Professional Development Workshop 2008, Holland, August 26-31

Faculty: June Mc Donach, Susan Kanor, Guy Tonella, Thomas Ehrensperger

In their most basic forms, transference and counter-transference are bodily experiences.

In transference the client unconsciously re-creates his/her parental relationships with the therapist with the hope of having a better experience than he/she had in childhood – one that heals. The client embodies and expresses his/her unconscious fears, love, hate, conflicts, ambivalence and demands of the therapist in what is generally called transference. The therapist's job is to facilitate the client's awareness of the truth in his/her own body and to hold an affirming attitude toward the client's feelings and sexuality. In addition, the therapist is called upon to understand the particular nature of his/her counter-transference reactions based on his/her own history and energetic being.

Main goals and setting

The work will take place in small groups with participants at a similar level of advanced skill and experience in bioenergetics. Three tracks will accommodate participants from advanced trainees to experienced therapists and trainers. Track 1 is for newly graduated CBTs and advanced trainees (4 plus years of training). Track 2 is for advanced CBTs. Track 3 is for supervisors, local trainers and IIBA faculty applicants. Group themes will include advanced considerations about body transference and counter transference, supervision of participants and others case material, teaching theory and practice. The work will be intensively experiential and supervisory nature. There will be an opportunity for those interested in application as IIBA faculty to develop their skill as teachers and to be seen and evaluated by members of the Selection Committee.

Program

The program will include large group sessions presented by the staff of the workshop or from faculty applicant participants.  The topics that will be addressed in the large group are:

·                   theoretical and historical aspects of transference

·                   “subjective” versus “objective” counter-transference

·                   embodiment of life history and therapeutic relationships

·                   neurobiology of resonance (to be confirmed)

In the small groups, topics will be processed through personal experience and exercises focusing on transference/counter-transference issues, with particular attention to:

·                   counter-transference used to understand the client's experience as a child and/or the parent of the child

·                   working with sexual/erotic transference/ counter-transference

·                   transference/counter-transference in supervision and training

·                   intuition and grounding and how to keep the therapist alive.

We are looking forward to welcoming a group of committed, open, dedicated Bioenergetic therapists for five days of hard work, exciting learning, and enriching personal development.

Price and scholarship

Keeping the cost of the PDW as low as possible is a primary concern of the Teaching Committee and the Executive Committee. The Faculty staff contributes to this goal by accepting reduced fees. We have located a retreat center that has reasonable fees and several room options. Scholarship request must be addressed to Violaine De Clerck (violainedc@swing.be).

The center

The conference-center `De Poort` is located on 10 hectare forest and is nearby the beautiful and old city of Nijmegen. To have a look go to: www.depoort.org, The center has different buildings/rooms for accommodating groups. The nature, the peace and the space are all influencing the center, resulting in a nice, spiritually and informal atmosphere were attendees of the PDW can work with passion.

If you like to stay one night before and/or after the workshop, you can register directly by internet on the site website.

The language will be English. We encourage participants from all countries to enroll. We know from past experience that participants can help each other if difficulties with the language occur.

Travel informations

The PDW will start on Tuesday, August, 26 at 2 p.m. and will end on Sunday, August 31 at 2 p.m.

Flight possibilities are:

-                Amsterdam Airport (and then by train to Nijmegen CS (1,5 hr, leaves twice an hour)

-                Airport Niederrhein/Weeze (Germany, for cheap flights of Ryan Air only) and then by bus from the airport directly to Nijmegen CS (about 1 hr)

-                Dusseldorf Airport (Germany) and then by train to Nijmegen with a stop in Arnhem (1,38 hr)

Transportation from Nijmegen CS train and bus station to the workshop place will be organized by the Dutch society.

Prices

A. Fees for the workshop and accommodation (including rooms and board)

Single room    Track 1:   € 765                   Double room      Track 1:   € 717

                     Track 2:   € 865                                           Track 2:   € 817

                     Track 3:   € 965                                           Track 3:   € 917

B. Fees for the workshop including lunch and diner

Track 1: € 540               Track 2: € 640         Track 3: € 740

C. Fees for the workshop including lunch

Track 1: € 450               Track 2: € 550         Track 3: € 650

To register click here: Registration