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This is a free 2-day conference hosted by Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.

DESCRIPTION

We are returning to our roots and explore voices, visions, and unique states of consciousness.  We will elevate these experiences, and explore a meaning beyond the medical paradigm, together.  Thank you for offering your time, energy, and presence to this year’s conference.

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

1) Critically explore the dominant narrative of "mental illness" held up by our society, 

     including psychiatric oppression.
2) Explore alternative narratives that are central to the work of offering effective, and

     holistic, resources to support a person in their experience navigating voices, visions,

     and unique beliefs.
3) Co-create a shared understanding to guide our collective approach to offering

     education, advocacy, and support in the areas of voices, visions, and unique beliefs

     associated with mental health, addiction, and trauma.

REGISTRATION 

Registration, and a commitment to attend the full 2-days, is required. Full participation is required because we are co-creating an experience, together.  Based on our experience in this work, the depth of conversation and connection is described as personally transformative, with practical application.  This may be the first time negotiating thoughts and beliefs related to accepting voices, visions, and altered states of consciousness as having potential beyond the psychiatric narrative.  We hold this space sacred and it is our intention to honor the collective care of the group.

CREDITS

12 credits through the NASW-CT, CCB, and RSS are available to those who attend the full conference in person.

For those who are interested in attending in person, please note that we have a registration limit of 150 people.  We will provide complimentary breakfast and lunch.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend breakouts and sign up for a Toivo Healing Arts Session, including chair massage, reiki, and acupuncture.

VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE

You can register separately for the Zoom Livestream of the Keynote Presentations by going HERE

As part of our commitment, we are making this conference available at no cost.  If you are able to donate - we will have the resources to continue to offer the Karuna Conference in the future. Every dollar counts!

“The Karuna Conference was an excellent experience. One that is helping to bring effective healing modalities to the forefront of our consciousness to help those who truly need it!”

Kahseim Outlaw, Karuna Conference 2018 & 2023 Keynote

Instructor at The Graduate Institute and High School Wellness Educator.

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EXPERIENCE INDIVIDUAL HEALING ARTS

Relax, rebalance, and rejuvenate through complimentary reiki, chair massage, and acupuncture in the Toivo Healing Arts Space available both days to attendees.

  • Reiki is an energy healing modality that utilizes gentle touch to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body to restore physical and emotional wellbeing.

  • Acupuncture is a safe and effective technique for balancing the flow of energy through stimulating specific points throughout the body using thin needles inserted through the skin.

  • Chair Massage is a brief massage focused on the back, shoulders, and neck. Chair massage is done over clothes and is an effective approach to relieving muscle tension.

Please check in at the Toivo Healing Arts table to book your session at  the beginning of each day.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

KEYNOTE pRESENTERS

Kahseim Outlaw

Brittany Quagan

Peter Bullimore

Ragnar Freidank

DAILY SCHEDULE

9:00am    |   Welcome & Introduction

9:30am     Collective Care

9:45am     Opening Keynote

11:00am   Breakouts

12:00pm   Lunch

12:30pm   Welcome Back

12:45pm   Afternoon Keynote

1:30pm     Afternoon Breakouts

2:45pm     Group Integration

3:30pm     Closing Collective Care

BREAKOUT TOPICS

Voices, Visions, states of consciousness

The Experience af Voice Hearing

Maastricht Approach

Experiential Context Training

The Values of the Hearing Voices Movement

Alternatives to Suicide Support Group - an Alternative to What?

CT Hearing Voices Network - Support Groups for Voice Hearers

INTEGRATIVE PRACTICES

Esoteric Dance

Sound Healing

Emotional Freedom Technique

Breathwork for Recovery

"What an opportunity for growth, awareness and support. No matter who you are or where you are coming from, you will be welcome and you will LEARN! Absolutely Wonderful. I think every MH professional and every person going through a difficult time or who has had a difficult journey will gain knowledge and be able to grow through this. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Annonymous - 2021 Online Karuna Conference

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“My heart is full after today's Karuna conference. The organizers did a great job creating a welcoming space that honored human connection."

Caroline Mazel-Carlton, Karuna Conference 2017.

Hearing Voices USA Board of Directors and Director of Training of the Wildflower Alliance.

Compassion in Action
The Karunā Conference

Karunā is a Sanskrit word that translates to compassion.  Sanskrit is the ancient language of India. Although it is no longer a commonly spoken language, many languages are rooted in Sanskrit.

 

Karunā is one of the four immeasurable virtues in Buddhism - along with loving-kindness, joy, and equanimity. In Sanskrit, these virtues are called the brahmavihārās, and they are intentionally contemplated during meditation to cultivate an enlightened state of mind.

 

Compassion, loving-kindness, joy, and equanimity is present within each of us. Cultivating these virtues and shifting our internal experience to embody them takes time and focus. 

 

However, we know it is possible. We are living proof.  Won’t you join us as we put Karunā into action, together?

Advocacy Unlimited is a Connecticut nonprofit that provides holistic, peer-led education, advocacy, and support.  We believe that all people - regardless of socio-economic status or psychiatric history - possess the innate capacity to heal, in connection with others. All people have the right to live a life of self-defined purpose.  www.advocacyunlimited.org

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