~Curiosity, love of learning, interest in novelty and desire for adventure were some of my personal values that led me to Destination Psych CE. Gretchen, Karla and I wanted to build something new together. We were drawn to Dr. Kelly Wilson, and to ACT, and to the red rock desert in Moab, so we followed our instincts and something that didn’t exist before is now in the process of being created.
This is a new moment for me; I have been working as a supervisor in Community Mental Health in Minneapolis for 26 years, and I decided to take a leap and to do more direct clinical work, and to co-develop the Destination Psych CE experience. And as we build this first workshop, I am learning more about ACT, more about Poetics, more about Moab, and more about myself and our small but mighty team, which all feels so exciting and full of possibilities.
So, first of all, I was wondering what is this Poetics thing that Kelly is bringing to our awareness? Poetics stems from the Greek word for poetry, “Poeisis” which refers to bringing something into being that did not previously exist. It is about creativity, possibility, seeing what emerges in any moment, experience or relationship; staying open and curious. What a beautiful and fitting theme for our first training together!
Who will join us? What will it be like to learn together about the Poetics of ACT with Kelly? To learn about Poetics with Kelly at that moment, at that place, with this group of people? To learn together in that place and then have the freedom to hike in the desert, let things settle in, and have dialogue with fellow travelers? To begin something new without knowing the outcome?
Poetics is about what is possible. It is about what we will find and discover and create together in Moab. It is about developing new perspectives and meaning. And this generativity and not knowing is at the core of who we are, how we are together, and what we do every day with our clients in therapy. As we develop this community of travelers and learners, I would love to hear your musings on poetics and meaning making.
What could this mean for you?