In 2005, Oogachaga conducted three runs of the Loving Myself Workshop, facilitated by Dr Tan Chong Kee. It was a series of three intensive workshops for gay men, gay women and counselors who work with gay people.
The experiential workshops are focused on (a) teaching tools for gay men and women towards building authentic relationships with themselves and their loved ones, and (b) equipping counselors who work with gay clients with a deeper understanding of the personal and interpersonal challenges faced by gay men and women, as well as their loved ones.
The workshops comprise:
Workshop 1 : Coming Into Understanding and Loving Myself
Workshop 2 : Coming Out as an Act of Love: Compassion and Understanding for Others
Workshop 3 : Building a Community of Love: Sensitivity to group dynamics
Workshop 1 deals with people's inner demons (homophobia, ego, lack of confidence, etc), getting them to face as many of these as possible, and some techniques to get rid of them. This brings the participants to a place where they become more centered and thus more effective in their own lives as well as in helping others.
Workshop 2 deals with interaction between two people, getting each to realize how our relationship with another person is often complicated unconsciously by assumptions and projections. It provides gay and lesbian individuals or counselors tools to build intimate and trusting relationships, to maintain effective communication, and to reach new understanding for others that will unlock our compassion.
Workshop 3 deals with small group (say 3 to 5 people) dynamics, getting participants to become sensitive to what is unspoken, what is hanging in the air. This enables the participant to better help others such as their parents/family/friends (where each can be in a very different state of mind) navigate through their many conflicting emotions to reach a place of love and resolution.
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