It takes courage to grow up and be who you are.
-- M.C. Richards

There is a necessary tension between autonomy and belonging. The more you live from knowing and trusting yourself (autonomy), the more you can connect meaningfully and lovingly with others (belonging). The first step is right relationship with yourself - aware, accepting, respecting, response-able.

There is a map for understanding how to enhance your own authenticity while deepening your relationships with other's. Emotional literacy is at the core of successful relationships – with yourself and others. This workshop series will introduce you to several processes to help you discover this new map and move toward a more conscious, loving life journey. In a safe, supportive group, you will --
• Reclaim the full emotional richness of your life experience.
• Enhance emotional expressiveness and increase your ability to feel empathy and love.
• Restructure negative, limiting beliefs that inhibit your ability to be fully present: heal past wounds and transcend self-limitations.
• Experience authentic and genuine sharing with others in a safe context of emotional openness and physical closeness.

CALL ANN LADD TO REGISTER- 719/251-4006

Ann Ladd, PhD, LCSW combines her early training as both a massage and physical
therapist with her psychotherapy experience in Gestalt, Transpersonal Psychology, and
the Casriel Bonding Psychotherapy Process to create a safe, deeply transformative
psycho-educational group experience. Dr. Ladd also trains mental health professionals
in the field of relationships and the emotional bonding process.

CALL ANN LADD TO REGISTER – 719/251-4006

The Connecting Place
presents
The Heart (and Art) of Loving Relationships
A Couples Course Part I

with
Ann Ladd, Ph.D., LCSW

Even in the most loving relationships, people have times of feeling stuck in defensive, upsetting exchanges that produce nothing of value and chip away at the love and goodwill each has for the other. In a safe, supportive group setting, Ann Ladd, Ph.D. teaches methods that develop useable, simple, effective relationship skills and a caring, accepting, compassionate knowledge of oneself and others. With a humorous, interactive style, Dr. Ladd will present a new model of relationship that is both practical, healing, and joyful.

This course is for couples in any stage of a relationship – dating to conflicted - who want to learn how to create healthy, loving, growing relationships and reach a better understanding of what caused past relationship breakdowns. You will learn how to use the inevitable times of difficulty to deepen intimacy, compassion, and commitment in the relationships central to your life.

Ann Ladd, Ph.D., LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)worked with hundreds of couples and singles in workshops and private practice across the United States. She also instructs professional counselors in the field of intimate relationship skills. Her teaching style is dynamic, clear, practical, personal and full of good humor. Ann is in private practice and founded The Connecting Place to serve couples, families, and individuals. The core of her expertise is working with couples in crisis.

CALL ANN LADD TO REGISTER – 719/251-4006

Sustaining and nurturing love is the work and commitment of ongoing, long term relationships. The bond is strengthened as we build in sensual and sexual pleasure and deal effectively with difference conflict.

In Part II, the emphasis will be on becoming more effective in dealing with problems and differences in a way that deepens trust and safety and on consciously creating more pleasurable connection, good will and passion. Central to both of these objectives is emotional literacy-the ability to acknowledge your emotions and use them in service of a healthy relationship with yourself and your partner. In particular, using anger in your own behalf without hurting your partner or others.

This course follows the Part I introduction to the nature of relationships and the skills needed to sustain a loving, long-term relationship.

Ann Ladd, Ph.D., LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)worked with hundreds of couples and singles in workshops and private practice across the United States. She also instructs professional counselors in the field of intimate relationship skills. Her teaching style is dynamic, clear, practical, personal and full of good humor. Ann is in private practice and founded The Connecting Place to serve couples, families, and individuals. The core of her expertise is working with couples in crisis.

CALL ANN LADD TO REGISTER – 719/251-4006

Tuition Cost- $450/couple ($12.00/hour); if registered by February 11th, $400. Full tuition at time of registration. No refund after February 11th.

Where:
The Connecting Place, 197 East Industrial Blvd., Pueblo West, Colorado 81007
(View map)

Teen Talk

Facilitated by Ann Ladd and Chris Leeman

Meeting weekly through the school year, this co-ed support group is for teens who want to talk about issues concerning them. It is an opportunity for you to connect with other teens facing similar challenges - and possibilities. Along with the others who join you in this group, you will determine what and how we spend this time. Ann Ladd and Chris Leeman will facilitate and support the goals and directions the group sets. It is a self-expression and self-discovery class in a comfortable, casual setting. Through this experience you will also be discovering some of your critical self-attitudes and rules that are limiting you and experimenting with new positive ways to relate to yourself and others in any project you undertake.

The classes will be 1.5 hours long (4:30-6) on the following Wednesday afternoons. Class size will be limited to 8. Registration required.2006 Series Cost - $15/session; Snacks and materials included. Deposit of $50 at registration.

The classes will be 3 hours long. Class size will be limited to 8 painters.
Registration required.

Winter Series- To Be Announced
For More Information please call 719/251-4006

Exploring Creativity

If you think you're not creative, this course if for you. Through simple activities you will be guided to notice the creativity already present in your daily life. You will choose from a variety of mediums- Clay, Paints, Collage, Poetry, Movement, Voice- to rediscover the fun and satisfaction of expressing yourself.

Come join us, let go of the outcome and find the pleasure you see in a child's play.