$15 per lecture - deductible from the workshop fees, if attending.
$150.00 per workshop - 6 CEUs MCEP - BBS

In Deeper into the Soul, Dr. Shanahangi invites us to shift our attitude toward dementia, or Forgetfulness, as he calls it. He will evaluate the prevalent view that our physical and psychological symptoms represent illnesses that we need to cure and remove. Could it be, for example, that the many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, are attempts to speak in a language yet unfamiliar to us? Could it be that more than a dis-ease for the person so afflicted, a person’s symptom represents a message of sorts?

The author reminds us that with each effort to understand others, we expand our view of the world. Rather than simply a disease, forgetfulness and all dementias have purpose and meaning; rather than simply being in need of our care, people with forgetfulness can teach us about life and living; rather than a burden, people with dementia offer us an opportunity to slow down, to be more open and caring, to get in touch with the essence of our human nature. In the process, we deepen ourselves, deepen our souls.

In this lecture, he would ask the basic existential questions:

What are the possible meanings of forgetfulness? What purpose does it serve for both caregiver and the one experiencing forgetfulness?

From a longitudinal study and a clinical and phenomenological research of a population of older adults (60+) experiencing different degrees of dementia (including cerebro-vascular dementia, HIV dementia, and Alzheimer's) Dr. Shabahangi and Pacific Institute questions the prevalent views on dementia and advance alternative paradigms and interventions to deal with this spread phenomena. By using an existential and process-work oriented approach we will advocate for a change in attitudes that design treatment for people with Dementia including Alzheimer’s

Dementia is a construct: a concept we fill with our own ideas, often pre-conceived by others. Those others might be medical people, psychologists, sociologists, or gerontologists. This presentation will take a look at current definitions and views of dementia, what effects these perceptions have on how we treat and care for patients with dementia, and how we can perhaps change our ideas going forward.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Nader Shabahangi, Ph.D.

Nader received his doctorate from Stanford University. He is Chairman of the Board of Agesong, Inc, an assisted living development company. In 1991, Nader founded Pacific Institute, a nonprofit organization that offers counseling services, continuing education, and training to mental health professionals and interns. Nader is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a psychotherapist and is licensed by the California Contractors License Board as a general contractor. In 1994 he began the development of an innovative Gerontological Wellness Program in order to provide emotional support and mental health care services for the elderly. In 1997 he opened a residential care home for elders (RCFE) in San Francisco called Hayes Valley Care. Agesong, Inc. is currently developing another RCFE in San Francisco and continues to develop and refine its concept and practice of elder care.

DEEPER INTO THE SOUL: The workshop!

Friday, May 16th, 10am-5pm & Friday, November 21st, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.