…the power of dialogue to transform consciousness

Lauren’s coutrageously personal memoir describes her journey from unbearable emotional pain following her father’s murder, down into psychosis, through the depths of our dysfunctional mental health system, and finally to a place of transcendent healing and peace where she knows that we are all connected much more deeply than we understand. This book has been a way of sharing meaning found in madness and honoring the vision of a sixteen year old that has lead to her life’s work.

The Dialogues of Discovery book tour is a testament to the power of dialogue to transform consciousness and an invitation to explore topics touched on in the book, such as; How do you redefine who you are? How do you fill the emptiness in your soul? How do you come to know who you were born to be? How do you find liberation for yourself and others? How do you access and trust your own innate wisdom?

The book tours have been a wonderfully personal and inspiring opportunity for participants to ask difficult questions and to explore together how we heal, how we move forward with life from a place of compassionate awareness and inner peace. I never cease to be amazed at what people share during the book dialogue. People who have lost a parent when they were young share about the deep spiritual connection they felt with the parent when they reached the age the parent was when she passed. People have also asked questions such as, “How do you begin to forgive? This question strikes a deep cord in me and is particularly poignant when someone else took the life of the parent. People have asked, “How do you begin to learn how to believe in yourself when all the messages you have ever been given all your life are contrary to that?” “What do I do with my big dreams, they seem so over whelming? And there isn’t adequate resource out there.”

The artwork in the book is available for display as 6 individually framed pieces

I am available as a speaker or trainer, as well as a facilitator of workshops or meetings. For over 30 years, I have worked to enhance human service delivery focusing on transforming the paradigm so that people’s genuine needs are met and together we build safe, healthy and sustainable communities. Below are some sample trainings I offer.

Emotional CPR (eCPR)

Emotional CPR (eCPR) is a public health education program designed to teach people to assist others through an emotional crisis by three simple steps: C = Connecting, P = emPowering, and R = Revitalizing. The Connecting process of eCPR involves developing strong listening and non-verbal communicaiton skills based on our own wisdom. In the emPowering process the supporter encourages the person to reclaim their own sense of power, hope, and passion. In the Revitalization process, people re-engage their sense of meaning and purpose and re-establish roles, relationships and routines and get back into the flow of life.

Many people who have been through the training say that eCPR is also “a way of life”. eCPR is was developed and continues to be deepened and expanded with input from a diverse cadre of people from around the world. eCPR is based on the principles found to be shared by a number of support approaches: trauma-informed care, counseling after disasters, emotional intelligence, suicide prevention, and cultural attunement.

eCPR has been endorsed by CARF International (the largest behavioral healthcare accrediting organization in the world) and by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. For more information email info@emotional-cpr.org, call 877-246-9058, or visit the Emotional CPR website: www.emotional-cpr.org

Cultivating 21st Century Leadership

Each person has within us inherent wisdom and the power to lead. This training embodies a no limits perspective and explores leadership as a cooperative and collaborative process that emerges out of being well rested, decisive, and bold, and always remembering to have fun, build trust, use curious inquiry and bring out the best in one another. We tap into our purpose, passion and power and awaken to our wisdom, strength and internal resources. Leadership for the 21st century means ensuring that all relationships, groups, and organizations function well. We thought-share about mentoring and supporting people, as well as exploring how to effectively balance aspects of our lives while eloquently taking care of ourselves.

Being Part of Something Greater than Ourselves

This workshop focuses on claiming personal power, team building, confidence and esteem building, clarifying and embodying an individual’s focus, principles and values by deepening our awareness of the listening process, focusing on leading with mindfulness, gaining awareness of the importance of supporting the leadership of others, and making a bold commitment and aligning our actions with it.

YES!!!! Opening to our Passion and Power

Sometimes we have to appear to conform to an oppressive society in order to stay safe. Inside, where our power lies, we can choose not to conform. We can stop the internal battle in our head. We can reclaim our power and our genuine capacity to soar and feel the wind at our back. Participants will learn:

simple tools to assist us in feeling central and empowered,
how to remind ourselves to stop feeling discouraged and isolated,
that it is not that anything is possible, it is that everything is possible!,
wellness tools that can be used and shared across cultures, age groups and physical abilities

Some other presentation or training topics include:

The Lived Experience of Mental Health Recovery
Awakening to the Power of Creative Expression as a Tool to Transform Consciousness
Trauma-Informed Systems of Care
Mental Health Systems Reform
Promoting Recovery Through Coercion-Free Care
Moving From Fear to Courage

Training and dialogues are opportunities to discover deeper connectedness and to transform the self, our relationships and our communities.

Selected papers and presentations: