WITNESSING IN EMPATHY TRAINING 2023
Witnessing Transgenerational and Collective Trauma and our
Responsibility Now
The Witnessing in Empathy - Training Programme builds resilience in a world of increasing collective crises and strengthens our individual and social responses to them. In the big current crises – climate, corona and Ukraine war to name but a few – it has become obvious that numerous trans-generational and collective traumata are at play. Unwillingly we participate in them through unconscious reactions: and thus create new harm.
Crisis interventions, which aim at behavioural changes, are fine on a “first aid” level. However, if we really want to overcome a collective crisis sustainably, we need to take care of the old, unresolved traumata, which lie at their base. These might be painful processes, which need heartful patience: but if we use our resources wisely, we can contribute enormously to a substantial social change.
The programme will introduce you to the approach of Witnessing in Empathy (W.E.), and train you to:
• Identify and witness collective traumata
• Develop skills how to deal with them in a resourced way
• Apply these skills in your work and private life
• Contribute by taking responsibility for action
LIST OF DATES (registration: info@witnessing-in-empathy.org)
Introductory Day:
W.E. taste
online:
Sunday 19 March 2023 from 4 to 10 pm CET (Berlin time)
75€ in case of non-participation in programme
W.E. Connect (module1)
(in physical presence)
26 -29 May 2023 in Berlin/Germany
Intermediate Calls
4 July 2023 6 – 8 pm CEST
15 August 2023 6 – 8 pm CEST
21 September 2023 6 – 8 pm CEST
W.E. Retreat (module 2)
(in physical presence)
16 – 24 October 2023 in Berlin/Germany and Oswiecim/Poland:
* 16 - 18 Oct in Berlin
* 19 Oct Traveling to Poland (organized by team)
* 20 - 24 Oct in Oswiecim/Poland (former concentration camp Auschwitz)
After-Call
9 November 2023 6 – 8 pm CET
W.E. Act (module 3)
(hybrid, physical presence preferred)
24 – 26 November 2023 in Augsburg/Germany
Closing Call
11 January 2024 6 – 8 pm CET
PROGRAMME
W.E. Taste
This 1-day workshop gives you a taste of the work in the training and supplies you with some essential ingredients of our approach. It enables you to embrace trauma as a non-avoidable part of our reality.
W.E. Taste is a preliminary programme and not part of the actual training. It will be offered as an in-presence-version in Augsburg (Germany) as well as an online version. It is especially suitable for people who have not been in touch with Witnessing in Empathy yet, but former participants are highly welcome to use it as an inspiring refresher.
Participation in the workshop – either in presence or online – is a precondition for the training, except for those, who have been on a retreat with us in the past.
Content:
• Basics of collective and trans-generational traumata and its consequences
• Impact of trauma in our everyday life
• The principles of Witnessing in Empathy (W.E.)
• Resourcing and self-care in dealing with collective trauma
• Facing our responsibility
W.E. Connect (module 1)
The first module of the training serves the connection: with one another, with our personal ancestry and with the presence of current and past collective traumata. By meeting in person as a group we will start building a strong supportive container, which helps us to face difficult issues involved in collective trauma work throughout the training.
This 4-day module will only be held in presence in Berlin (Germany). Here we will also create small groups to meet for sharing in between the modules.
Content:
• Emotional aspects in working with trauma
• Our ancestoral lineages and the impact of the past
• Discover traumata as well as resources passed on through my ancestry
• Self-regulation and emotional support in the face of trauma
• Recognizing trauma in present societies
• Our own part in repeating trauma
• The oppression of Jewish life in early Nazi Germany (including on-site visit)
• Witnessing as deep human practice
• The triad of Perceiving – Witnessing – Acting
• Applying the W.E.-principles in everyday life
W.E. Intermediate Calls and Small Groups
The intermediate online calls and the small groups will bridge the time between module 1 in late spring and module 2 in autumn. We will stay in touch as a group and exchange the experiences from our individual lives through the lens of trauma work. Three groups calls are scheduled already; the small groups will arrange times individually.
The W.E. calls are also crucial as a preparation for the journey to Auschwitz. We will approach the second world war and the Holocaust in the mirror of our own ancestral heritage. As a group we will support each other in taking steps towards it.
W.E. Retreat (module 2)
In the second module we face the most horrible historical trauma: the Holocaust. We gather in Berlin for 2,5 pre-journey days, and then travel together to Oswiecim (Poland) to spend four intensive days in the former Nazi determination camp Auschwitz.
Content:
• The legacy of post-war generations
• Open hearts: making ourselves available
• Terror made in Germany: contacting Nazi energy (including on-site visits)
• Individual and collective interwoven
• Victims and perpetrators: daring to be touched
• Between shock, grief and rage: limits of numbness
• The wonder of witnessing
• Embracing the unknown
W.E. After Call
In this online call two weeks after the retreat, we come together to share what has been going on for everyone since their return. The visit in Auschwitz usually has effects for some time after – and it is very helpful to bring them into contact with fellow travellers. The emotional support of the group can be essential for integration of the experience into one’s own life.
W.E. Act (module 3)
In the third module of the training we step into the future. The experience of Auschwitz calls us to act differently in life – and our acquired skills and inner availability enable us do to so. This 3-day module will be a hybrid version: held in Augsburg (Germany) – preferably in presence, with online participation also possible.
Content:
• Honouring deep insights and emotional challenges
• Recognizing their impact on our lives
• Responsibility as natural flow from experience to agency
• Emergence of heartfelt contributions for the present
• From trauma to transformation: Designing of transfer projects
• Agreement on taking steps
W.E. Closing Call
We finish the training with an online call, bringing together what we all have learned from the common process. This will be an occasion to honour the courage of diving into different trauma landscapes. The status of the transfer projects can be shared and we will celebrate the achieved together.
ORGANIZATIONAL
• International Group: Language English
• Time period: March 2023 - January 2024
• Locations: in Germany and Poland
• Contribution:
W.E. Taste: 75€ (will be credited on participation in the training)
W.E. Training: 1.200 € (1.000€ if booked until 31.01.2023) Plus travel and accommodation
• Flexible payment arrangements available
Cross-sponsoring between participants optional
• Please contact us for details