Presenters: Lori Engler, LPC

CEUS: 6

This group will meet on the following Thursdays: October 3 & 17, November 7 & 21, from 7:30-9 pm. Please note that CEUs are only given for the full series, not for individual sessions.

*For women aged 50+. Enrollment limited to 10 participants.

As a woman progresses through life, what she experiences may draw her away from developing and/or honoring her authentic self.  Cultural mores, familial expectations, professional aspirations, relationships with friends and lovers, religious dogma, and unanticipated life occurrences all may compromise her relationship with her true self.  If a woman does not have a support system encouraging her to cultivate her deepest self and reflect upon what the universe may be calling her to be, she may lose her connection to her inner core. Through the lens of Jungian theory, these groups will provide women with a foundation for reflecting upon their respective lives.

This Women’s Group will be modeled upon the book, Circle of Stones:  Woman’s Journey to Herself by Judith Duerk.  Four group sessions will be offered to guide women with reclaiming their respective authentic selves.  Within a supportive circle of women, participants will have the opportunity to expand their understanding of the archetypal Feminine and contemplate the following topics discussed in Circle of Stones:  In Search of Her Mother, In Search of Herself, In Search of Her Life. Though group sessions will inspire women to ponder their respective life journeys, the sessions are designed to be educational and are not a substitute for individual or group therapy.

Recommended Reading:
Circle of Stones: Woman’s Journey to Herself, Judith Duerk
Living an Examined Life: Wisdom for the Second Half of the Journey, James Hollis
Goddesses in Older Women:  Archetypes in Women Over Fifty, Jean Shinoda Bolen

About the Instructor:
A Licensed Professional Counselor, Lori earned an Master of Arts in Counseling, a Master of Religious Education, and a Bachelor of Science with majors in psychology and theology from Loyola University Chicago. Her professional background includes chaplaincy at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and teaching at a community college.  Lori’s clinical interests include vocational identity, life transitions, midlife (ages thirty-five to seventy), creative aging, finding meaning in suffering and the role of spirituality in emotional wellness. In addition to being a Staff Therapist at the Jung Center, Lori is a Counselor/Care Consultant at the Alzheimer’s Association National Office in Chicago.