Crow, by RR Member Cynthia Marie Geer

JOIN THE RESISTANCE

The Resistance Recovery mentorship is a 7 month live virtual training that is both didactic and experiential. It addresses a series of important topics that are rarely, if ever, addressed in conventional social work, counseling, or divinity programs. These topics include (but are not limited to) dislocation theory, trauma, and transpersonal psychology. The training will also involve a deep critique of psychiatry, the treatment industry, the disease model, and the 12 Steps. The experiential part of the training will be rooted in the Integral Spiritual Psychology of Dr. Robert Sardello. It will consist of a series of contemplative practices that serve to bring us to a deep sense of presence and, in so doing, enormously enhance our capacity to truly listen. The RR mentorship is an ideal training for anyone (eg therapists, clergy, 12 Step sponsors, somatic practitioners) who works with people in recovery.

Here are some of the unique emphases of the curriculum:

• ● Dislocation Theory - for several decades Dr Bruce Alexander has made the compelling argument that addiction is not an individual pathology affecting only those of us who are somehow genetically or psychologically vulnerable but is instead a function of psychosocial dislocation. This part of the curriculum will take a deep dive into the matrix of socio-cultural forces that brought us to our current predicament. This means we will be studying addiction from a host of perspectives not usually associated with addiction; these include history, anthropology, theology, and philosophy. We will also show how dislocation theory is itself a powerful psycho-educational treatment modality
• ● Contemporaneity - With the continual unfolding of traumatic world events, it is imperative that we learn to overcome our habitual “spectator consciousness” so as to be truly present to the suffering that confronts us. This is especially important in our work with addicts. We must learn to use contemplative and somatic practices to be authentically present to those we are attempting to serve. All crises are opportunities in that they mark a decisive break with the past; unfortunately, stress and trauma often prevent us from taking advantage of the “opening” a crisis affords. Therefore, we must learn to find a place of ​presence​ from which to meet the addict in crisis. The theme of contemporaneity brings together many of the essential strands of the Resistance Recovery understanding of addiction and recovery, including stress and trauma, contemplative practice, and dislocation. Our approach is deeply indebted to the work of Christine Gruwez
• ● Religious/Spiritual Pluralism - while we believe that spiritual approaches have shown themselves to be the most effective means of treating addiction, we recognize there is no one-size-fits-all approach. This means that we must be careful to never overgeneralize from our own experience. Just because the 12 Steps worked for me does not mean they will work for you. The RR mentorship will help us understand how to discern the relative merits and shortcomings of various approaches. Towards that end we will discuss a wide variety of topics including the 12 Steps, yoga, Buddhism, the use of psychedelics, and the perils of religious exclusivism. This part of the curriculum will be informed by the work of Dr Jorge Ferrar
• The mentorship program will operate in a cohort (7 person limit - annual offering only) format. We will meet together on a weekly basis. In addition, Piers will meet with each participant 3 times over the course of the training. It should be noted that this is an intensive program; so although there will be no written homework participants will be expected to complete all reading assignments and to maintain a contemplative practice.