Sacred Portals ~ Living, Dying, Grief, Dementia, Memory Loss, Delirium, Coma

Alzheimer's and Family Life

Formats...

Private bedside training sessions with clients and families

One hour phone consultation sessions ~ with or without video analysis

One half day to three day workshops for care facilities and organisations

Keynote speakers

2007-2008 Training Schedule...

Stan Tomandl and Ann Jacob PROCESS WORK offerings

EVENTS IN CANADA       

BRITISH COLUMBIA HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE ASSOCIATION
Annual Conference, May 25, 2007  Surrey BC

Presenting: DELIRIUM: A SACRED PORTAL: Navigating the Rapids during Health Trauma and End of Life

Contact: BCHPCA at 1-877-422-4722   bchpca@cheos.ubc.ca   http://www.hospicebc.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TAPPING THE BONES: a class series ~     
Victoria BC
 
Dates:  Wednesdays:  November 14, 21, 28, 2007
Time:    5-7pm
Cost: Drop In:     $35/session.     All three classes:  $90
Details & Registration in advance:  1.250.383.5677  stan@comacommunication.com

Finding and following nature spirits, “no mind”, and creative musing that call us on our personal, relationship, and professional journeys. Using creative expression, shamanism, the dreaming earth, Process DreamBody Work, Zen, and ourselves individually and together to tap into the deepest enduring parts of ourselves: the bones.
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CANADIAN HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE ASSOCIATION
Hospice Palliative Care: At a Crossroads ~ Annual Conference, November 4-7, 2007, Toronto, ON

Presenting:
COMA COMMUNICATION: Ethics and Enhancing Patient and Family Decision Making during Altered Consciousness;

DELIRIUM, A SACRED PORTAL: Navigating the Rapids during Health Trauma and End of    Life;

AN ALZHEIMER'S SURPRISE PARTY: New Communication Skills for Understanding and Relating to People with Dementia; sponsored by Dignity Memorial

COMA AND REMOTE STATE DIRECTIVE: A Living Will.

Contact: CHPCA at 1-800-203-4636   info@chpca.net   http://conference.chpca.net/
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ALZHEIMER'S & FAMILY LIFE:
MEMORY CARE SKILLS FOR THOSE WE GIVE CARE TO AND LOVE
a one day workshop offered in Victoria BC 

NEW DATE:      Saturday November 24, 2007
Cost:     $95
Volunteers & Students: $75
Details & Registration in advance:  1.250.383.5677  stan@comacommunication.com

Attend to learn more about those we care for and more about ourselves and society’s attitudes toward memory.  Workshop text:  newly published An Alzheimer's Surprise Party by Stan Tomandl and Tom Richards
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BESSIE DANE HOSPICE

COMA COMMUNICATION:
RELATING TO LOVED ONES AND CLIENTS IN FAR AWAY STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
 a one day workshop offered On Saltspring Island BC 

DATE:     Saturday May 3, 2008
Time:     10-4:30
Cost:      $25
Coma Work and Palliative Care Manual included

Information & Registration:
Leave a message for Pat at
Bessie Dane Hospice  250.537.2770

Near end of life and in states of altered consciousness, patients’ greatest fear is not necessarily death, but of being left alone and confused with insufficient awareness of themselves and others. ~ We will present Process Work techniques, as developed by our mentors Drs. Amy and Arny Mindell, that are specially designed to work when familiar forms of communication are lacking: when people are no longer verbal, or are lost internally, or are loud, agitated, or stubborn; whether in states of dementia, delirium, autism, traumatic brain injury, or coma.
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EVENTS FROM PORTLAND OREGON

 with STAN TOMANDL assisted by Ann Jacob
 through the PROCESS WORK INSTITUTE  winter & spring 2007~

 SACRED  PORTALS I:  NAVIGATING THE RAPIDS: 
 DELIRIUM DURING HEALTH TRAUMA AND END OF LIFE
 teleconference class
 Date:  Thursdays, January 11, 18, 25, 2007
 Time:  10am-12noon Pacific Standard Time
 Cost:   $95US before January 4; $105US thereafter
         (add $20 for CEU credit)
 Information/questions call us:  250.383.5677     stan@comacommunication.com
 Register with:   Process Work Institute, Portland Oregon   1.503.223.8188

 The watery thin places between the worlds including delirium, confusion, forgetfulness, perseveration, stupor, depression, agitation, and “impossible” situations: provide entry points, portals, to realms of altered consciousness, opening opportunities for insight, soul healing, spiritual connection & renewal, relationship transformation, and personal growth. This class will present bedside techniques for chaplains, nurses, social workers, physicians, and other professional, family, and volunteer caregivers that work with those in states of memory loss, dementia, traumatic brain injury, vegetative state, and coma.
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SACRED PORTALS II: CASE CONSULTATION FOR PALLIATIVE CARE: SOUL PAIN, AGITATION, AGGRESSION, HALLUCINATIONS, WANDERING, ESTRANGEMENT, & STAFF DISTRESS
 telephone conference class

Date:      Thursdays, March 22, April 26, May 24, 2007
Time:      10am-12noon Pacific Standard Time
Cost::      $95US before March 15; $105US thereafter
                 (add $20 for CEU credit)
 Information/questions call us:    250.383.5677    stan@comacommunication.com
 Register with:     Process Work Institute, Portland Oregon                                                                              1.503.223.8188     pwi@processwork.org

An opportunity to focus on patients’ problems, caregiving dilemmas, and caregiver care. We will also practice techniques to bring awareness and meaning to clients in unusual states of consciousness, provide methods to unfold and gain new insight from these states, and tie these insights to daily life, relationships, and community life. For nurses, chaplains, social workers, physicians, and other professional, family, and volunteer caregivers that work with people in states of memory loss, dementia, depression, traumatic brain injury, vegetative state, and coma.
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DEPRESSION & AGGRESSION: Finding Guidelines in the Wilderness for People in 
Delirium & Dementia
 teleconference class  

Date:  Tuesdays, September 18, 25, October 9, 16, 2007
Time:  5-7pm Pacific Time
Cost:   $120US before September 11; $135US thereafter
 Information/questions call us:  250.383.5677     stan@comacommunication.com
 Register with:  Process Work Institute, Portland Oregon   1.503.223.8188

When people encounter "wilderness" and are lost, they want guides. Learn how to help connect people with their inner guides, so they can journey with more meaning and less disruption to themselves and others. The way out is the way through. ~ For hospice staff, students, care aides, nurses, chaplains, social workers, physicians, and volunteer caregivers; tending people in states of forgetfulness, delirium, dementia, depression, traumatic brain injury, vegetative state , and coma.
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NAVIGATING SACRED RIVERS: Case Consultation for Students and Caregivers of People in Altered States of Consciousness
 teleconference class  

Date:  Tuesdays, January 8, February 12, March 11, & April 15, 2008
Time:  5-7pm Pacific Time
Cost:   $120US before January 2; $135US thereafter
 Information/questions call us:  250.383.5677     stan@comacommunication.com
 Register with:  Process Work Institute, Portland Oregon   1.503.223.8188

We will follow the flow of clients' signals and our reactions, as a way of deepening clients' communication. We will further awareness and meaning for clients in nonordinary states of consciousness, provide methods to unfold new insight from these states, and tie insights to daily life, relationships, and community. ~For hospice staff, students, care aides, nurses, chaplains, social workers, physicians, and volunteer caregivers; tending people in states of forgetfulness, delirium, dementia, depression, traumatic brain injury, vegetative state , and coma.
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EVENTS IN: PORTLAND OREGON USA

COMA WORK, ETHICS, AND DRUG LEVELS NEAR DEATH
Process Work Institute  Portland  Oregon

Time:   12:30-1:30pm
Date:    Wednesday March 28, 2007
Cost:     Free Brown Bag Lunch Series (no CEU credit)
 Registration:  Just drop by at 2049 NW Hoyt,  Portland OR USA

 Are palliative and nursing home patients being “snowed” too often with too high doses of psychoactive and pain relief medication? What are reasonable alternatives to drugs for working with patients’ and families’ soul suffering end of life processes? How do we as caregivers and family advocate for more awareness with staff and administration, when we feel lower drug levels would be the first step toward relieving soul pain and facilitating a good death?

 What we term the “double state ethic” is supportive, life affirming eldership of all of patients’ wishes; wishes from normal consensus reality states of consciousness, such as expressed by living wills and advance directives, and wishes expressed from within states of altered consciousness.
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COMA WORK, AWARENESS, AND LOVE
Process Work Institute  Portland  Oregon

Date:      Saturday April 14, 2007
Time:      10am-5pm
Cost::      $110US before April 6; $120US thereafter.
                 Add $20 for CEU credit, CCE credit applied for
Tuition includes: Coma Work and Palliative Care Manual by Stan Tomandl
 Information:       Stan Tomandl 1.250.383.5677   stan@comacommunication.com                 Register with:     Process Work Institute      1.503.223.8188     pwi@processwork.org

 Training for hospice, care home, home care, and hospital personal, volunteers, family members, and students. Most people in coma and other minimally conscious states fear isolation and lack of awareness even more than death. Learn sensory grounded techniques to help those with brain trauma, advanced dementia, and metabolic coma near death. Coma Work techniques can help people with: personality transformation; completing unfinished business; harvesting life experience; relating to loved ones; forming spiritual connection; and making life and death decisions.
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END OF LIFE CARE AND DRUG QUESTIONS: How can End of Life Drug Care Help and Hinder Patients, Staff, and Families?
Process Work Institute  Portland  Oregon

Date:      Saturday April 26, 2008
Time:      10am-5pm
Cost::      $90US before April 6; $100US thereafter.
 Information:  1.250.383.5677  stan@comacommunication.com                                               Register with:     Process Work Institute      1.503.223.8188     pwi@processwork.org

 Unfolding the doctrine of double effect for medications and double stated ethics of Coma Work: Pain medication and psychoactive drugs are used widely on palliative care patients in North America. When and how do drugs ease suffering? When and how do they exacerbate suffering? Exploring total pain: physical, emotional, psycho-social, spiritual. ~ For hospice staff, students, care aides, nurses, chaplains, social workers, physicians, and volunteer caregivers; tending people in states of forgetfulness, delirium, dementia, depression, traumatic brain injury, vegetative state , and coma.
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EVENTS THROUGH:  THE SACRED ART OF LIVING & DYING
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION ~ CEU credits available ~

SACRED ART OF LIVING AND DYING, UNIT 3: HEALING SPIRITUAL PAIN ~
COMA COMMUNICATION THERAPY with Stan Tomandl & Ann Jacob

 Coma Communication Therapy is based on the sensory grounded tools developed by Amy and Arny Mindell providing access to the deepest and farthest away states of those we are caring for. This work is relieving and growth promoting for everyone involved.

 The Sacred Art of Living and Dying program series mirrors one of the important roles of the Anamcara ( "spiritual midwife" to the dying) especially with respect to spiritual pain. As human beings face the journey towards final release, there are opportunities for growth, relationship, and spiritual connection that often present as patterns of emotional/spiritual distress. There are concrete, well demonstrated ways of alleviating this pain. The premise of the program is that all spiritual pain is ultimately related to the processes of forgiveness, meaning, relatedness, and hope.

 Anyone, regardless of profession, spiritual background, or previous experience is welcome to participate in the core study units offered through the Sacred Art of Living and Dying series. For persons called to support others on their spiritual journey at the end of life, two additional levels of training and supervision invite persons to become Anamcara end of life practitioners. All levels of the Sacred Art of Living and Dying series teach practical skills based on the time tested lessons of history and the science of modern research, applied practically to today’s participants and needs.

 The Sacred Art of Living and Dying is based on the ancient wisdom of leaning into the pain to find transformation, and it is the dying who become our teachers at the end of life.

 Dates for Unit 3 program including Coma Communication Therapy component:         
 May 19, 2007                   ~~ Tokyo, Japan
 October 5-6, 2007           ~~ Cleveland, OH
 November 9-10, 2007     ~~ Redmond, OR
 September 12-13, 2008  ~~ Soldatna, AK
 September 26-27, 2008  ~~ San Diego Hospice
 October 13-14, 2008       ~~ Redmond, OR
 November 24-25, 2008   ~~ Cleveland, OH 

 Information:        Ann and Stan  1.250.383.5677   stan@comacommunication.com
 Registration:        Sacred Art of Living & Dying Center       1-888-383-4171                     info@sacredartofliving.org     http://www.sacredartofliving.com/
            

 ANAMCARA  PROJECT (Registration Closed for 2006-2008 Program)
 Module 3: Tools for Healing Spiritual Pain ~ Coma Communication Therapy
 Keynote Speakers:  Ann & Stan    August 20-24, 2007    Redmond OR

 Information:         Ann and Stan   1.250.383.5677    stan@comacommunication.com
 Registration:         Sacred Art of Living & Dying Center   1-888-383-4171               info@sacredartofliving.org     http://www.sacredartofliving.com/

"Die before you die, so that when you die, you will not have to die."   ~   Qur'an