Workshop Offerings
Workshops offer meaningful, hands-on opportunities to build connection and strengthen community ties. Below are engaging program options suitable for senior living communities, community centers, private organizations, and clubs.
All workshops can be hosted in person or virtually and are available as single sessions or as part of a series.
If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please reach out to claudialistens@gmail.com to discuss options for your group.
The Power of Awe
Experiencing awe takes us out of our humdrum existence and brings us to a state of inner excitement and reverence. It is something most humans experience on occasion, often in nature. Like when we see two rainbows arching one above the other, we may feel awe.
Amazingly, feeling awe has many social and personal-life improving “properties.” Our feelings of social connection increases, our stress diminishes, our generosity expands and our overall sense of well-being improves. These are things we all need, especially these days!
In this workshop, we will talk about how awe has inspired us, learn more about its benefits and, most importantly, learn ways to increase our capacity to experience awe in our daily lives.
The Art of Listening
Listening is one of those skills that greatly enhances a relationship.
Listening well is not something many of us know how to do. We tend to interrupt, want to tell our own story, have an opinion or a suggestion we want to offer. When this happens the person who has been speaking often feels that she or he hasn’t been heard. This can lead to a sense of frustration and even to a feeling of distance between the two people.
At this workshop, you will learn how to tune in and really hear what your friend or partner is saying. You will gain skills in attunement, connection and responsiveness.
You will learn to “hear” in a new and better way.
You will come away-a better listener!
Befriending Yourself and Others
The Befriending Yourself workshops are oriented for people over 65 who are struggling with loneliness and isolation and who are seeking to develop new friendships or enhance old ones.
In this era where loneliness is a social epidemic, learning how to develop new friendships and renew old friendships is essential to people’s mental health.
This workshop is both interactional and reflective. Its goals are to help participants further develop their friendship making skills, with an underlying objective of helping people to also become a better friend to themselves. If we are not a good friend to ourselves, how can we be a good friend to others?
Having good friends requires skill, self-awareness and confidence. To that end, we will discuss the qualities of a good friendship, practice being open and vulnerable, discuss how to silence the self-critical voice and learn some active listening skills. We will also talk about the positive qualities we bring to our friendships.
Upcoming Workshops:
The Art of Listening, The Center on Shattuck Street — October 13, 2026
Past Workshops:
Awe and Wonder: A Deep Dive into the Mystery of Creation, P’Nai Or — June 3, 2023
Befriending Yourself, Northwest Village Network — April 2025
Befriending Yourself, Friends Life Care — October 2025
Befriending Yourself, East Falls Village — November 2025
Awe and The Pursuit of Peace, Shavuot, Germantown Jewish Center — May 21, 2026
Befriending Yourself and Others, Shtetl 2.0 — June 2026
Befriending Yourself, The Center on Shattuck Street — July 14, 2026
Awe & Peace, P’nai Or — August 29, 2026