Understanding Spiritual Emergencies: Navigating the Dark Night of the Soul Part 1 Workshop with Fiona Robertson

The dark night of the soul – or spiritual emergency – is one of life’s most challenging experiences. A misunderstood and overlooked aspect of inner transformation, the dark night journey is deeply counter-cultural, and brings about a profound reckoning with oneself and one’s life. It can happen to anyone, including those who have previously done extensive work on themselves, those who have a long-standing spiritual practice, and those who have done neither.

In this workshop, the first in a series of four, we will explore a number of questions around the exact nature of the dark night phenomenon, including: why and to whom does it happen? Why is it so visceral, even for people who have done years of therapy beforehand? How might we accommodate experiences of the mystical or spiritual? What role might psychotherapy play during the dark night, and how might we help our clients navigate this intense psychospiritual terrain?

Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event

• Participants will be introduced to the nature of the dark night of the soul (also known as spiritual emergency) and its various phases.
• Participants will learn how to differentiate the dark night of the soul/spiritual emergency from depression and anxiety.
• Participants will explore how to support clients who are going through a dark night of the soul, and how their practice may be challenged in this process.

Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?

• All therapists, counsellors, coaches and spiritual directors.

How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?

• This workshop will help participants to recognise when clients are going through the dark night of the soul. Participants will have a greater awareness of and ability to respond to clients who are navigating this terrain. Participants will also be supported to reflect on their own experiences.