychiatric hospitals with people with eating disorders.
She currently works privately with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), children, adolescents and adults with emotional difficulties. She is a member of the British Association of Health and Welfare Professionals (HCPC, UK) and the Association of Drama Therapists-Play Therapists of Greece.
Cost of participation: 50€
Saturday January 28, 2023 & Sunday January 29, 2023
10:30 – 17:30:
The Shadow Self, or the Shadow as C. Jung called it, is the sidelined self, the self behind-the-scenes that defines our existence, our daily life much more than we suspect. It was condemned to the shadow as impermissible during our upbringing and consists of all those feelings, thoughts, fantasies, and behaviors that are considered ‘inappropriate’ or ‘bad’ for the ‘good’ role that each of us constructs in the society where we live. But it is in this Shadow Self that the stock of our creativity, inspiration, energy, and fulfillment is hidden. Part of our being too, as long as we live in the dark, we live a half, incomplete life, even if we have ‘spiritual’ or ‘higher’ aspirations. He often causes fear in most people because he is instinctive, uneducated, and not so “familiar”, yet genuine. He visits us in our dreams as a figure of darkness or as an “inferior” creature, sometimes as a helper and sometimes as a competitor, sometimes as a luminous Guide and sometimes as a slimy shadow demanding our attention. As long as we insist on ignoring him, he will knock on the door of our consciousness, either in the form of some symptoms, or with the lack of energy, or with existential, agonizing questions that demand a solution.
In the area of the Shadow self there are also many of our talents and potentials that have been overlooked or sidelined because they were not accepted by us and our social environment, skills and abilities full of wealth and energy. Part of our inner Gold(Chrysafion) is in this space that we have forgotten or ignored in the noise of everyday life. In the deepest part of the Shadow we may also discover our Authentic Self that we have forgotten through the use of our many guises.
Shadowy does not necessarily mean “bad” but rather the one who is in obscurity and does not make his presence obvious. At the same time it is true that some of our “badness” is in the Shadow because we grew up wearing the “good kid” guise. The ignorance of our “evil” and the avoidance of coming into contact with it makes us a pawn of its power. It is when we are aware of all our sides that we start living less mechanically, we have the choice for “conscious kindness” and not the ” kindness” taught to us when we were children which is nothing more than lukewarm mechanicalness, a mask of social convention that sooner or later falls off. Someone who decides to walk the self-cognitive path of Wholeness has an obligation to face his wholeness, to include both his Light and Darkness.
Coordinated by Demis Kyriakou, Psychiatrist, Drama Therapist (R.DTh.-UK), Drama Therapy Supervisor, Homeopathic Doctor and Author. Founder and director of the former head of Dramatherapy in Northern Greece and Cyprus.
Facilitator of regular Drama Therapy groups and supervisor for the last 30 years. Inspirer of the concept of “Spagyric Drama Therapy” and its corresponding therapeutic model. He is also a publishing consultant for the magazine “AVATON” in which he writes on a regular basis. Author of three books, a poetry collection entitled “The Purple Compass” (published by Gavrielides), a spiritual diary entitled “Martyria” (published by Archetype) and another poetry collection entitled “Albedo – Alchemy Haiku” (published by Archetype). He has contributed to a number of collective works, both Greek and British on Alchemy, the Nature of the Psyche, Human Typology, etc. Creator of the first website for Dramatherapy in Greece and Cyprus (www.dramatherapy.gr) and on Facebook “Spagyric Dramatherapy”. His main research interest includes bridging, the medium of Dramatherapy, Spiritual Traditions and practices and psychotherapeutic theory and practice.
He lives and works in Thessaloniki.
*The two parts of the seminar are independent.
Cost of participation: 170€
Saturday March 4, 2023
10.00 – 14.00:
“Creating a Superhero involves imagining a better world and creating a better, braver, brighter and bigger version of yourself that will protect that new world”
(Brooker, 2013).
During difficult times in their lives, people turn to stories for comfort and inspiration. The relationships they form with the fictional characters in these stories can give them strength and resilience to face painful challenges.
Research has shown that during the pandemic, more and more people turned to fantasy TV series where Superheroes and Supercriminals were the protagonists(Scarlet, 2021).
In this four-hour experiential workshop, we will explore our connection to the Superhero and/or Supervillain within us. We’ll learn more about her/his Origin Story, his/her Superhero/Supercriminal Mentor, her/his unique Superpowers, his/her Sense of Purpose, and the Monsters she/he needs to face. Play Therapy, enriched with ideas of Dr Janina Scarlet’s Superhero Therapy model, will be our Super Vehicle on this journey of awakening our Super Potential!
The workshop is adressed to those who wish to explore their potential and the basic components of their resilience.
Coordinated by Katerina Tsomi, Play Therapist, Supervisor and Person-Centered Counselor. She maintains a private office in Athens and works as a Play therapist with children, adolescents and adults. She does counseling with parents and supervises professionals. Her interests include the therapeutic use of symbolism in modern superhero stories, Disney/Pixar animated films, and the unique therapeutic needs of gifted people.
Cost of participation: 50€
Saturday April 1, 2023
10.00 – 14.00:
According to some stories, in a faraway land, there is a school of wizards and witches. There lived a courageous apprentice wizard who experienced wonderful adventures and faced strange challenges outside and inside him. So, what can we learn about us from the young wizard?
Through stories of magic we will explore when and why we may need a magic wand. We will search for the best protection spell. We will make our own personalized spells. Mainly, however, we will test whether and how we can become magicians too.
Coordinator of the seminar is Zoi Margeli, Psychologist and Playtherapist.
Zoi Margeli has worked in a number of therapeutic settings as a psychotherapist with individuals and groups. In recent years she has been qualified as a creative supervisor for proffessionals. Several articles of hers have been published in journals for parents and educators.
Cost of participation: 50€
Saturday May 27, 2023 & Sunday May 28, 2023
10:30 – 17:30:
Love after Love
The time will come
When, with elation
You will greet yourself arriving
At your own door, in your own mirror
And each will smile at the other’s welcome.
And say sit here. Eat
You will love again the stranger who was yourself
Give wine. Give bread.
Give back your heart
To itself, to the stranger who has loved you
All your life, whom you have ignored for another
Who knows you by heart
Takes down the love letters from the bookshelf
The photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your own image from the mirror
Sit. Feast on your life.
Derek Walcott
In this workshop we will explore the nature of self-compassion – what stops it from naturally arising within us and our clients, the impact of its lack and how we can cultivate it on a daily basis for ourselves and support our clients to do the same.
We will draw on the Four Great Catalysts of Awakening, the Brahma Vihara, in our endeavours and engage in creative methods including embodiment, projective and role play, such as poetry, art, sculpting and ritual.
We will underpin our experiential work with theories drawn from Donald Winnicott, Gabor Maté, Dan Hughes and Kristin Neff.
Biography
Di was a dramatherapist for three decades, is a play therapist and a Buddhist psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and author of Playful Awakening – Releasing the Gift of Play in Your Life. She has recently been awarded a Master of Arts in Creative Writing with Distinction and is committed to individual, collective and planetary healing.
Cost of participation: 170€
Saturday February 4, 2023
10.00 – 14.00:
“More than the other arts, or in a more particular way, cinema involves us in the imaginary: it strongly mobilizes perception, but only to push it straight into its own absence, which is nevertheless the only meaningful present.”
Christian Metz
Have you ever felt at the end of a movie a tightness, a thrill, a reflection and so on…?
A movie scene can be a dream. A good or bad dream, which either has or has not come true. Christian Metz argues that a film work simulates a dream state and that the cinema is a huge platform where we place our projections.
In this experiential workshop we aim to explore starting points and beginnings. At every new beginning, it seems as if the “different” is calling us, and the “different” often requires a new understanding. Through the techniques of Dramatherapy and Cinema, we will explore, therefore, how we stand in front of changes and new beginnings that take place in our lives, in the here and now. We will look for the part with which we want to interact in order to serve our desire for something new.
What would happen if we left the role of the spectator and became the leading actor in a movie scenery for a while ?
The seminar is coordinated by:
Vasiliki Moka is a Drama therapist trainee. She has completed her studies at the Pedagogical Department of Primary Education and holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights. Influenced by Drama Therapy, Yoga and Thai massage, she focuses on creative expression, coordination of breathing and movement with the aim of balancing body and spirit. She has experience in coordinating groups of children and adolescents and, recently she has started coordinating groups of adults as well.
Evika Mavroidi is a graduate of the National Kapodistriko University of Athens and a Drama therapist trainee at the “Athyrma” Institute. She has worked psych pedagogically and recently started conducting sessions with adults based on the theory and techniques of Dramatherapy.
Cost of participation: 50€
