Schedule for Upcoming Workshops and Training

Workshop and Training Descriptions

2008 Schedule for Workshops and Training

Dates

Topic/ Location

Sponsor / Phone/ Email

January 18
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

January 18
8 - 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

February 22
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

February 22
8 - 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

March 21
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

March 21
8 - 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

April 10-12

Three day Professional Training in Gestalt & Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Ontario Hypnosis Center
Toronto, Canada

www.ont-hypnosis-centre.com
info@ont-hypnosis-centre.com
www.lifebetweenlivescanada.com
1-866-497-7469 (Toll free)
416-489-0333

April 20
2 – 4 pm

Exhale Spa for Sacred Movement The Alchemy of Healing: Mindfulness and Mind -Body Healing
Venice, CA

www.exhalespa.com
info@exhalespa.com
310-450-7676
245 South Main Street, Venice

April 25
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

April 25
8 – 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

May 16
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

May 16
8 – 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

May 23-25

Mind, Mood and Happiness
Esalen Institute
Big Sur, CA

Esalen Institute
www.esalen.org
info@esalen.org
(831) 667-3000

June 20
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind/Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

June 20
8 – 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

July 10-12

Module #1 The Future of the Body:Ericksonian and Solution-Focused Hypnosis-Somatic Psychotherapies-The Skillful Intervention
The New York Open Center
New York City

New York Open Center
www.opencenter.org
(212) 219-2527

July 25
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind/Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

July 25
8 – 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Aug 15
9 am - 1 pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind/Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Aug 15
8 – 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Aug 29-31

The Core Self: Resources for Healing
Chrysalis Centre
DONARD, County Wicklow, Ireland

www.chrysalis.ie
peace@chrysalis.ie
011 353 45 404713

Sept 6-7

Open Heart, Open Mind – The Art of Meditation, Dublin, Chrysalis

www.chrysalis.ie
peace@chrysalis.ie
011 353 45 404713

Oct 10
9am - 1pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Oct 10
8 – 9 am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Oct 17-19

 Mindfulness and the Self: A Professional CEU Training
Santa Fe, New Mexico

New England Educational Institute
www.neei.org
learn@neei.org
413-499-1489

Nov 7
9am - 1pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Nov 7
8- 9am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Nov 14-16

The Art of Leadership: Excellence in Communication, Creativity and Vision Esalen Institute
Big Sur, CA

Esalen Institute
www.esalen.org
info@esalen.org
(831) 667-3000

Nov 22

The Alchemy of Healing: Mindfulness and Mind -Body Healing
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement
Venice, CA 

www.exhalespa.com
info@exhalespa.com
310-450-7676
245 South Main Street, Venice

Dec 4-6

Module #2 Mapping the Body-Mind Contemporary Gestalt-Analytic Approaches
New York Open Center

New York Open Center
www.opencenter.org
(212) 219-2527

Dec 12
9am - 1pm

Los Angeles Clinical Training Group in Mind-Body Healing Therapies
Topanga Canyon, CA

 For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

Dec 12
8 - 9am

Training and Supervision Group
Telephone – Nationwide group

For more information contact Ron directly at (310) 395-2243 or zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

 

2007 Schedule for Workshops and Training

Dates
Topic/ Location
Sponsor / Phone/ Email

January – December 2007

Ongoing Multi-Year Clinical Training Group in Mind/Body Healing Therapies including Training, Supervision & Clinical Theory
Los Angeles, CA
Complete Description

Training group meets monthly on Fridays between 9 am & 1 pm. For further information call (310) 395-2243 or email
zendoc@ronaldalexander.com

March 29-31

Module #1 - The Future of the Body / Ericksonian & Solution-Focused Hypnosis / Somatic Psychotherapies / The Skillful Intervention
New York, NY
Complete Description

New York Open Center
www.opencenter.org
(212) 219-2527

April 28

Mindfulness, Meditation & Self Healing
Venice, CA

Exhale Center for Sacred Movement
www.sacredmovement.com or www.exhalespa.com

May 25-27

Mind Mood & Happiness
Big Sur, CA

Complete Description

Esalen Institute
(831) 667-3000
info@esalen.org

June 7-8

From Symptom to Solution: Two Day Clinical Training Program in Mind/Body Healing Therapy
Brattleboro, Vermont

Retreat Healthcare
www.retreathealthcare.org
(800)-RETREAT

July 12-14

Module #2 - Mapping the Body-Mind: Contemporary Gestalt-Analytic Approaches
New York, NY

Complete Description

New York Open Center
www.opencenter.org
(212) 219-2527

August/Sept

Mindfulness Meditation & Mind, Mood and Happiness
Asian including Hong Kong, Singapore

Pure Yoga Asia
Dates and Specific Details To Be Announced

Aug. 29 –
Sept. 7

Trainer in Residence: Training, Supervision & Individual Sessions in Gestalt & Mind/Body Healing Therapies
Lismore NSW, Australia

Northern Rivers Gestalt
Therapy Institute
www.gestalt.org.au
admin@gestalt.org.au
(02) 66 213 911

Sept. 8-16

Trainer in Residence: Training, Supervision & Individual Sessions in Gestalt & Mind/Body Healing Therapies
Sydney, Australia

Sydney Gestalt Institute
www.gestaltsydney.com
rhonda@gestaltsydney.com
 

Sept. 21-23

Mind, Mood & Happiness:  Transforming the Self
Bryon Bay, Australia

Northern Rivers
Gestalt Therapy Institute
www.gestalt.org.au
admin@gestalt.org.au
(02) 66 213 911

Oct. 5-7

Mindfulness &
The Self

UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

Life Span Learning
lifespanlearning@aol.com

Oct. 12-15

Mindfulness &
The Self
Santa Fe, NM

NEEI
www.NEEI.org
educate@neei.org

Oct. 26-28

Alchemy of Change
Big Sur, CA

Esalen Institute
(831) 667-3000
info@esalen.org

Nov. 17

Mindfulness and MindBody Healing
Venice, CA

Exhale Center for Sacred Movement
www.sacredmovement.com or www.exhalespa.com

Nov. 29 –
Dec. 1

Clinical Training Program in Mind/Body Healing Therapies
(Module #3)
New York, NY
Complete Description

New York Open Center
www.opencenter.org
(212) 219-2527

 

 


 

 

Workshop and Training Descriptions

 

The Alchemy of Initiation, Transition and Transformation
The workshop is for those seeking to ignite the flame of creative change, of exploring negative patterns and moving forward with your life's calling.
Compete Description

 

The Alchemy of Creativity and Passion
The workshop is a deeper exploration for those seeking to ignite the flame of creative change, through the practice of ‘mindfulness.'
Complete Description

 

The Art of Leadership and Coaching: Communication, Creativity and Vision 
This workshop is for individuals interested in exploring an intensive experiential process to become more effective leaders both in personal and professional life settings.
Complete Description

 


Mind/Body Healing Therapies (Modules 1, 2, 3, 4)
A Clinical Training Program for Professionals

This cutting-edge program provides a rare opportunity for sustained education in somatic psychology. It will continue over a period of one year in four three-day workshops (modules). Each module can be taken standing alone or as part of the whole program, ultimately leading to a certificate in Clinical Training in Mind Body Healing Therapies. This training program is open to all psychologists, psychotherapists and healthcare professionals as well as those individuals involved in education, the healing arts, holistic health, psychology and behavioral medical approaches.
Complete Description 

 

 

Clinical Program for Professionals in Mind/Body Healing:
Integrating Self Psychology, Gestalt and Mind/Body Healing


This week long training didactic program will combine discussions with experiential exercises, supervision and therapist-client dyads and clinical demonstrations.
Compete Description

 

The Core Self: Resources for Healing

This workshop is designed to assist you in accessing the resources of the core self and to provide new skills in the mind/body healing process.
Complete Description

 

Mind, Mood and Happiness: Transforming the Self

Using techniques from modern psychology and Tibetan Buddhism along with non-dual teachings (Advaita-Vedic) participants will be taught to calm the mind, regulate affect states, develop trust with the unconscious and to explore inner resources for activating creativity, vitality and a sense of well-being.
Complete Description




Mind, Mood and Happiness: Meditation and Self-Healing


Learning to observe experience from a place of stillness enables us to relate to life without fear and clinging. We begin to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy with increasing equanimity and balance. Life is seen as a constantly changing process. We live in a period of time where there is constant change, vast pressure and increased stress affecting our health, attitude and sense of well being. This evening lecture will help participants acquire skills to calm the mind and manage mood fluctuation and anxiety.
Complete Description

 

Mindfulness Meditation: Exploring the Self

Using methods from the Buddhist Mindfulness and Non-Dual school of mindfulness practices as well as drawing from the contemporary theory's of self and health psychologies, participants will have the opportunity to directly experience, practice and learn clinical skills for promoting insight, wisdom and knowledge.
Complete Description

 

On Becoming a Group Leader

The focus of this workshop is on becoming a group leader who can create that openness and artfully manage a group in any setting.
Complete Description

 

OpenMind Training: Innovations in Meditation and Mind/Body Healing

This workshop provides instruction in meditation and mind/body healing from both a psychological and spiritual perspective. The focus is on the practice, experience and benefits of meditation and self-healing in daily life.
Complete Description

 

Open Mind Open Heart

Through breathing, meditation, chanting, guided visualisations, trance states and mind/body healing exercises, this workshop activates physiological and psychological energies that lead to direct experience of the powerful states of ‘Big Mind,’ ‘Open Mind’ and ‘Open Heart.’
Complete Description

 

Mindful Zen and The Art of Meditation 

Using techniques from today's self- and health psychologies and Tibetan Buddhist schools as well as the non dual teachings (Advita-Vedic) approach, participants will be shown how to acquire skills to calm the mind, regulate affect states, especially to learn to manage mood fluctuation and anxiety, develop trust with their unconscious and to explore inner resources for activating creativity, vitality and a core sense of well-being in the mind/body process.
Complete Description


Yogi/Counselor/Healer/Coach: A Teacher Training Program for Yoga Teachers and Holistic Practitioners

This workshop is particularly useful for yoga teachers, holistic and all health practitioners, educators, consultant and others who wish to learn to lead, heal, counsel and coach others whether it be on an individual, group or organizational level.
Complete Description

 

Zen and Psychotherapy: New Integrations in Mind/Body Healing

This workshop will combine intensive group work with didactic discussions, supervision of therapist -- client dyads and clinical demonstrations.
Complete Description

 

 


Workshop and Training: Complete Descriptions

 


The Alchemy of Initiation, Transition and Transformation
with co-leader David Van Nuys
Complete Description

"The journey of 10,000 miles begins with one step".  -- Ancient Taoist proverb

All of life's conflicts can be described as a struggle between letting go or holding on, opening to the present or clinging to the past, expansion or contraction. Life's journey is a series of challenges that confront the self with difficult yet highly purposeful choices. The Ego clings to the "familiar" long after the nourishment has run dry. At this point, we face our deepest fears --and truths. Our matriculation through the mystery of life asks that our soul awaken, take courage, and choose a more passionate life.

When we enter into the essence of our true nature and heed its call, we undergo a death/rebirth of the self. We journey into the unconscious to de-structure the Ego and reemerge with a freer self and life path. This encounter with our underworld guides us toward our inner fire for a more creative and soulful way of living in the unknown. Referred to as the Hero's Journey, this is the ancient initiatory process of transition and self-transformation.

This workshop is for those seeking to ignite the flame of creative change. You will have the opportunity to deeply explore your pattern of holding on, of not moving forward with your life's calling. The workshop will use the healing power of the circle, Gestalt Practice, trance work, principles of self and Buddhist psychology, meditation, mind/body healing practices, and deep music to begin the initiation into the sacred rites of passage. This course may be especially useful for those in the helping professions seeking new skills.

CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses

Cost: Tuscany Workshop -- 1100 Euros by June 15 (Early Bird Registration) and 1200 Euros therafter. Additional 70 Euros per night for single room. Registration Info: Contact Rhonda Bryant at info@ronaldalexander.com.

About the co-leader: David Van Nuys is Professor Emeritus (and Past Chair) of Psychology at Sonoma State University, a unique department with an international reputation in humanistic, transpersonal, and existential psychology. He is also an experienced clinician who has led workshops at a number of growth centers in the U.S., including the Esalen Institute. For more information about him you may visit his websites: www.ShrinkRapRadio.com, www.e-FocusGroups.com
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The Alchemy of Creativity and Passion: Mindfulness Meditation & Ericksonian Trance States
Complete Description

All of life’s conflicts can be described as a struggle between letting go or holding on, opening to the present or clinging to the past. Life’s journey is a series of challenges that confront the self with difficult yet highly purposeful choices, that ask our soul to awaken, take courage and choose a more passionate life.

This workshop is for those seeking to ignite the flame of creative change. We will explore our own patterns of holding on, of not moving forward with life’s calling. We will use the healing power of the circle, Gestalt Practice, trance -work, principles of self and Buddhist psychology, meditation, mind/ body healing practices, and music to break free from the past in order to become more conscious and creative in the present.

Our goals are to enhance self-esteem and vitality, access your creative unconscious and develop a cohesive personal vision. The processes can facilitate the healing of pain, fear grief and loss, enabling you to let go and find healthier pathways for living, loving working and creating. You will leave this workshop with a cohesive sense of vision, purpose and insight.

This course may be especially useful for those in the helping professions seeking new skills.

CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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The Art of Leadership and Coaching: Communication, Creativity and Vision
Complete Description


"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities while in the expert's mind there are few". --Suzuki

This workshop is for individuals interested in exploring an intensive experiential process to become more effective leaders both in personal and professional life settings. Designed for entrepreneurs, executives, managers, and others committed to improving their communication and leadership skills, it is especially intended for those open to doing deep personal work to transform the self. The major areas of focus will be: resolving conflict, developing trust with those who feel threatened, addressing blind spots in self-esteem, healing blocks in creativity, and building support for transforming vision into reality.
The workshop includes Gestalt open seatwork, sharing feedback on leadership and communication styles, improving coaching skills, developing the unconscious to creatively solve problems and role-playing exercises for real-life work situations.

This workshop may have up to 35 participants.

Recommended reading: Heider, John, The Tao of Leadership; Bennis, W. On Becoming A Leader; Goss, Tracy, The Last Word on Power; Crum, Tom, The Magic of Conflict: Turning a Life of Work into a Work of Art.

CE credit for MFTs and MSWs
CE credit is available for nurses
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Mind/Body Healing Therapies (Modules 1, 2, 3, 4)_
A Clinical Training Program for Professiona
ls

Complete Description

Recent advances in somatic and integral psychotherapy and neurobiology, and the integration of Eastern wisdom traditions and other mind/body healing therapies into modern psychological practice, have revolutionized current thinking about the resolution of trauma, painful patterns of thought and destructive emotions. A new view is emerging which views symptoms of suffering as the body's wisdom pathways for creating communication between the unconscious and the aware self for promoting somatic re-learning, healing and transformation.

This cutting-edge program provides a rare opportunity for sustained education in somatic psychology. It will be taught by psychotherapist Ronald Alexander, a renowned pioneer in mind/body therapies who leads professional trainings and clinical supervision groups in Gestalt therapy, Ericksonian hypnosis and other integrated modalities throughout the world and is a long-time teacher of meditation and Buddhist psychology.

The training will include direct experience, clinical demonstrations, practicum, theory and the teaching of clinical skills to support practitioners to become more creative and resourceful when treating body symptoms, trauma, pain, and mood and somatic disorders. Skills to help practitioners navigate complex issues, such as transference and counter transference will also be taught. The modalities we will use for developing clinical skills and deepening our own healing process will include: body-centered psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy, relational psychoanalytic approaches, Buddhist psychology, mindfulness-based practices, non-dual meditation and other mind/body healing methods for accessing the somatic "core-self."

We will place special emphasis on the rapid treatment of trauma and psychosomatic disorders with Ericksonian hypnosis and somatic psychotherapy, highly effective techniques that understand the importance of the symptom as a pathway to inner healing. We will learn to use the symptom to access the unconscious and its healing inner resources with hypnotic trance, storytelling and metaphor as well as the use of framing and reframing.

This training program is open to all psychologists, psychotherapists and healthcare professionals as well as those individuals involved in education, the healing arts, holistic health, psychology and behavioral medical approaches. It will continue over a period of one year in four three-day workshops (modules). Each module can be taken standing alone or as part of the whole program, ultimately leading to a certificate in Clinical Training in Mind Body Healing Therapies. The four modules are:


Module #1. The Future of the Body; Ericksonian Hypnosis; Somatic Psychotherapies; The Skillful Intervention
Ericksonian mind-body and somatic therapeutic methods to activate creative unconscious healing; utilizing the symptom to access the unconscious; the body as the vessel of awakened intelligence; using storytelling, healing metaphors, and rapid trance induction for the immediate reorganization of somatic-affective experience.

Note: A recommended reading list will be sent upon registration.

05WP46SI
Thursday-Saturday
March 31-April 2
10am-5pm

Module #2. Mapping the Body-Mind: Contemporary Gestalt-Analytic Approaches
Handling psychotherapeutic resistance (Gestalt awareness work -- the dialogical approach), field theory, attachment issues and the neurobiology of affect, trauma and healing. Developing an integral approach to the therapeutic process; Integral psychotherapy (the work of Ken Wilber); contemporary relational and inter-subjective psychoanalytic approaches; Ron Alexander's microanalysis and the micro-analytic method; contemporary psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy, Buddhist psychology and Ericksonian approaches to mapping the psyche.

Note: A recommended reading list will be sent upon registration.

05WP47SI
Thursday-Saturday
July 7-9
10am-5pm

Module #3. Transforming Emotions: Energy Psychology, Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy, and Somatic Flow States
Developing creative clinical skills for working through trauma, attachment, relational and self disorders; transforming somatic blocks, destructive emotions and painful affects; accessing the creative unconscious; using breath and awareness work; calming the mind; transforming mental/emotional patterns (antidote remedies for working with mental afflictions) and learning to promote optimal states of creativity, wellness and happiness (mindfulness training and the Buddhist/non-dual therapeutic approach).

Note: A recommended reading list will be sent upon registration.

05WP48SI
Thursday-Saturday
December 1-3
10am-5pm

Module #4. Navigating the Therapeutic Relationship: Transference, Counter-Transference, Projective Identification and The Core Self
[Not Active in 2007]
Navigating the complex issues of transference, counter-transference and projective identification in the healing relationship; boundaries and working with the body as a sacred vessel and healing space (a somatic relational perspective); experiencing spontaneity, trust, comfort, aliveness and joy as a core sense of well-being within the somatic core self; accessing the resources found in the somatic core self for the healing of pain, trauma and other forms of suffering; facilitating the creation of healthier pathways for new learning connected to living, loving, working and relating.

Note: A recommended reading list will be sent upon registration.

05WP49SI
Thursday-Saturday
April 20, 21, 22, 2006
10am-5pm

For information and registration:
The New York Open Center
http://www.opencenter.org/
(212) 219-2527
Nonmembers $420/Members $390 for each module
Nonmembers $1,560/Members $1,440 for entire training
Cross reference: BODY-HH-PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS
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Clinical Program for Professionals in Mind/Body Healing:
Integrating Self Psychology, Gestalt and Mind/Body Healing

Complete Description 


This week long training program will combine didactic discussions with experiential exercise, supervision of therapist-client dyads, and clinical demonstrations. Full spectrum treatment cartography will be used to clarify how gestalt, self-psychology and mind-body healing can be effectively integrated to address early developmental trauma, narcissistic issues of the self, and contact boundary disturbances. Emphasis will be on:

  • Improving skills of diagnosis.
  • Formulation of treatment plans that attend to the transition points of the healing process.
  • Improving intervention skills as they relate to handling resistance, the nurturing of the real self, and facilitation and activation of unconscious healing process through the use of mirroring, pacing, and the language of mind-body healing.
  • Particular attention will be paid to assisting therapists to become more aware and effective in dealing with counter transference and projective identification.ffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

Readings: Psychoanalytic Treatment: an Intersubjective Approach by Robert Stolorow, The Analytic Press, N.Y., Milton Erickson and Ernie Rossi, Hypnotherapy Casebook, Erving and Miriam Polster, Gestalt Therapy Integrated, Brunner Mazel.

CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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A Clinical Practicum on Ericksonian Mind-Body Healing Therapies: From Symptom to Solution
Complete Description

"Symptoms are unique forms of communication...." – Milton Erickson, MD

The renowned Milton Erickson viewed psychosomatic symptoms as direct gateways to the healing power of the creative unconscious, and he often used these symptoms to generate positive therapeutic outcomes, especially in unusual and difficult cases. This intensive 3-day course will provide training in Erickson's revolutionary approach as well as in leading-edge somatic therapy skills for the rapid treatment of trauma, pain and other mind/body imbalances. By utilizing these methods for reframing trauma, painful somatic-affective experiences can be transformed into new healing rhythms in the body -- often with dramatic and immediate results.

This workshop for all health professionals, educators, and consultants who want new clinical skills, will provide advanced training in the use of: "pacing and leading" to develop rapport and mirror a patient's natural learning rhythms; naturalistic trance and "double induction" methods; healing metaphors for the transformation of destructive emotions; and "framing, reframing, and de-framing" techniques to dislodge old patterns and core beliefs to "re-educate" the brain-mind. In addition, we will learn advanced methods for trance, "state and gene dependent" learning; "flow-state" healing; positive psychology for promoting peak performance and optimal states of creativity and wellness; Gestalt-Relational process-work; mindfulness meditation and Buddhist psychology.

This workshop will combine theory, practice, direct experience, clinical demonstration, personal growth and professional development. Anyone seeking to develop skills in handling the treatment of emotional or physical trauma or other somatic disorders should benefit from this training.

Recommended reading: Kornfield, J, A Path with Heart; Rossi, E. The Psychobiology of MindBody Healing; Polster, E&M, Gestalt Therapy Integrated; Schutz, W. Profound Simplicity,


CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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The Core Self: Resources for Healing
Complete Description

Within the Core Self reside the resources needed for personal healing: spontaneity, trust, creativity, curiosity, innocence, and joy. These resources are accessible to everyone. This workshop is designed to assist you in accessing the resources of the Core Self and to provide new skills in the mind/body healing process.

The workshop includes: cultivating a friendly relationship with your unconscious; healing body/mind patterns; and resolving in completions from the past in order to become more conscious and creative in the present moment. This process can bring about the healing of pain, fear, grief, and loss, enabling the creation of healthier pathways for living, loving, working, and relating and promoting a core sense of well being.

The goals of this work are enhancement of self-esteem and vitality, accessing your creative unconscious, freedom from limiting beliefs and self-images, more effective communication, self-activation and the development of a cohesive personal vision. The tools will include Gestalt Practice, Self-psychology, Insight meditation, breath and trance work, dream interpretation, music, group process and immersion into possibility.
This workshop is appropriate for anyone, from interested lay people to health professionals.

Recommended reading: Kornfield, J, A Path with Heart; Rossi, E. The Psychobiology of MindBody Healing; Polster, E&M, Gestalt Therapy Integrated; Schutz, W. Profound Simplicity,


CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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Mind, Mood and Happiness: Transforming the Self
Complete Description

People can learn to grow, to change their thinking and behavior in ways that enhance happiness and well-being. Studies in the fields of health psychology and learned optimism confirm this. For 2500 years, the wisdom teachings of the East have utilized what their texts refer to as "skillful methods" for the study and transformation of the mind/body. These meditation and visualization practices help to cultivate self-regulation through awareness, concentration, mindfulness, and other attention skills, leading to clarity of mind, spaciousness of self, and greater compassion.

Using techniques from modern psychology and Tibetan Buddhism along with non-dual teachings (Advaita-Vedic), participants will be taught skills to calm the mind, regulate affect states, develop trust with the unconscious, and to explore inner resources for activating creativity, vitality, and a sense of well being. Methods include:

  • Developing skills for accessing the resources of the core self
     
  • Utilization of the unconscious for activating internal healing resources
     
  • Gestalt Therapy practice and Self Psychology for amplification and release of affect (feeling states) and the process of learning to transform emotions through somatic breathing methods. f
  • Meditation (insight, Tibetan, and non-dual) and psychological skills to deepen concentration, promote insight, and develop presence. ff
  • Exploration of natural mind/body healing rhythms (yogic and somatic breathing methods). 
  • Buddhist psychological methods for dealing with unpleasant or painful 'afflictive' states of mind.
  • The use of Antidote remedies for self-healing.
  • Discussion of mind, self, dissatisfaction, and happiness from both Western Self-psychology and Buddhist psychology perspectives.
  • Practices that promote Metta (loving-kindness), Self Compassion, and inner healing. fffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.

Methods will include meditation, gestalt therapy practice, self-psychology, breathing practices and other mind/body healing methods for transforming emotions.

CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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Mind, Mood and Happiness: Meditation and Self-Healing
Complete Description

Learning to observe experience from a place of stillness enables us to relate to life without fear and clinging. We begin to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy with increasing equanimity and balance. Life is seen as a constantly changing process. We live in a period of time where there is constant change, vast pressure and increased stress affecting our health, attitude and sense of well being. This evening lecture will help participants acquire skills to calm the mind and manage mood fluctuation and anxiety. It is an opportunity to develop trust in your unconscious and explore your inner resources for activating creativity, vitality and a core sense of well-being. No experience of meditation is necessary; advanced practitioners may benefit from the opportunity to broaden and deepen their practice.

Ron Alexander, Ph.D. is the originator of Open Mind Training, a unique method of mind/body healing that integrates the wisdom teachings of the east and western psychology. He is an ordained in the Zen Buddhist lineage, practices and teaches both Tibetan, Zen and Non Dual approaches for consciousness awakening and has studied and taught Buddhist Meditation and Buddhist psychology and other healing disciplines for 35 years, in the United States, Europe and Asia.
CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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Mindfulness Meditation: Exploring the Self
Complete Description

Learning to observe experience from a place of stillness enables one to relate to life without fear and clinging. One begins to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy, and all aspects of life with increasing equanimity and balance. Life is seen as a constantly changing process.

For 2500 years, Buddhist meditation practices have developed what is referred to as 'skillful methods' for study and transformation of the mind/body process. These meditation and visualization practices help to cultivate self-regulation through awareness training-developing concentration, mindfulness and other attention skills. Mindfulness Meditation training is known for promoting clarity of mind, spaciousness of self and compassion, will be explored. Teachings on the practices and principles of Buddhist psychology and their applications for resolving afflictive factors of mind, mood and happiness will be highlighted.

Using methods from the Buddhist Mindfulness and Non-Dual (Advaita) schools of mindfulness practices as well as drawing from the contemporary theory's of self and health psychologies participants will have the opportunity to directly experience, practice and learn clinical skills for promoting insight, wisdom and knowledge. These methods utilize mindfulness, insight, visualization and presence to activate physiological and psychological energies whose merger can produce powerful states of mind to penetrate into the reality of our being and experience a spacious quality of freedom.

People who are described as 'centered,' 'creative' and 'pragmatically optimistic' can generate a vitality and enthusiasm that inspires others to grow and change toward leading creative, productive, healthy and visionary lives.

Day 1. Introduction and overview of Buddhist Schools of mindfulness meditation. Breath control, concentration and absorption training. Qualities of Mind and the Hindrances/Mindfulness practices.

Day 2. Models of the Mind and Self. Contemporary Psychoanalytic and Eastern traditions. A Micro analytic treatment cartography for exploring the Real Self, Core Self, False Self and the Non Self. Mindfulness Meditations for exploring the non-self.

Day 3. Mindfulness Meditations for transforming emotions/learn clinical skills for regulating affect states/ mind/thought and somatic energy patterns. Stream entry and pointing out instructions.

Day 4. The Roots of Buddhist Psychology/ Attention strategies for calming the mind/deepening insight/cultivating the Witnessing Mind/ Mindfulness and practices from the Non dual- (Advaita)

Day 5. Qualities of mind/mood and happiness/ Antidote remedies to manage anxiety, mood fluctuations and other unpleasant afflictive mind states/ transforming unwholesome mental factors into wholesome/explore inner resources for activating creativity, vitality and a core sense of well being in the mind/body process. Practices for deepening wisdom and Samadhi.

Recommended reading: Goldstein and Kornfield, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; Epstein, Mark, Thoughts without a Thinker;. Suzuki, Shunryu, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind; Echart Tolle, The Power Of Now

CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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On Becoming a Group Leader
Complete Description

The archetypal leader is a blend of "transformer" and "meaning translator." The transformer creates a sacred space for exploring Rhythms, moods, flows, and interactions. The meaning translator brings clarity, order, and awareness to the conscious and unconscious processes within the group culture. Effective leadership begins with fostering openness to explore safety, trust, and support.

The focus of this workshop is on becoming a leader who can create that openness and artfully manage a group in any setting. The topics include recovering from challenges and fragmentation; navigating transference; resolving conflict and confrontation; and handling the difficult group member. Participants will learn methods to self-activate, overcome fear and embrace creativity.
Sessions include mini-lectures, open seatwork, and group process using Gestalt Practice, existential therapy, contemporary psychoanalytic perspectives, family systems, mind/body approaches, and group dynamics. As the workshop progresses participants will have the opportunity to lead or co-lead the group under supervision.

This workshop is particularly useful for mental-health practitioners ,organizational consultants, family-owned business entrepreneurs, and others who manage groups.

Recommended reading: Heider, The Tao of Leadership; Yalom, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy; Polster, Gestalt Therapy Integrated; Simkin, Gestalt Therapy Mini-lectures; Bion, Experiences in Groups.

CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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OpenMind Training: Innovations in Meditation and Mind/Body Healing
Complete Description

"Learning to observe experience from a place of stillness enables one to relate to life without fear and clinging. One begins to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy, and all aspects of life with increasing equanimity and balance. Life is seen as a constantly changing process".
-- JACK KORNFIELD, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom

OpenMind Training provides instruction in meditation and mind/body healing from both a psychological and spiritual perspective. The focus is on the practice, experience and benefits of meditation and self-healing in daily life.

Meditation helps to cultivate self-regulation through relaxation and the development of attention skills. Training in mind/body healing facilitates awareness of the inner resources of the Core Self -- trust, comfort, time and curiosity -- for the activation of the healthy and creative aspects of the unconscious mind. This promotes insight, wellness and individuation.

Meditative techniques of the various Buddhists schools, particularly Tibetan and Zen as well as Advaita (Vedic-non dual) will be explored. These methods utilize mindfulness, insight, visualization and presence to activate physiological and psychological energies whose merger can produce powerful states of mind to penetrate into the reality of our being and experience a spacious quality of freedom. Teachings on the practices and principles of Buddhist psychology and their applications for resolving afflictive factors of mind, mood and happiness will be taught.

Participants will also be taught various forms of breathing, chanting, trance states, and mind/body healing exercises. This workshop can help participants acquire skills to calm the mind, regulate affect states, develop trust with the unconscious, and explore inner healing resources. The workshop is designed for anyone from beginning to advance.

Recommended reading: Goldstein and Kornfield, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; Epstein, Mark, Thoughts without a Thinker; Suzuki, Shunryu, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind; Rossi, E. The Psychobiology of Mind-Body Healing; Echardt Tolle, The Power of Now.

CEU'S available for Ph.D, MFT, MSW, and Nurses
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Open Mind Open Heart
Complete Description

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