My, how time flies! I hope you are enjoying this magnificent fall weather! In just about 5 months Mark Taylor and I will begin leading our 250 hour intensive training course: Embodied Early Developmental Movement and Attachment Therapy. I have been looking forward to this day for quite some time, and am very excited to jump in.
I wanted to use this blog post as a more personal introduction to the course. I’ll be discussing what students will be learning as well as some of the overall goals for the course.
We designed this intensive training course specifically for psychologists and therapists, movement professionals (yoga, dance, martial arts, OT, PT), educators, and body workers to incorporate developmental movement principles into their work. The goal of the program is to provide practitioners with a deeper understanding of how to use somatic movement in healing practices with your clients. But that’s not all…
The course is specifically taught to be both therapeutic and educational for the participant, providing an incredible opportunity to heal and rejuvenate your own practice by experiencing the principles and techniques of somatic movement and bodywork. Over the course of a little more than two years, we’ll utilize students personal experiences to dive deep and demonstrate effective somatic therapy.
In other words: Get ready to GROW! Personal growth is at the core of somatic healing, making our experiential program incredibly powerful and equally gratifying.
If you’re committed to learning a transformative way of working with yourself, clients and/or children, I implore you to learn more. Personal Growth through experiential learning makes this course truly life changing for professionals and parents alike.
The program is based on the understanding that the origin of a humans development (before and after birth), both physical and relational, occurs through the language of movement and touch. The curriculum of the course will demonstrate a complete psychophysical model to support motor development and to re-pattern behavior and key relationships. It also includes instruction in movement facilitation, touch skills, creative expression, and psychodynamic facilitation.
The 250-hour program consists of seven 5-day modules over the course of two years, with additional hours of practice, observation, and self-reflection. Below, you’ll find a brief description of exactly what to expect from each session:
UNIT ONE: FEBRUARY 21-25, 2019
Topic: Embodiment of the senses and perception with a focus on attachment theory.
In this module, we will learn how to work with the senses and perceptions that underlie patterns that are stuck and/or ingrained and how they can re-pattern behaviors learned pre-verbally. The senses are a key to the psychophysical integration of self-in-relationship. This makes this course particularly exciting for discovering new approaches for transforming seemingly entrenched behaviors.
UNIT TW0: JUNE 20-24, 2019
Topic: Embryological psychology approached through the study of intra-uterine motor development patterns.
A whole world unfolded before we we born! In this module we will explore the subtle and profound connection between movement, development, and consciousness. We will come to understand the early psyche through experiencing the movement patterning of the developing embryo, and study some of the confluence of effects of the family matrix the coming baby is growing inside of.
UNIT THREE: SEPTEMBER 5-9, 2019
Topic: Prenatal psychology approached through the study of primitive reflexes and the development of tone.
We will learn and practice early reflexes, look at how they support particular movement patterns and how they integrate tone in body tissues. Together we will begin our study of how to invite movement and language that gently works to re-pattern of early psychophysical imprints.
UNIT FOUR: FEBRUARY 6-10, 2020
Topic: How to facilitate the development of personal power through understanding the birth experience and the study of vertebral movement patterns.
Birth is comprised of transformational experiences that imprint us for life, both in positive ways or can leave us with present day challenges. Because we all went through a birth experience, consciously revisiting birth movements and mind states (with the groups support) can allow us to have a much stronger understanding of ourselves and others’ preverbal experiences of passage through birth into the gravity field of air, food, and life. It can be a time of magnificent potency that can be reclaimed and re-patterned. We will learn to integrate the somatic, emotional, and cognitive approaches to harvesting healing from our own and others early experiences.
UNIT FIVE: JUNE 11-15, 2020 Topic: How we relate to the world through the Satisfaction Cycle of yield, push, reach, grasp, and pull, and the study of vertebral movement patterns.
We will refine the applications of Attachment Therapy and the role the principles of yield, push, reach, grasp, and pull and the vertebral movement patterns play in bonding and connecting as well as facilitating effective and appropriate relational strategies, defenses and boundaries.
UNIT SIX: SEPTEMBER10-15, 2020 Mapping the embodied anatomy and physiology of the human nervous system to develop skills to support well-being, trauma resolution, and facilitate healing of early developmental trauma.
Part 1: Introduction to mindful and experiential investigation of the neurobiology of early development, the environment, and the relationships that build the foundation for resilience in the face of challenges (working with clients with physical and psycho-physical challenges)
UNIT SEVEN: TBA Charting developmental progress during the first year of life and beyond, incorporating tools for observation and redirection of the individual, child and family. Integrating and developing a personal and professional embodied early developmental movement and attachment-therapy practice
Part 2: Continued applications of mindful and experiential investigation of the neurobiology of early development, the environment, and the relationships that build the foundation for resilience in the face of challenges (working with clients with physical and psycho-physical challenges)
The our Unique Graduation Celebration and Certificate Awards Ceremony from Whole Movement Center & Body-Mind Movement!!!
For educators and practitioners looking for CE credit, you may use the 250 hours of EEDM training as CEU credits. You may use the 250 hours of EEDM training as credits toward completion of the 500-hour Somatic Movement Educator training of the Center for BodyMindMovement. (www.bodymindmovement.com) The certificate enables you to register as a Somatic Movement Educator and/or Therapist with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (www.ismeta.org). The additional BodyMindMovement courses will be offered at Texas State University San Marcos, beginning in October 2018.
I really hope this post has helped you understand exactly what to expect from this incredible experience. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out either by phone or email. I would happy to speak with you about the program.
Margery Segal explore@wholemovementcenter.com
www.wholemovementcenter.com 802-324-1731
