Training in Integrative Psychotherapy
This five-day experiential psychotherapy training incorporates Eastern yoga tradition with Western psychology, and promotes creative professional and personal integration of somatic, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of self.
The work of a psychotherapist requires self-awareness, presence, and attunement to both, inward and outward inputs. This training will utilize somatic experiences and mindfulness as a tool towards ‘tuning’ of the instrument – the self of the therapist.
Research on mindfulness has identified benefits to clients such as reduced rumination, stress reduction, increased concentration, boost to working memory, better regulation of emotional arousal, cognitive flexibility and interpersonal benefits. Benefits to therapists’ practicing mindfulness and meditation have been identified as increased compassion, enhanced listening skills and focus, more attuned responses, reduction in personal stress, feeling of wellness, and promotion of personal & professional growth.
During the training you will have an opportunity to dialogue with colleagues of diverse orientations, experience and learn about a holistic approach, discuss therapeutic applications of breath, mindfulness and exceptional human experiences as well as reflect on ethical and cross-cultural aspects of integrative practice.
Training objectives:
- To refine clinicians’ awareness and bring an appreciation of integration of personal and professional growth.
- Enhance emotional attunement and therapeutic presence using somatic awareness, breath and mindfulness.
- Learn about clinical applications of breath work and mindfulness.
- Learn about clinical applications of somatic psychotherapy.
- Explore theoretical and practical aspects of psychotherapy integration.
- Consider ethical aspects of integrative psychotherapy practice.
- Provide safe and inspiring space for colleagues with different orientation to connect and share experiences.
Day 1
Somatic Psychology & Embodied Spirituality
- Definition of somatic psychology
- Somatic assessments
- Embodied spirituality
- Research on somatic psychology
- Yoga psychology
- Clinical applications of somatic psychology
- Challenges of somatic psychotherapy
- Experiential exercises
- Case examples
- Group discussion
- Literature recommendation
Day 2
Breath-work
Ethical Considerations
- Physiology of breath
- Research on breath-work
- Breath and spirituality
- Clinical applications of breath-work
- Benefits and side-effects of breath-work
- Experiential exercises
- Case examples
- Group discussion
- Ethical aspects of holistic approach
- Case examples
- Group discussion
- Literature recommendation
Day 3
Mindfulness & Meditation in Psychotherapy
- Introduction to meditation & mindfulness
- Research on use of mindfulness and meditation
- Therapists’ use of mindfulness for personal self-growth
- Clinical applications of meditation and mindfulness
- Challenges in use of mindfulness and meditation in clinical practice
- Experiential exercises
- Case example
- Ethical considerations
- Group discussion
- Literature recommendation
Day 4
Guided Imagery in Psychotherapy
- Introduction to creative imagery
- Research on use of imagery
- Clinical applications of imagery
- Challenges in application of imagery in clinical practice
- Experiential exercises
- Case examples
- Ethical considerations
- Group discussion
- Literature recommendation
Day 5
Integrative Psychotherapy
- Definition of integrative psychotherapy
- Brief historical overview
- Professional – personal integration
- Clinical application of integrative practice
- Challenging aspects of integrative practice
- Towards developing your personal approach to integrative practice
- Experiential exercises
- Case examples
- Ethical considerations
- Group discussion
- Literature recommendation
- Evaluation form
- Group photo
- Closure.