RGP Presence, Contact, and Communication

June 7-8, 2025

In 1938, a group of Harvard researchers began a 75-year study that addressed life’s fundamental questions: how do we grow and change? What do we value as time goes on? And what is likely to make us happy and fulfilled? The Grant Study, as it’s called, found strong relationships to be far and away the clearest predictor of life satisfaction. In Relational Gestalt Practice, direct and response-able communication is essential for creating intimacy and strengthening our bonds to others. The benefits that flow from solid relationships with partners, relatives, and friends, can be a source of connection and great joy in our lives.

Sometimes the ways we’ve learned to communicate in relationship create more distance rather than contact with the people who are important to us. In this workshop, you’ll have an opportunity to become aware of the ways you communicate with those you’re close to; you’ll have the chance to learn, unlearn, and practice ways of communicating that will enhance your connection to others. Together, we will explore how what happened in the past may be keeping you from making use of the contact that is available in the here and now.

Over the course of the weekend, we will use dyads and repeating questions designed to facilitate communication and understanding. There will be time for some participants to experience one-to-one Open Seat practice sessions with Dorothy with the support of the group.

This workshop is open to those who have attended a previous Relational Gestalt Practice workshop with Dorothy, or done GAP with Christine Price and/or Sharon Terry.

Dates & Times

Saturday, June 7 - 10:30am - 6pm

Sunday, June 8 - 10am - 5pm*

*Please note the schedule is different on Sunday

Group Location

Tribal Ground Circle
Aptos, CA 95003

Tuition

$400

*Contact registration@dorothycharles.com if scholarship is needed.

Registration

Contact registration@dorothycharles.com to register. Numbers are limited and you will receive a response with information on how to secure your place by paying a $100 non-refundable deposit by check or PayPal. Balance of payment is due one week before the start of the group.

**Covid policy: Because of the continued prevalence of COVID, to protect everyone's health, we ask that all participants provide proof of a negative antigen test taken on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the start of group. Vaccination is encouraged. Masking is welcomed for self-protection. If you have symptoms of illness, we ask you not to attend. Local and CDC guidelines at the time of the workshop will dictate mask-wearing policy.**