The therapeutic relationship is explored in terms of its psychological and somatic dimensions.  We especially focus on the therapeutic impact of sensations, breath, and somatic experience on the relationship and on the practitioner. The integration of psychodynamic theory and somatic psychotherapy practice is considered from developmental and relational perspectives. This program is designed for body psychotherapists who want to refine their current approach and verbal psychotherapists who want to integrate direct or indirect work with the body into their clinical practice. Participants will engage in a significant amount of respectful, somatic self-exploration within the program. Specific areas covered in the course include:  the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for somatic psychotherapy, presence, attunement, and tracking, and physicalizing psychological process.

Faculty: Diana Fosha, PhD Diana Fosha, PhD, is the developer of AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy), and the Director of the AEDP Institute in New York City. She is the author of The Transforming Power of Affect: A Model for Accelerated Change (Basic Books, 2000), and of papers on transformational studies, experiential process and trauma treatment. She also contributed a chapter to Healing Trauma: Attachment, Mind, Body and Brain, edited by Marion Solomon and Daniel Siegel (Norton, 2003). A DVD of her AEDP work with a patient has been released by APA, as part of their Systems of Psychotherapy Video Series.

Mindful Body-Mind Psychology and Practice: The Hakomi Method (SOM648j)
Faculty: Ron Kurtz, MA and Dyrian Benz, PsyD

This course integrates elements of mindfulness practice, loving presence, and enhanced bodily awareness of non-verbal indicators. Core cognitive structures that shape how we relate to others and ourselves are accessed by focusing on embodied habitual patterns. The healing relationship evoked by the connection between therapist and client aims to support deeper awareness and greater creativity in living. Mindfulness is utilized as a primary therapeutic state.

Being mindfully aware and attending to the richness of present experience creates scientifically recognized enhancements in brain physiology, mental functions, and in inter-personal relationships. Mindful, somatic awareness will be studied and practiced as a therapeutic tool and specific interventions will be considered.

Ron Kurtz is the innovative creator of the Hakomi Method and the Practice of Loving Presence. He is the author of Body-Centred Psychotherapy: the Hakomi Method and the co-author of The Body Reveals and Grace Unfolding. Ron teaches internationally and is well respected as one of the leading thinkers in the field of psychotherapy in the world today.

Dyrian Benz PsyD is Director of External Programs for somatic
psychology at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. He is a former
senior trainer and co-founder of the Hakomi Institute and an author.
He conducts trainings and consults internationally in GroupField, a
systemic group process, and in Relational Family Constellations.

October 4 - 9, 2009

Practice of Relational Somatic Psychology: The Anatomy of Psycho-Physical Transformation and Building Somatic Resources (SOM 648m)
Faculty: Bill Bowen, MA and Dyrian Benz, PsyD

The general nature of wounding is fragmentation and separation, to be broken apart. The general nature of healing is integration and connection, to be made whole. The physical, emotional and psychological aspects of our experience are interactive and mutually influential. Transformation on a physical level affects one's mental and emotional functioning. Change on a psychological level affects the body. We will evoke resources that we can draw upon in times of need to facilitate optimal functioning. Somatic resources are physically based options that provide support in re-organizing towards greater functioning and sustained health.