Transformative Negotiation: Reimagining Conflict Through Narration and Dream Work

Conflict doesn't have to be a dead end—it can be a threshold. In this rare workshop at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, facilitators Aimee Breslow and Sarah Federman invite you to meet disagreement, misunderstanding, and tension with curiosity rather than defensiveness. Over two days, November 6–7, 2026, you'll learn to read conflict as a waking dream, full of messages about what's possible next. This healing workshop is for anyone caught in calcified narratives—whether in intimate relationships, professional settings, or within yourself—who senses there's a more creative way forward.

We live in an era of widening divides and rapid change. Many feel trapped within stories that constrain possibility. This workshop offers liberation: concrete tools for narrative analysis and dreamwork that transform how you encounter disagreement. Rather than treating conflict as a problem to eliminate, you'll explore it as intelligence, invitation, and opportunity. Grounded in dignity and respect, the work draws on Federman's award-winning research and Breslow's training in projective methods—approaches that honor both the rational mind and the creative imagination.

Whether you're a mediator, therapist, educator, organizational leader, or simply someone navigating complex relationships, you'll leave with immediately applicable practices. This is not about bypassing conflict; it's about deepening your capacity to engage with it wisely.

What to Expect

Expect a blend of gentle lecture, somatic awareness, and experiential group work. Facilitators will guide you through examining the narratives that shape your experience—the stories you tell about others, about situations, about what's possible. You'll then engage imaginative practices to envision alternatives. The workshop honors both intellectual understanding and embodied knowing, creating space for insight to land at a visceral level.

Through guided exercises and peer dialogue, you'll discover how dreamwork illuminates hidden dimensions of conflict, revealing what parts of yourself or the situation you haven't yet acknowledged. You'll practice concrete methods for narrative reframing applicable across personal and professional domains. The atmosphere is collaborative and contemplative—designed for genuine transformation rather than quick fixes.

By the end, you'll carry a new relationship with conflict itself: less as threat, more as teacher.

Venue & Logistics

This workshop takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California—a transformational learning center nestled on the Big Sur coast. The program runs Friday through Saturday, November 6–7, 2026. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for both sitting and gentle movement. Bring a journal for reflection and dream recording. Esalen's grounds invite you to integrate learning in nature between sessions.