We proudly present the third Readers Studio
Tarot & Psychology Conference
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
The human psyche is as fascinating as it is complex. Understanding it is a major goal of psychologists, as well as anyone engaged in self-inquiry. There are many approaches one can take, and many tools that can help. Tarot is one such tool that is gaining in popularity as a way to support and facilitate personal understanding. As Dr. Arthur Rosengarten wrote in his classic book, Tarot and Psychology: Spectrums of Possibility:
“The Tarot is a remarkable collection of images and symbols that picture multidimensional themes of universal human experience. With a random series of cards properly interpreted in pre-designated positions (a spread), the intuitive observer will be surprised by the amazing subtlety and sophistication with which this method facilitates self-reflection, deep insight, and spiritual wisdom.
Contrary to an habitual Western mental reflex, in practice the placing of supreme trust in the natural intelligence that collects momentarily around events awakens a unique, non-linear, mode of perception through what we respectfully call ‘sacred’ or ‘empowered’ randomness. Loosely speaking, this is what is meant by ‘divination’ and is how the Tarot method is set in motion. Yet for all the minor fascination this arcane tool has evoked in popular culture, the correct message has not been adequately communicated to those who would put Tarot to greatest use: helping professionals.
For Tarot to evolve on any meaningful scale into the 21st century (and beyond) it must have a stronger application emphasis, utility, and accessibility, that is, it must speak compellingly to people's lives. In this regard, clinical usage would seem a natural context for a technique which, as we shall see, offers so many psychological opportunities and benefits.”
In this ground-breaking event, we're bringing both the psychological and tarot communities together to explore some of tarot's possibilities and techniques for deep and effective personal understanding. There are three large and important questions that psychologists and readers at the conference would like to answer:
Can tarot help in the psychotherapeutic process?
Can psychology help in the process of a tarot reading?
Do tarot and psychology have something important to teach each other?
The answer to all these questions is a resounding YES!
For psychologists, this conference will open the door to a whole world of surprisingly powerful and helpful theory and practice they may never have experienced before.
For tarot readers, it will be the opportunity they have been waiting for to get a real introduction to the practical psychology they can use in their professional practice.
Psychological Tarot: A Psychospiritual Approach to Therapy
In this presentation, Art Rosengarten, Ph.D. will offer examples and application of Tarot into various mainstream therapy contexts, including a discussion/demonstration of benefits, risks, and possibilities of using a spiritually-based, culturally-provocative, “magical” tool within the changing milieus, successes and failures of mainstream 21st century psychological practices.
Vignettes from Tarot and Psychology will be read and discussed by the author and open, interactive conversations encouraged with the audience from lecture, slide show, and hands-on “experiments” designed to amplify the important distinctions and similarities between professional Tarot readers and mainstream helping professionals considering the introduction of Tarot cards within the sanctity of their professional clinical environments.
Includes discussion of ethical issues, indications/contraindications, divination and DSM diagnosis, special transference issues, and other core concerns stimulated by the “strange bedfellows” of Tarot and Psychology.
Dr. Arthur Rosengarten is an experienced Jungian psychologist, published author, Graduate Professor, and Tarot teacher based in San Diego, California. Art wrote the first accredited doctoral dissertation on Tarot,
entitled: Accessing the Unconscious: A Comparative Study of Dreams, TAT, and Tarot (California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, 1985). He has been a pioneer and a leading voice in the emerging field of “Tarot
Psychology” for over 25 years. His book Tarot and Psychology: Spectrums of Possibility (Paragon House, 2000) shows innovative and powerful examples of the skillful blending of Tarot with psychotherapy.
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“A deliciously rich exploration of the Tarot. Never have I seen the Tarot's deep wealth of meaning uncovered and explained with such skilled and loving intelligence.” — Allan Combs, The Radiance of Being |
Dr. Rosengarten has been approved in California to teach Continuing Education Units to Licensed MFTs and LCSWs in California. He is Director of Moonlight Counseling in Solana Beach, CA, a licensed psychologist (PSY11016) and MFT (21121) and has been in private practice for over 30 years. His wide span of experience includes inpatient and residential treatment working with major mental illness, Chemical Dependency & Recovery. He has taught graduate level courses on Interactive Group Psychotherapy, Symbols & Synchronicity in Psychotherapy, Transpersonal and Special Topics in Jungian Psychology.
Additionally, Art Rosengarten has been a regular guest on Coast-To-Coast Am with George Noory discussing and demonstrating his Tarot method for over a decade, and recently presented a Tarot and Psychology Seminar in New Delhi, India, sponsored by Tarot India Network. Arthur Rosengarten is also creator/designer/author of Rosengarten's Tarot of the Nine Paths: Advanced Tarot for the Spiritual Traveler (Paragon House, 2009) a deck uniquely constructed from Sandplay miniatures which reveals his vision and rationale for an expanded Major Arcana based on Tarot's own internal logic.
Contact:
Email: artrosengarten@earthlink.net
Website: http://moonlightcounseling.com
Tarot, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Positive Psychology: Royal Roads to a Life Worth Living
According to Carl Jung, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” But how? How can we honor our soul? How can we discover who we really are, so that we can lead an authentic life? Luckily, there are answers to be found in psychology, which — tellingly — originally referred to “the study of the soul.”
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to combine expressive arts therapy and tarot with positive psychology in order to discover and strengthen your core values, which are the keys to your authenticity. In doing so, you will explore what it means to live “the good life,” that is, one which is meaningful and fulfilling. Being clear about what is important to you in life — and being connected to your values — leads to a sense of purpose, prevents you from making bad decisions, gives you confidence and makes life simpler.
But first Andy will explain how and why different creative processes such as writing, art, music and movement have come to be used in counseling. In addition, Andy will introduce you to one of the newer therapeutic schools: positive psychology, which focuses on “building what's strong” rather than “fixing what's wrong.”
Most importantly, you will spend the bulk of this workshop “playing” with your cards, as you explore how using tarot as a creative tool amplifies the therapeutic process. After all, each tarot card is a work of art, brimming with symbolism and metaphor. To quote Claus Oldenburg, “Art is a technique of communication. The image is the most complete technique of all communication.” And so it is that each card touches us instantly, bypassing our logical left brain, connecting straight to that part of our soul which holds the key to discovering what is necessary for healing and wholeness.
Andy Matzner is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist in private practice, and tarot card reader. He also teaches mental health skills and psychology as an adjunct professor at Virginia Western Community College. Andy is the author of several books, including The Buddha Diet: A Guide to Creating a Positive Relationship with Food and Eating, and The Tarot Activity Book: A Collection of Creative and Therapeutic Ideas for the Cards.
Contact:
Email: andymatzner@gmail.com
Website: http://www.AndyMatzner.com
The Use of Tarot in Clinical Practice
This workshop demonstrates that one can use the Tarot in psychotherapy to help clients amplify inner material and get to a deeper understanding of their archetypal images and of themselves.
Rick will introduce a unique and innovative technique, which he developed for his thesis, for amplifying dreams using the Tarot, leading to useful and deeper interpretations.
While his thesis was originally titled, The Use of Tarot in Jungian Analysis, Rick found that the use of Tarot in psychotherapy is so much more about the therapist than the client, that in the end, the thesis begged to be renamed to, The Use of Tarot in the Jungian Analyst. His presentation will talk about how and why he arrived there and is geared toward all who use Tarot in psychology.
This workshop will also introduce a variety of other ways in which the Tarot can be integrated into psychotherapy, including how to use the Tarot to obtain consultation on cases by consulting the cards. These all provide the psychotherapist with a myriad of ways to integrate the Tarot into clinical practice.
Rick Bouchard is a clinical social worker and Jungian analyst. He has been in private practice in Portland, Maine since 1999, working with children, adolescents, and adults.
Rick facilitates a variety of professional workshops, including those related to the Tarot, works with the images of the Tarot in his clinical work with patients, and offers practical-intuitive Tarot readings. He also has an ongoing dream group which integrates the Tarot with dream interpretation.
Contact:
Email: CONSTL8@aol.com
Website: http://www.rickbouchardlcsw.com/
You are cordially invited to an after-conference cocktail reception, where you'll have a chance to meet the presenters and relax with the other attendees. There will be a cash bar, fruit and fresh veggies, cheeses, passed hors d'oeuvres — and of course, lots of lively conversation!
Introducing Thursday Night Study Groups!
We're debuting 3 Study Groups with a psychological theme to follow the Tarot & Psychology Conference. They'll be held after the cocktail party from 9–11pm. Click Here for details on these great optional classes.
Details, details… Attend the Tarot & Psychology Conference alone for $195 — or combine it with The Readers Studio and save $100!
Look to the navigation bar on the left for answers to all your questions about practical matters such as the schedule, hotel, travel, costs (including our payment plan), and the 2015 Readers Studio!
