The Healing Power of Story:
Opening to a Deeper Human Connection

June 5, 6 & 7, 2008
Mill Valley, California

Workshop Description

Rachel Remen, teacher and master storyteller, will show you how the power of story can deepen your life and enrich your work.

Most health professionals do not take the time to remember and tell their own stories or have the opportunity to listen to the stories of colleagues. Yet our stories can heal us. Taking time to discover our own stories and explore them in the context of our calling and commitment can ease our loneliness and restore our sense of energy, meaning, purpose and direction in our work life.

Rachel will lead you through a series of experiential exercises and discussions, using imagery, symbolism, poetry and journal writing to enable you to find your own story and discover what sustains you. You will have the opportunity to remember times of loss, healing, mystery, love and grace; to share these stories with other professionals and to listen to the stories they tell in return. Come prepared to laugh, to cry, to find a deeper meaning in the work you do and to celebrate the joys of being of service.

Who should attend: physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, pharmacists, physical therapists, massage therapists and others in the healing professions. Students are welcome.

Educational Goals

• Develop respect for narrative as information
• Discover and share professional stories
• Experience the power of narrative to heal
• Experience the power of listening to heal
• Explore an expanded professional communication through symbols, poetry and ritual
• Describe the difference between case presentation and story
• Develop authentic community with professional colleagues
• Form healing relationships
• Uncover common motivations and values shared by colleagues
• Renew a commitment to professional work

Educational Objectives

• Use a generous listening approach
• Learn 2 practical strategies of self-care
• Learn 2 simple techniques of stress reduction
• Use 2 non-cognitive approaches to clarify personal and professional values
• Describe the connection between meaning and narrative
• Describe the difference between case presentation and story
• Define an expanded model of colleagueship
• Identify and share areas of personal significance in professional work
• Discuss the role of narrative in maintaining professional commitment

About Dr. Remen: Rachel Naomi Remen is one of the earliest pioneers of holistic and integrative medicine. She is the Founder and Director of The Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (ISHI) at Commonweal, a professor of clinical medicine at UCSF School of Medicine, and the nationally known author of Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather's Blessings. For the past thirty years her presentations, writings and workshop programs have enabled health professionals to remember their calling and revitalize their work. The innovative approaches in this workshop have proved helpful to thousands of health professionals and professional students.

CME credit for physicians: The Institute for the Study of Health and Illness at Commonweal is accredited by the Institute for Medical Quality/California Medical Association (IMQ/CMA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Institute for the Study of Health and Illness at Commonweal takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

The Institute for the Study of Health and Illness at Commonweal designated this educational activity for a maximum of 18 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ — Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This credit may also be applied to the CMA Certification in Continuing Medical Education.

CE contact hour credit for nurses: Credit for 18 CE contact hours for nurses is available. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 10064. 18 CE contact hours is available for licensed California nurses.

CEU credit for other health professionals: This is an activity offered by the Institute for the Study of Health and Illness at Commonweal. MFTs and LCSWs: This course meets the qualifications for 18 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, PCE Number 3244. You must be a licensed California MFT or LCSW to receive these credits. Psychologists: This course is approved by the California Medical Association (CMA), as well as credits for AMA PRA Category 1 Psychologists can use CE credit from CMA approved courses providing they report their attendance to the MCEP Accrediting Agency. Reporting forms are available at www.mcepaa.org.

Disclosure Information: The speakers, presenters and planning committee members for this educational activity disclose no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Workshop Logistics

Location: Acqua Hotel, 555 Redwood Highway, Mill Valley, California
Dates: June 5-7, 2008
Hours: 9:00 am - noon and 1:30 - 5:00 pm
Cost:
$550 for physicians (CME credit included) Pre-registration required.
$425 for RNs (BRN-approved CE contact hour credit included) Pre-registration required.
$425 for other health professionals (California MFTs, LCSWs, and social workers as well as licensed California psychologists are eligible for CEU credit) Pre-registration required.
$300 for medical residents (CME credit included) Pre-registration required.

Registration & payment: Pre-registration is required. To register online with a credit card, click here or to download a registration form you can mail in with a check, click here. Note: To ensure prompt processing of your registration, please be sure to send your check with a completed registration form to the correct address listed on the form (complete information is on the downloadable form linked above). If you have questions or problems, please contact Corrie at or call 707-575-6801.

Refunds: Due to the constraints of budget planning and administration, no refunds will be issued after May 5. However, you may reassign or transfer your registration at no charge.

Cancellation Policy: A full refund (less processing fee of $25) will be issued for cancellations BEFORE May 5.

Work exchange & scholarships: This workshop is a fundraising effort for the Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (ISHI) at Commonweal, a nonprofit organization. We regret that we are unable to offer work exchange or scholarships for this event.

Lodging: A special discounted room rate has been negotiated for workshop attendees at the Acqua Hotel in Mill Valley, California, the workshop site. You can reserve these rooms (with special room rate) online, by following this link:
Reservations (June workshop only): www.acquahotel.com
To confirm reservation, follow search prompts for date availability, rates & room choice. Based on availability at the time of request, guests can then select their preferred reservation date and room type. Rate changes may occur during a guest stay, based on day and length of stay. Daily rate details will be noted on each hotel confirmation notice. All reservations are accepted based on space availability. A two-night minimum may be in effect on selected weekends.

You can also call the Acqua Hotel's toll-free reservation line at (888) 662-9555 to reserve one of these rooms, which are available on a first come, first serve basis. You MUST request the account name "RACHEL REMEN WORKSHOPS" at the time of booking by phone in order to get the special rate.

Lodging note: If you want to stay at the Acqua Hotel, they have informed us that there is a large conference occurring the same weekend in San Francisco, which may severely affect room availability for other hotels in the immediate area, including the Acqua Hotel. Book your hotel room as soon as possible, so as not to be disappointed!

Transportation to site: Many participants fly in from all over the country to attend our workshops. If you are arriving by plane and will be renting a car, either the San Francisco or Oakland airport are recommended. The SF airport is approximately an hour south of the Acqua Hotel; the Oakland airport is at least 90 minutes - it depends on the time you fly in and traffic, which can be quite heavy during morning and evening rush hours. We suggest participants fly in the evening before a workshop, and leaving the morning after it's over - and leave plenty of time to get to either airport.

If you don't plan to rent a car, we recommend flying into San Francisco International and taking the Marin Airporter shuttle service that has a stop very near the Acqua Hotel (Seminary Dr/Mill Valley).

Additional lodging: We can provide names of alternative accommodations in a range of prices in the immediate vicinity of the event. Click here for this list.

Meals: There will be 90 minutes available to eat lunch each day, from approximately noon to 1:30 pm. You may choose to either pre-order (when you register) a catered box lunch that will be served onsite during the workshop, or opt to eat out at one of the many restaurants in the immediate area (in which case, you will need a car as there is no easily accessible public transportation). The box lunches cost $17.25 (inc. tax) per person, per day, and must be pre-paid. They will vary each day, and you may choose either vegetarian or regular (meat) lunch. For example:

• Box Lunch #1: Grilled chicken focaccia sandwich, pesto pasta salad, biscotti
• Box Lunch #2 (veggie): Grilled vegetables focaccia sandwich, pesto pasta salad, biscotti

Note: If you are on a special diet or cannot eat carbs, we recommend that you eat lunch at a restaurant where you can be sure to have your needs met.

To pre-order a lunch online, please go to the online registration form. If you are registering by mail, be sure to checkmark the desired lunch(es) when you send in the form and include payment with the form. The Acqua Hotel does not have its own restaurant; however they do offer a very good continental breakfast for hotel guests staying with them. There are only a couple of restaurants within walking distance for lunch or dinner. We offer the option of ordering a box lunch each day of the workshop. However, if you are not local and arrive via airport shuttle, you may need to call a cab to get to restaurants for dinner. In the past, many participants have opted to go out to eat together, making impromptu plans during the workshop.

A list of local restaurants is available, click here.

Map: Area map and directions are available, click here.