The Shamanic Journey as a Therapeutic Tool (Fully booked, waitlist only)

Unveil the healing power within at this one-day in-person workshop.

Hosted by: Christa Mackinnon and Sue Fox 

Date and Time: Fri 20th October 18:30 – 21:30 and Sat 21st October 10:00 – 17:00

Format: In-Person at the Psychosynthesis Trust, London Bridge

Please note that this workshop is suitable for qualified counsellors and therapists only.

Why this workshop?  

The shamanic journey is an ancient practice rooted in indigenous cultures. Adapted to modern day requirements it holds a profound potential as a therapeutic tool for psychotherapists and counsellors. It is an experiential technique used to tap into the realms of the unconscious and connect with helping forces to receive guidance, healing and insight and a unique pathway to access unconsciously held material for integration, transformation and personal growth.  

Join us as we delve into the realms of the unseen, where you will learn how to apply this practice within the therapeutic setting. Simple trance induction scripts and other methods, such as rhythmic drumming, are used to enter into altered states of consciousness, leading into the shamanic journey as a profound way to gain a deeper embodied understanding of oneself and to connect to the Transpersonal realm in a meaningful way. This sacred practice of Shamanic journeying can be utilised to create a therapeutic container for clients. Clients in pain or in high states of distress can journey and experience being lovingly held and cared for in their suffering. It also assists them in accessing dissociated parts safely and beneficially, receiving deep insights and helpful knowledge in a supportive and empowering way, aiding to the integration of previously split-off material.  

Who is it for? 

This workshop is for qualified counsellors and psychotherapists from any discipline who would like to enhance and broaden their learning by applying this profound tool that helps clients connect more deeply to Self (soul and spirit) and access and integrate dissociated material  

Learning outcomes: 

• Explore the principles and foundations of shamanic journeying within a therapeutic context.  
• Understand the role of the therapist as a guide and facilitator in the shamanic journeying process.  
• Learn practical techniques for initiating and navigating shamanic journeys.  
• Discuss potential challenges when using shamanic journeying as a therapeutic tool. 
• Experience personal shamanic journeys to deepen your understanding and connection with this transformative practice. 

What to expect? 

At this online/in-person workshop, participants will be a sacred space to experience: 

• An introduction to Shamanic Journeying. 
• Exploration of the therapeutic benefits and potential applications in psychotherapy and counselling. 
• To understand the role of the therapist in Shamanic Journeying- the therapist as guide and facilitator. 
• How to create a safe and sacred space for the journey- establishing ethical boundaries and considerations. 
• Integration of Shamanic Journeying into Therapeutic modalities.  
• Journeying practice utilising various techniques. 
• Integrating Shamanic Journey outcomes.  
• Closing and Integration. 

Our approach  

Psychosynthesis as applied to psychotherapy is a unique approach that combines both psychology and spirituality. It is a holistic process that helps the individual deal with patterns of behaviours which inhibit or prevent living life in meaningful and fulfilling ways. It brings us into contact with the life journey to meaning and purpose.  

Ticket Price 

At the Trust we appreciate that each person has their own unique situation, so we invite you to select the price point that feels like it represents a fair contribution for attending this event.  

There are three options to choose from when purchasing tickets: £85, £110, £160 

If you have any concerns around affordability, please contact Kajal at events@ptrust.org.uk 

Trainers 

Christa Mackinnon  

Christa Mackinnon is a psychologist, psychotherapist, shamanic teacher and best-selling author with her books about shamanism and therapy. Christa has over 25 years as a therapist and trainer, providing training on a global scale for organisations and professionals in complex trauma, child abuse and related mental/emotional issues, as well as training hypnotherapists to master’s level with a London University.  

It is a lifelong fascination with the human psyche, the functioning of the human mind and altered states of consciousness, and her own spiritual journey, that led Christa to explore spiritual and shamanic approaches in different parts of the world from an early age. This included apprenticeships with shamans in Mexico and Yachak Shamans in Ecuador, as well as training with many contemporary shamanic practitioners from the USA, Mexico, Brazil and the UK. 

It was a serious illness over a decade ago, which brought her to the brink of death, that acted as the catalyst to Christa finally shifting her focus and following her calling and heart’s desire to incorporate shamanic approaches into her work as a psychologist and trainer. The publication of her first book ‘Shamanism and Spirituality in Therapeutic Practice’ proved to be groundbreaking within the fields of psychology and therapy. 

Since then, Christa has written two more books and extended her psycho-spiritual and shamanic work by running on-going continuous professional development training courses for therapists and professionals as well as courses and workshops for lay people. More recently, Christa has begun to collaborate intensely with other women with the aim to contribute to the ‘Rising Women’ movement and the expanding consciousness of the feminine, co-founding ‘Women Weaving Change’ and the WWC Modern Medicine Woman Training School, contributed a chapter to the book ‘Psychedelic Mysteries of the Feminine.’  

Website: 

Sue Fox 

Sue is a UKCP accredited psychosynthesis psychotherapist and senior supervisor, training therapist and trainer, as well as Trustee with us here at the Trust, and holds CAP, PCU and Institute of Psychosynthesis in Florence memberships. 

Sue has over 25 years’ experience as a psychotherapist, having trained in psychosynthesis in 1994. Since then, Sue has continued training with several postgraduate trainings and continued professional development to keep abreast of current thinking, research and practice.  

Over the last seven years Sue’s attention turned towards the field of relational trauma and neuroscience, where she found research with brain imaging was demonstrating that mindfulness, yoga, and somatic work were powerful and effective ways to not only cope with trauma responses, but also in developing presence. More recently, in the last few years, Sue has integrated the shamanic tool of journeying, working with people who want to integrate plant medicine experiences, and co facilitating ‘Soul Retrieval’ workshops for therapeutic professionals. 

Sue’s work goes beyond the practice room; a Trustee for the Psychosynthesis Trust; she teaches ‘Addiction and the Search for Self’, a transpersonal perspective of addiction to counsellors and psychotherapists; is the founding member of the Wellspring Group which promotes the ideas and work of Roberto Assagioli; and is part of a group of psychotherapists whose shared interest in step-families inspired them to found an organisation called StepInAsap, which works with individuals and couples to address the challenges and difficulties that may arise in these families.