PSY 501: Consciousness and Creative Communication

David E. Bresler, Ph.D.

This course examines the experiential basis of the psychology of interpersonal relationship. Study will explore types of inner communications in which we engage, the power of attention, levels of interactivity, imagery dialogue, inner communications, mood, our "inner critic" and how it can be countered creatively with the help of an "inner advisor."

Student Outcomes for This Course

Outcome #1: Students will be able to enhance self-communication by learning to dialogue with their inner advisor, inner critic and inner child.

Outcome #2: Students will be able to enhance communication with others by learning to be more assertive, better listeners and more aware of “old tapes.”

Outcome #3: Students will be able to use imagery dialogue to enhance communication with God, Spirit, or a Higher Power.

This course is organized into ten one-hour audio sessions. The introductory session on Inner Communication is presented in both an audio and video format to better acquaint the student with Dr. Bresler. The ten sessions are organized into a thoughtful effective presentation on this topic. We recommend you study the course tapes in their sequential order.

Course Sessions and Topics

Required Reading

Bresler, David, Free Yourself from Pain, Awareness Press 1999 ISBN#1929295006

Recommended Reading

Helmstetter, Shad, What to Say When You Talk to Your Self , Pocket Books, 1982.
Hendrix, Harville, Getting the Love You Want: A Guide For Couples, Harper, 1990.
Kingma, Daphne R., True Love: How to Make Your Relationship Sweeter, Deeper, and More Passionate, Berkeley , CA : Conari Press, 1991.
McKay, M., Fanning, P., & Paleg, K., Couple Skills: Making Your Relationship Work, New Harbinger, 1994.
Stoddard, S. & Isadora, R., Prayers, Praises, and Thanksgivings, Dial Books, 1992.

Phone Conferences – Mondays, October 9 and November 13, 2006

From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., Pacific Coast time, all students participate in these conferences with Dr. Bresler. The first conference will also give you an opportunity to clarify any questions you may have about the course. Each conference has been designed around lectures and topics. See Phone Conferences with Faculty for the conference calling process.

Topics and Issues for First Conference Call – Monday, October 9, 2006

Review tapes 1 - 4 and be prepared to discuss the following topics:

• Inner Advisor
• Inner Critic
• Inner Child

Topics and Issues for Second Conference Call – Monday, November 13, 2006

Review tapes 5 - 10 and be prepared to discuss the following topics:

• Assertive listener
• Old tapes from the past
• Dialoguing with Spirit

Email Discussion Group "holmesspirit"

Email discussion groups encourage group discussion on the topics, issues and concepts presented in each course. Students are encouraged to use this discussion forum to share their ideas, insights and questions with one another. A single email message reaches all students and the faculty member at one time. This discussion group has also been put in place to help remove some of the geographic isolation which may be felt between students, and add an extra link to the natural and vital bond that develops in any spiritual community. All students with a current email address listed with Holmes Institute are automatically subscribed to the email discussion group for this course. Use this email address:

holmesspirit@yahoogroups.com

If you desire to respond to an individual in the group, please use his/her personal email address on your class roster or the Faculty Directory for Fall 2006 in this Guide.

Course Outline - Weeks 1 through 5

This outline gives a brief description of how to pace your self-study and gauge your progress in the required course activities throughout the academic quarter.

Lesson Objectives: By the end of the fifth week, the student is able to:

Objective #1: Identify the key concepts and strategies essential to consider and use when dialoguing with own inner advisor, inner critic and inner child.

Objective #2: Define and describe in writing five or more compelling considerations for inner communication incorporating such issues as: inner advisor, inner critic, inner child and assertive listener.

Assessment Experience #1 : Submit two typed pages including the following information: Describe essential considerations for inner communication by defining five key issues and using brief examples from your reading and personal life experiences to clarify the issues. Your report must reach Dr. Bresler postmarked or emailed no later than Monday, October 23, 2006. No faxed papers will be accepted for this course. Your instructor will return your paper to you directly, so be sure to include a large SASE with adequate postage. Send papers by email to bresler@aol.com.

Course Outline - Weeks 6 through 8

Lesson Objectives: By the end of the eighth week, the student is able to:

Objective #3: To define and describe the concept “old tapes” what they are and what they are not.

Objective #4: To discuss the theory related to the impact “old tapes” have on communication with other people.

Objective #5: To recognize and report in writing examples of “old tapes” from personal and observed experiences.

Course Outline - Weeks 9 through 10 

Lesson Objectives: By the end of the tenth week, students will be able to:

Objective #6: to describe imagery dialogue and the conditions essential for its effectiveness.

Objective #7: to compare and contrast communication with God/Spirit/a Higher Power with inner communication and/or with communication with other people.

Objective #8: to identify key insights as well as the nature of important or dramatic shifts which that have occurred since beginning to apply the course material to own personal life.

Final Assessment: Your final feedback report is to conclude your understanding of Consciousness and Creative Communication by writing a two-page typed paper addressing each of the issues in Objectives 4, 6 and 8. Your mailed report must reach Dr. Bresler postmarked no later than December 4, 2006. No email or faxed papers will be accepted for this course. Your instructor will return your paper to you directly, so be sure to include a large SASE with adequate postage.

Guidelines for Success

Feedback reports will be evaluated on the following: (1) the student's ability to demonstrate an exceptional grasp of concepts, (2) originality in thinking and organization of thoughts or ideas, (3) the student's exploration, use and practice of techniques presented, (4) the student's ability to write clearly and concisely, (5) the student's ability to write specifically to the requested feedback, and (6) reports are received on or before each published due date. Letter grades drop by one half if reports are not received by published due dates.