Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology Today – Conference Berkeley, CA

The depth and scope of embodied clinical practice, Somatic Psychology, and Body Psychotherapy: A detailed, and critical exploration of the state of this expanding field and its contributions to contemporary psychotherapy. In celebration of the release of The Handbook of Body Psychotherapy & Somatic Psychology, edited by Gustl Marlock and Halko Weiss with Courtenay Young and Michael Soth, Foreword by Bessel van der Kolk

  • Six international authors presenting
  • In-depth treatment of core issues in embodied psychotherapy
  • Ample discussion sessions in presenter breakouts

This program is developed by Somatic Psychology Associates, Oakland CA and is co- sponsored by the Somatic Psychology MA Programs at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco and at JFK University, Pleasant Hill, CA.

The Handbook of Body Psychotherapy & Somatic Psychology, edited by Gustl Marlock and Halko Weiss with Courtenay Young and Michael Soth, Foreword by Bessel van der Kolk (North Atlantic Press 2015) is available at Amazon and other booksellers.

“Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology Today: An International Conference ”

The Current State of Body Psychotherapy Research and Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapeutic Practices: A Case Study –   Ilse Schmidt-Zimmermann

The Body Psychotherapy tradition manifests a substantial methodological repository and an emerging frame of practice that is currently under research investigation. One of the strengths of the field is its holistic scope of understanding and complexity of intervention models. When the client is held in a complex, temporally mobile, holographic perspective, the clinician must be ready to make contact with the available bio- psycho-emotional surfaces. Process and interventions vary considerably with the conflicts of the client, the therapeutic relationship, and the present situation. Elements of the therapy process are currently the subject of several international research projects. To exemplify the therapeutic action of Body psychotherapy, Ilse will discuss a clinical case of a patient who suffers from a profound dog phobia. She will describe and explain the different approaches of a psychodynamic and body psychotherapeutic understanding of the problem. She made her therapeutic reflections and interventions transparent with the client, which resulted in a successful outcome for that patient.

Ilse Schmidt-Zimmermann is a group and adult psychotherapist, a child and adolescent specialist and author of chapter on “The Spectrum of Body Psychotherapeutic Practices and Interventions”. Studied sociology, psychology and education in Frankfurt am Main, Psychotherapist, child and adolescent psychotherapist, was from 1999 to 2002 President of the European Association for Body Psychotherapy (EABP). Education background: Unitive Body
Psychotherapy, gestalt therapy, group analytic and psychodynamic therapy as well as further developments in bioenergetics, Biosynthesis, and the Formative Psychology of Stanley Keleman. She is head of the German training program in Unitive Body Psychotherapy and lecturer, supervisor and therapist for teaching psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Post-modern Challenges to Embodiment and Human Vitality: A View from the Street and the Therapy Room –  Gustl Marlock

A fundamental difficulty that exists in Western philosophy, epistemology, and science: the various aspects of what it is to be human—body, mind, and soul—have been abstracted and separated theoretically and practically for such a long time that it becomes both intellectually and linguistically hard to grasp and formulate them as interdependent aspects of a unified, functioning whole. Additionally, the therapeutic discourse itself is profoundly conditioned by its historical and social context. What was and is judged to be therapeutically meaningful and correct—and even the practical success of particular approaches—depends upon the respective social and cultural contexts within which therapy is practiced and understood, as well as misunderstood. This talk will look at some of the historical and contemporary forces impinging on a “unitive” experience.

Gustl Marlock MA is co-editor, creator, and author of Handbook chapters “Body Psychotherapy as a Major Tradition of Modern Depth Psychology” and “Sensory Self-Reflexivity: Therapeutic Action in Body Psychotherapy”. Gustl is co-director of the Center for Integrative Psychotherapy and Humanistic Psychology in Frankfurt. Dipl. Paed. Psychotherapist, child and adolescent psychotherapist with more than 30 years of clinical experience combined with a far-reaching knowledge of the different therapeutic cultures and dialects. He is head of German education in the Unitive Body Psychotherapy School, lecturer and supervisor for university based psychotherapy graduate training. Gustl frequently speaks publicly and professionally from a Critical Theory perspective on pop cultural life and issues in mainstream psychology and body psychotherapy. Gustl will give some background to the Handbook saga, present his perspective on post- modern challenges to embodiment and human vitality, and offer critical cultural insight as a therapist, trainer and social observer.

Power, Culture and the Body: Diversity Issues in Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy Practice – Christine Caldwell

In her talk Christine will overview this broad topic by speaking briefly about the bodies’ marginalization in most modern cultures, and the effects this may have on us as practitioners and on our clients. More importantly, she will introduce both post-modern theory and research on how the bodies of people who occupy marginalized social categories are ‘othered’ and pathologized by society, and how we as therapists can both blindly re-enact the somatic norms of those in power, as well as consciously contribute to somatically based social justice. She will use her own research activities as case studies. Clinical suggestions will be introduced and discussed with the participants.

Christine Caldwell PhD, BC-DMT, LPC, NCC, ACS is the author of the Handbook chapter “Movement As and In Psychotherapy”. She is the Founder and Chair of the Somatic Psychology Department at Naropa University. Her work began thirty years ago with dance therapy and has evolved over the years into a form of body-centered psychotherapy that she calls the Moving Cycle. This work emphasizes the transformational effect of movement processes. She has taught at several universities, and teaches and lectures internationally. She is the author of Getting our bodies back (1996) and Getting in touch: The guide to new body- centered therapies (1997)

Medical Trauma in Patients and Providers: Interpersonal Neurobiology and the Autonomic Nervous System.  – Jacqueline Carleton

Medical trauma in one form or another is experienced by all of us at one time or another. We may forget that it also happens to medical professionals, whether as providers or patients themselves. Clearly lodged in the body, such trauma is perhaps uniquely appropriate to Somatic Psychotherapy interventions centering on the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. This presentation will trace the treatment of two contrasting examples of the potentially devastating psycho- emotional toll of routine and necessary procedures and explore how in future such sequelae could be ameliorated or avoided.

Jacqueline Carleton Ph.D. is the co-author of Handbook chapters on “Body Psychotherapeutic Treatments for Eating Disorders” and “The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System” in body psychotherapy. Jacquie has been in private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan since the 1970’s. She attended Smith College, MIT, and holds a PhD from Columbia University. Since the ’80’s she has taught both body psychotherapy (Core Energetics) and principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy internationally. For the past 10 years she has incorporated Somatic Experiencing, into her practice. She is also on the Executive Committee of the Trauma Program of the National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP) in New York City, where she works on curriculum development. She is currently particularly interested in the neuro-relational treatment early developmental trauma, complex medical trauma, and the secondary trauma in those who treat trauma in all fields. Jacquie’s trainings include in-depth association with Somatic Experiencing trauma work, AEDP, EMDR, and Jungian Analysis. Her current area of study, research and writing is in interpersonal neurobiology and somatic psychology and the neuroscientific approach to attachment trauma.

The Unique Issues in Training Embodied Psychotherapists: On Not Being a Stranger to Desire.  – William F. Cornell

“As a Body Psychotherapist, deeply influenced by psychoanalytic and relational models of psychotherapy, I want to offer my clients a somatic dyad—that is, a person with whom literally to move, as well as to think and speak. I seek to provide a safe space within which to experiment with movement, aggression, tenderness, and contact: a space within which one can act as well as think. I want clients to have the opportunity to affect and be affected by the actual bodyof another, a body different from their own: my body. As a psychotherapist, I want my clients to have the ongoing experience of two different minds engaged in a project of mutual interest. As a Body Psychotherapist, I extend the framework to offer the possibility of two bodies exploring new terrain and possibilities.” In this talk we ask Bill Cornell to apply his thinking about the body, relationality, vitality and psychotherapy to the training of psychotherapists.

William Cornell MA is a body psychotherapist, author and international trainer integrating relational psychoanalysis and somatic psychotherapy paradigms. He is the author of Handbook chapters on “Entering the Erotic Field: Sexuality in Body-Centered Psychotherapy” and “Entering the Relational Field in Body Psychotherapy ”. His most recent book Somatic Experience in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (2015) is the latest volume in the prestigious Relational Perspective Book Series. Bill has been a central figure in the ongoing dialogue between psychodynamic relational perspectives, two-body models of therapy, and the body psychotherapy community.

How the Latest Research in Epigenetics, Neuroscience, Poly-vagal and Attachment Theories are Making Somatic Psychology and Body Psychotherapy Foundational for Effective Clinical Practice – Marti Glenn

Research discoveries from diverse fields are providing scientific evidence for the most effective clinical practices in mental health. This converging research suggests that healing can occur throughout the lifespan and that change takes place through a variety of paths into the human psyche-soma. The fields of Epigenetics, Poly-vagal Theory, Neuroscience and Attachment, among others, are providing evidence for the efficacy of some current Somatic Psychotherapy practices in studies continually affirm that in order to support healing, transformation and long- term health, both physical and mental, we must consider, become mindful of and work within the experienced body.

Marti Glenn, Ph.D. is the author of the Handbook chapter “Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology as Vital Foundations of Body Psychotherapy.A pioneering psychotherapist and educator for over 30 years, Marti was founding President of the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, the first academic center in the US to offer PhD degrees in Somatic Psychology and Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology. She is the recent recipient of the Verny Lifetime Achievement Award in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology. She co-produced the broadcast quality documentary, Trauma, Brain, and Relationship and has appeared in such documentary films as What Babies Want; What Babies Know; Reducing Infant Mortality and Improving the Health of Babies. She continues to train mental health professionals, with a particular focus on clinical applications of epigenetics, neuroscience, poly-vagal and attachment theories. ”. She is Clinical Director and Partner of Quest Institute offering intensive retreats to help adults heal early developmental trauma. Marti conducts professional training programs and is a frequent speaker at conferences worldwide.

For information contact Mark Ludwig LCSW
somaticpsychologyassociates@gmail.com
Continuing Education

Continuing education credit for this event is co-sponsored by Somatic Psychology Associates and The Institute for Continuing Education. The program offers 6.00 contact hours with full attendance required. The CE processing fee is $25.00 per person and is payable to The Institute for Continuing Education with completed CE paperwork. CE applications will be available on site. CE verification will be mailed to workshop participants following the training. If you have questions regarding this training, continuing education, learning objectives, , or grievance issues, contact The Institute at: e-mail: instconted@aol.com.

Psychology: The Institute for Continuing Education is an organization approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this program and its content. All sessions may not be eligible for CE credit for psychology.

Social Work: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), though the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Provider No. 1007. Licensed social workers should contact their individual state jurisdiction to review current continuing education requirements for license renewal.

Counseling / Marriage-Family Therapy: The California Board Behavioral Sciences accepts programs sponsored by approved providers of the American Psychological Association ( APA ), the National Board for Certified Counselors ( NBCC ), and the Association of Social Work Boards ( ASWB).

Skill Level: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced

Teaching Methodology: May include: didactic, audio-visuals, demonstrations, role play, experiential exercises, large and small group discussions.

ADA: If you have special needs, please contact: (somaticpsychologyassociates@gmail.com).

Certificates of Attendance: Certificates will be provided at the end of the conference

Registration (each ticket comes with an additional small handling fee for on- line registration)

To register for this event contact our Eventbrite conference site by cutting and pasting this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/body-psychotherapy-and-somatic- psychology-today-an-international-conference-tickets-20068130318?ref=enivtefor001&invite=ODk2MzAyNy9zb21hdGljcHN5Y2hvbG9neWFzc29jaWF0ZXNAZ21haWwuY29tLzA%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend

Full Fee: 130.00
Students with Current ID: 60.00

The David Brower Center
2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Transportation:
We encourage the use of transit whenever possible. Bike parking is available in front of the Brower Center and in the underground Oxford Garage.

BART:
Richmond Bound: Take the Richmond-bound train to the Downtown Berkeley station. Walk south on Shattuck and turn left onto Allston Way. The Brower Center is at 2150
Allston Way.

San Francisco / Fremont Bound: Take either the San Francisco-bound or Fremont-bound train to the Downtown Berkeley station. Walk south on Shattuck and turn left onto Allston Way. The Brower Center is at 2150 Allston Way.

Bus/ AC Transit
AC Transbay Lines: F and 800
AC Transit Lines: 1R, 52L, 1, 7, 9, 15, 18, 19, 51, 65, 67, 79, 604, 605, 851.

Garage Parking
Please carpool! There are many garages in downtown Berkeley, including the Oxford
Garage just below the Center. Enter on 2165 Kittredge St. between Shattuck and Oxford. Other garages include the Allston Way Garage at 2061 Allston Way, between Shattuck and Milvia Street.

Refreshments and Lunch: Lunch is on your own. A list of local restaurants and café’s will be available at the site. No food will be served. Liquids and food are not permitted in the Goldman Auditorium.

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