Dr. Janice Campbell

Storytelling with a hint of humor accompanying a deep and universal message worth putting into practice.

David Winkelman

Dr. Janice was fantastic. When I read that something is "interactive" I wonder if there will be a sense of cohesion and flow to the event, or if it will devolve into something ragged and uncomfortable. No such fear needed with Dr. Janice. I felt cozy, supported, safe, and happy to be there. Honestly the event could have gone on for another hour and I would not have minded at all. I missed it when it was over. More broadly I feel like Dr. Janice is effortlessly adept (seems effortless anyway) at spurring epiphanies. If the event flowed between her stories, our stories, our response to her stories, and her response to ours, almost every turn offered something that stuck and I suspect will stick with me. She is great at mediating or modulating between serious remarks and humorous laughing eddies, too. Space existed for poignancy and meaning. If I search for more critical feedback-- I didn't love the story about her family dog. But! I also had the really distinct sense that it worked as a story and conjured its own vibe and sense of place. I am sure it worked and will work for others. That was the only time, though, that I found my engagement wanting at little intervals. To me it felt more like a presented or prepared thing-- which, obviously the whole event is planned, but parts of that one felt in a way like a different vein. Other thing. It was overall perfect as it was. Though: given the 9/11 theme, and the 9/11 date, and our NYC location -- and given that Dr. Janice conjured the subject herself -- I found myself expecting (and desiring) a moment at or near the end when overt space would arrive in which to talk about how our world has (perhaps) changed since then. Dr. Janice noted that after Pearl Harbor (she's heard) people all drew together, whereas post 9/11, there was in a sense a fragmenting of shared story; and then as we've gone here, of our facility with in-person reception for the stories of others. We did talk about our 9/11 recollections -- and I didn't feel like there *wasn't* space to say something about "the world" since then -- but it would have felt meaningful to work in a kind of response to her statements on this specific subject. As it was I felt like she conjured that wound or fracture to explain the event's initial origin around that time? Or her desire to enact it now more publically? So who knows maybe that's how that moment should stay. Maybe there is risk of such a moment devolving after all into a political harangue, or etc etc. But fwiw -- and another way to put this "critique" -- I did feel that the event (and Dr. Janice herself) addressed and soothed that communcal shift in a welcome way, and/but at the time I felt a low key desire to spend more time in that specific space. Anyway it was great, I'd go again, thanks to the place to Dr. Janice.

Elliot P

All I want to say publicly is that I totally understood her fear of being naked and her body being judged. I wish I had her courage to step out and feel good about my own body. I loved her description of the drawings and how each person saw her and drew her body from a different lens. This was not necessarily how she saw herself or even imagined her body as seen through the eyes of others. I still carry that early conditioning of the Twiggy body (showing my age) as the way we should look instead of loving the body we were born with. A great lesson for us all…

Attendee

I was truly grateful for the circle of trust that I shared with Dr. Janice and my fellow attendees. First teaching story The Farmer and the Horse) was particularly resonant for me on the anniversary of 9/11 and gave me a powerful shift in my perspective of what that day gave me (as well as took away). I feel hopeful that I can maintain that new awareness in the days and weeks ahead and use my story tools to remind myself that the ending is yet to be discovered (and ultimately determined by my outlook). It was a powerful 90 minutes and well worth it.

Attendee

Her talk was titled Navigating Your Emotional Weather Report - Experiential Practices for Understanding Your Internal Seasons, and it contained good information on understanding your seasons according to eastern medicine (acupuncture). Dr. Campbell gave good insight into her areas of expertise. She had helpful exercises for several seasons that she guided us through during her talk, and gave a Q&A at the end. Thank you Dr. Campbell!

Attendee

Janice's storytelling is like a brilliantly orchestrated magic carpet ride; You never know where you'll end up, but you know you're in good hands all along the way. Her lucid wit will reveal the other side of the supposedly ordinary and wishing you could see the world the same way, but as long as she's speaking you may borrow her magic bifocals and glimpse new dimensions, transforming your vision in the process.

Matt Maes

Dr. Janice's talk is a necessary reminder for body positivity, but even more for body neutrality, a reminder that the perspectives of others do not define us. This is ever more important in a world where we have more words and less communication than ever before, that we need to be active agents for our own love, power, and self-definition.

Mike

It was such a beautifully authentic and engaging talk that really brought me back to how I see myself. It almost had me peck away a tear amidst my laughter. What a beautiful reflection on this human condition we constantly try and make sense of. Thank you.

Michelle

A session where the approach towards perspective built over time and how easy it is to rewire them if you genuinely tried. And also how the smallest of acts of biking, can open up the possibility and experience of every moment to its fullest.

Manasvi Madan