Friday Continuing Education Series: The Coming Guest: The Embodied Feminine in Clinic and Culture, Shira Marin, PhD, LMFT

Shira Marin, PhD, LMFT

Many writers and theorists have discussed “The Feminine.” What has this meant; what does it mean now in theory and practice individually and collectively in a time such as the one in which we live presently? During the modern era, Carl Jung spoke of “the Coming Guest” that would support an elemental shift in perception from inner and outer to the space between, to the bridge connecting these. What has this bridge to do with both the Feminine Principle and the Coming Guest? What is significant about this psychological personage in consideration of clinical applications?

Dr. Marin will share the idea of constellated consideration involving historical/mythological notions, attachment theory, and a new postmodern perspective on The Feminine Principle. Based on her dissertation research, her memoir and work of others in the field, Dr. Marin will clarify that, if we are to thrive, we need a more intentional and conscious indwelling of the multi-veiled Feminine Principle in clinic and culture. Dr. Marin will offer the dream that guided her own major life transition and how it led to a life and career of active engagement with dreams, art, ritual, and the poetry of language, all terms used in commercial culture but only hesitantly in the consulting room. In her dissertation study, Dr. Marin espoused these methods and found they can well support us through transitions of significant impasse between our inner and our worlds and among circumstances in our lives.

Shira Marin, PhD is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified Expressive Arts Therapist and a Certified Coach with over 35 years of clinical experience. She is a clinician, speaker, author and an educator who is intimately engaged with the psychoactive nature of life. Dr. Marin focuses her work with individuals, couples, families and groups through the lens of Imaginal and Jungian Psychology. She also facilitates arts-based and dream groups and consultation groups for both early- and mid- to late-career therapists, utilizing dream work and expressive arts. Formerly, Dr. Marin served as adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University, Editor of Marin CAMFT's newsletter, Director of the Schools Program at CIP as well as a trainer and a supervisor there. Presently, Dr Marin is President of the Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society. Outside her private practice, she consults to groups developing collective, collaborative peace-making processes through the engagement of Non-Violent Communication, imagination, and feminine values. Dr. Marin works in Marin County with her poodle, Bella Rosa, who assists her in the consulting room.