Workshops
“Where there is shadow, you will find light.”
– Sue Knight Deutsch
Along with her popular and beloved book, “The Healing Hand: 5 discussions to have with the dying who are living”, Sue Knight Deutsch offers her signature workshop, The Healing Hand: Being present for what matters most in life and death, as well as a variety of other workshops, all of which can be tailored as a single day, half-day, 2-day or 5-day intensive to meet the needs of your group or organization. If you are looking for a keynote speaker, invite Sue to present her workshop material as a keynote address.
Workshop Descriptions
ALL WORKSHOPS CAN BE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY OR IN-PERSON
The Healing Hand Workshop
What shall I do, what shall I say, and who am I in the face of this? These are universal questions that often arise when we are faced with the illness or the impending death of a loved one. This workshop is about more than dying or facing mortality. It is about connecting with the things that matter most in human life and relationship to self, other, and our work in the world. Based on her book “The Healing Hand: 5 discussions to have with the dying who are living” Sue Knight Deutsch addresses these questions, offering tools to handle what life has to offer using stories, metaphors, videos, and her own experience. You will learn how to be present in the moment through breathing exercises and meditation, and to use these questions to transform your heart, mind, and soul, exploring through spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational and emotional means how to find your own unique answers that are as close to you as your own healing hands, and how to be present for those you love and care about.
Voices Within You and Without You
In a world where everything cries out for our attention, how do we find the silence to pay attention to ourselves? In this workshop, we focus in and create space for our connection to ourselves and each other through our many voices, by weaving poetry, meditation, yoga and chant with deep listening so that each voice can be heard, each heart can be seen, each eye within the heart can see, and each spirit can be touched.
Finding Light Beyond the Shadows
After a loss, the sense of not knowing which way to turn can make navigating the healing journey of transformation confusing and exhausting, often with feelings of despair, anger, fear, loneliness and disbelief. Questions arise:
- How will I make it through the day?
- How can I move forward?
- Who is here for me?
- Am I safe?
- What meaning does life hold now?
- Will I ever be happy again?
- How can I find support?
Resilience is the ability to bounce back in the face of difficulty and adversity, and can be learned. Sue brings years of experience from her chaplaincy, counseling, teaching, and her own grief journey as well as research-based principles of positive psychology, to teach resilience and create a life of purpose and meaning, moving through and beyond the pain of loss. In this workshop, meditation and breathing techniques will be taught along with other coping strategies, storytelling, discussion, as well as prompts for journal writing, offering the opportunity to find the answers to questions from within and create change. All you need to bring is yourself.
Inspire Your Ideal
You’ve lived for years without your person. Your life is so different. You may be asking yourself “who am I now? Is this all there is?” or “what is my ideal of who I want to be?” It’s a uniquely human capacity to choose the focus of your attention. In directing attention, you can deliberately shape life toward your ideal self – the aspirational view of the best you. Using tools from positive psychology, behavioral science, and neuroscience, you will learn to identify, cultivate, and engage your strengths as a daily practice. This workshop will help you develop key aspects of your ideal self, exploring how that vision can enrich your daily actions, simplify choices, and lead to greater levels of flourishing.
Former Workshops/Speaking Engagements
Los Angeles Jewish Wisdom and Wellness Festival
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County
Awakenings Metaphysical Bookstore
Kiwanis Club
International Foundation for Survival Research
Michigan State University School of Social Work
Bureau of Jewish Education, Irvine, CA
Interfaith Council of Central Orange County
Michigan Board of Cantors
Congregation Eilat, Mission Viejo, CA
Temple Beth El, Aliso Viejo, CA
Michigan Board of Rabbis
Chayim v’Tikvah, Manchester, England
Ramat Eshkol, Jerusalem, Israel
Cantors Assembly, Palm Springs, CA
Michigan Board of Rabbis, Detroit, Michigan
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, East Lansing, Michigan
Jewish Theological Seminary, NY
Cantors Assembly Convention, Chicago, IL
St. Joseph Health, Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA
Jewish Federation & Family Services, Newport Beach, CA
Beth Chayim Chadashim, Los Angeles, CA
Congregation Beth Shalom, Corona, CA
Ezra Center, Anaheim, CA
CalOptima PACE, Garden Grove, CA
Heritage Pointe, Mission Viejo, CA
Sue Knight Deutsch is an outstanding cantor, compassionate spiritual guide, and brilliant educator. To every service, classroom, and individual instruction, she brings her immense talent, loving heart, and sweet, gentle soul.
– Rabbi Dr. Wayne Dosick