Bainbridge Wisdom Circles invites you to join us this winter for a virtual eight-week study group to explore and discuss the joys and challenges of aging.
Reclaim yourself through connection, curiosity, compassion, creativity, and courage.
If anything were possible in your elderhood, what would that look like? How would you feel?
Feel Connected, Confident and Alive…
Two seasoned therapists, Gail Westlin & Patricia Erskine, have joined forces to create Bainbridge Wisdom Circles. During the past few years, our clients have felt isolated and longed to explore new aging models.
Gathering together in small groups of ten and discussing this time can create community and help us feel connected and alive. Buried under years of work and responsibility, we can reclaim our self-energies: calm, connection, clear thinking, confidence, curiosity, compassion, creativity, and courage.
During our time together, we will:
Grow in perspective on aging well through resources, wise elders, stories, and self-exploration.
Find support and empowerment in a community navigating the transition to elderhood.
Explore their Inner world- soul longings, resistance to aging, self-acceptance, and spiritual practice.
Details:
Hosts: Gail Westlin & Patricia Erskine
Dates: January 9, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
What to Expect: We will use the book The Inner Work of Age, Shifting From Role to Soul by Connie Zweig as a guidepost, along with other relevant poetry and resources on aging. It will be lively and fun, with plenty of room for introverts!
Join us for deep dialogues and a refreshing time to nourish your soul.
This group is for you if…
You are curious about aging transitions.
You long for community and are committed to a new search for meaning and development in your inner life.
If you are wondering… What is my purpose now? Who am I now that I'm retired? How do I live with feelings of vulnerability? How can I create a different, positive connection with my aging body? How does living more fully change my perspective on dying? How can I connect with others at this stage of life?
You would like to learn and have fun.
Meet Your Hosts…
Feel held and supported in all that is possible.
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I am Gail Westlin, and I stand as a beacon for those navigating the intricate journey of aging, guiding you toward self-awareness and personal growth. As a mother and former educator, I have a profound understanding of the evolution of life stages, especially the transformative experience of aging. My background enriches my insights into family dynamics, parenting, and the developmental arcs across one's lifespan.My approach goes beyond traditional therapy; it's holistic, creating a space where the nuances of aging, both mental and physical, are addressed with compassion and expertise. I recognize and understand the deep shifts and contemplations that come with advancing years, ensuring that my guidance is always tailored to these unique challenges.
With me, you're not just aging—you're evolving. Every life story, every testament of experience, and every shared memory is celebrated and embraced. In my sanctuary, acceptance is an encompassing embrace of one's entire life journey—past, present, and future.
With years of experience as a therapist, I value the timing, body intuition, and the depth of wisdom that comes with age. In my care, you will find a therapist and a dedicated partner ready to walk alongside you on the profound journey of growing older.
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Navigating the complex layers of the human psyche, I specialize in aiding clients through life’s profound transitions, from the distresses of divorce, depression, and anxiety to the introspective challenges of aging.
My holistic approach is deeply rooted in Jungian and Depth psychology. Leveraging tools from a rich tapestry of therapeutic modalities—including Jungian, Depth Psychology, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Dreams, Internal Family Systems Parts Work, Structural Dissociation, Polyvagal Theory, and Attachment Theory—I aim to enact transformative, enduring changes in my clients' lives. My expertise in Somatic Transformation is specifically tailored for trauma healing.
The inner journey of aging, with its accompanying dream tending and shadow work, holds a special place in my practice. My global perspective is enriched by a 25-year sojourn in France, where I delved into parenting, child psychology, and pre/post-natal counseling through articles and workshops. With a keen understanding of expatriate and cross-cultural dynamics, I fluently converse in both English and French, ensuring a deeply empathetic, bilingual therapeutic experience.
Kind Words from a Participant…
“Suddenly I’m my mother’s age with silver hair and a weathered face. My legs hurt, my sleep is fitful, and I can’t find the glasses that are on the top of my head. People call me ma’am. I’m old.
I’m scared.
I can’t do this alone.
A friend recommended that I read The Inner Work of Age by Connie Zweig. I finished it and wanted more. Where are my people? Connie suggested I join a Wisdom Circle.
There are nine of us, all in our seventies, thinking we’re in our forties. We have been meeting since January on Monday nights via zoom to discuss the book, chapter by chapter. But we have gone beyond the words on the page. We have become a scaffolding for one another and a mirror.
We hold each other up. We share our fears and our gratitude. We provide comfort and insight. We are discovering that we don’t have to do this eldering alone.”