BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY EDUCATION & TRAINING
Professional three year Body Psychotherapy Training Course.
We are an Experiential Learning Centre, situated at Kelvin Grove, Brisbane. Although we are non accredited, we offer a three year practitioner training course. We are affiliated with IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists) and upon successful completion, graduates are able to practice as body psychotherapists/Core Energetic therapists.
Now accepting applications for our new intake in March 2025.
Want to find out more? Email info@instituteofbodypsychotherapy.com
The training is a three year, part time training and there are four x three day workshops per academic year with reading, homework and sometimes, webinars in between. The cost of the training is $4,800 per year (payable in four installments). Additional costs are sixteen (16) individual therapy session per year with a body psychotherapist, required reading book list and ten supervision sessions in year 3. Upon completion of the third year of course work, students have an additional year to complete course material and clinic hours.
Classes are held at: 17a Bishop Street, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane.
The emphasis of the training is on self awareness and personal growth, working with the interplay of the emotional mind and the physical body, trauma resolution, relationships & intimacy and leadership. The course is theoretical, experiential and practical.
Interested?
Call: 0422 883 410 – Enquire Online Today
| Term | Details |
| 1 | 22nd 23rd and 24th March 2025 |
| 2 | 14th 15th and 16th June 2025 |
| 3 | 13th 14th and 15th September 2025 |
| 4 | 22nd 23rd and 24th November 2025 |
Core Energetic topics covered in this Professional training:
(Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, nor are the topics necessarily taught in this order. For more information please request a prospectus)
Energy and Consciousness
An introduction to the Core Energetics model of energy and consciousness and exercises to help students experience charge and discharge, expansion, contraction, flooding, leaking and stasis. Principles of pain and pleasure, including breathing, movement, feelings, grounding, pulsations, life force and energy streaming. Energy centres and the energy field are introduced.
The Personality
An overview of Core Energetic Personality theory including the mask (psuedo personality), lower self (shadow) and higher self (real self, truth, love and gifts) and the qualitative energetic and personality differences of these aspects. An introduction to the model of Core Energetics where mind, body, feelings, will and spirit interact holistically.
Characterology – Schizoid (fragmented) Defence
Understanding the effects of parental hatred or disinterest on a pre-ego, pre-verbal development. Observation and diagnosis of the physical structure of the schizoid defence. Experiential work to fully understand the developmental factors responsible for the schizoid personality. Techniques and approaches for working with these characteristics in the therapy room.
Characterology – Oral (Undercharged) Defence
Understanding abandonment and attachment issues and the resulting neediness or counter-dependence in pre-verbal development. Observation and diagnosis of the physical structure of the oral defence. Experiential work to understand the development factors responsible for orality. Approaches and techniques for working with these characteristics in the therapy room.
Characterology – Psychopathic (Upper Displacement) Defence
Understanding the role of seduction and betrayal in the developmental wound. Observation and diagnosis of the physical structure of the psychopathic defence. Experiential work concerning the development factors responsible for psychopathy. Working with this defence in the therapy session.
Characterology – Masochistic (overcharged) Defence
Understanding enmeshment and autonomy issues. Observation and diagnosis of the physical structure of the masochistic defence. Experiential work to gain understanding on the developmental factors responsible for the masochistic wound. Approaches and techniques for working with these characteristics in the therapy room.
Introduction to Attachment
The introduction of insecure attachment and learning the characteristics of avoidant, anxious ambivalent and disorganised attachment. Experiential work to gain understanding and insight into these traumas, together with some preliminary healing responses.
Characterology – Rigid (Armoured) Defence
Understanding oedipal issues and the resulting split between the heart and the pelvis. Observation and diagnosis of the physical structure of the rigid defence. Experiential work concerning the development factors responsible for rigidity. Approaches for working with this defence in the therapy session.
Working with non-characterological trauma
This module teaches how to settle an unsettled nervous system using soft techiques. Included in this module is understanding the markers that indicate when when a client is outside of their window of tolerance, and responding with appropriate techniques. This module covers non-characterological trauma, such as PTSD and complex PTSD.
Introduction to Segmental armouring.
An orientation to the Body. An explanation of Reich’s seven body segments (ocular, oral, throat, chest, diaphragm, abdomen, and pelvis). An overview of how the different segments are related to specific character defences. Introduction to the techniques used in unblocking frozen energy of the segments.
Clients in Crisis
This module is essentially about suicide prevention. Students learn the difference in presentation to clients who present with chronic versus acute risk. Students will also learn how to recognise suicidal tendencies in clients and the correct steps to keep their clients safe.
Ego functions and their Relationship to the Core.
An in depth exploration of the concept of ego in the Core Energetics model including the body as ego, transforming the ego, principles of self responsibility, the selfish aims of the negative ego, helping the ego to be in the service of the Core and the higher self and ego development and wounding in the different character structures. Emphasis is placed on the little ego and the big ego; the ego as it works for higher good and the ego as it fulfills selfish or unrealistic aims.
Core Energetic Body Readings
Students learn body reading techniques to interpret characterology and devise a treatment plan for clients.
Energy Economy
Core Energetic and Reichian concepts such as grounding, flooding, charging, discharging, flow, resistance and containment are taught. Demonstrations illustrate each energetic concept in relation to the different character structures. Physical techniques are provided for working with different forms of energy. Students work in dyads in order to directly experience the concepts and their uses in Core Energetic therapy.
Breathing, Moving, Feeling
Theories of breathing in CE. Techniques for using breathing to open physical and emotional blocks. Breathing differences among the character structures. Staccato breathing. Relationship of breath to feeling, characterology as a disruption of natural movement patterns. The movements that integrate the body.
Sensing Energy and Soft Techniques
Using touch in therapy. Learning about the use of ethical touch and when it is appropriate and when it is not. Soft techniques and healing techniques for working with the energy of the aura and the physical body. Reading energy as a diagnostic tool, using sensory awareness. Appropriate uses for soft techniques and energy work in the therapeutic relationship. Energetic techniques to aid therapists in relating to their clients.
Anger, Resistance and the Upper Body
Techniques to work with anger and resistance held in the upper body. Core Energetic techniques for the head, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, back and diaphragm. Teachings about the manifestation of anger in different character structures and specific approaches to working with it are demonstrated and experienced by students.
Working with Sexual Blocks
Sexuality is studied in connection to the life force, blockages to that force, and the developmental process as it affects the sexuality of each of the five character structures. The course emphasizes exploration of belief systems developed in childhood, as well as gender and identity issues. Physical techniques for working with the pelvis; techniques for integrating sexual energy in the segments of the body; methods for joining the head, heart and pelvis, and sexual issues in the therapeutic relationship in terms of transference and countertransference are explored.
Applying techniques for Character Structures
An intensive class focusing on using various techniques as they would apply to specific character structures. Further training in techniques with the emphasis on helping students integrate the appropriate technique with the developmental history of the person. Working in dyads helps students assess their knowledge of Core Energetic methods and integrate the teachings of the second year. Hands on experience in the methods and concepts of the Core Energetic model.
Energy Economy and Segmental Armouring 2
In this module we explore some of the foundational aspects of Wilhelm Reich, including terms such as orgastic potency and the orgasm reflex. We will also be continuing on to learn more about segmental armouring (occipital, oral, throat, thoracic, diaphragm, abdomen, pelvis).
Assessment and Diagnosis
This class builds on the knowledge from the first and second years to help the student more expertly diagnose, assess and plan. Focus includes learning about the scope of body psychotherapy and being able to assess when clients are outside of our scope and when to refer to other professionals. Topics of mood disorders and personality orders are introduced.
Releasing and Transforming the Lower Self
Work will concentrate on therapeutic methods to make true contact with the negative aspects of the self including the concepts of denial, destructiveness, cruelty, hate and terror. There will be practise therapy sessions to help therapists in training receive and accept the lower self process of their clients, particularly when the lower self is directed at the therapist.
The Higher Self
The theory of the higher self will be taught together with techniques for accessing the higher self and helping the client meet his/her higher self through lower self release. Experiential work to help students understand and access their own higher self in service of assisting clients to access their higher self, gifts and creativity.
Psychosomatics and Body Psychotherapy
Emphasis is on the interplay of the body, mind and spirit as they relate to illness, disease, injuries and wellness. Exploration of the relationship between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, between the immune system and emotion, and between life energy and physical health.
Confronting & Penetrating the mask through work with transference.
An exploration and teaching of transference as it is displayed by each character structure in terms of mask or pseudo behaviour. Focus will be on working with transference in a therapeutic setting, and learning to confront attitudes of denial, negative intent, vicious circles and destructive patterns as they relate to transferential issues.
Ethics of Practice
In this module students will gain a thorough understanding of professional client – therapist boundaries, obligations and duty of care as a body psychotherapist, and the ethics of using touch in psychotherapy. Students will also gain a thorough understanding of the ethics upheld by the IACE (International Association of Core Energetics).
Starting a Practice
Topics covered in this unit include joining a professional association, obtaining insurance to practice and how to market a practice. It is a practical topic to support students to commence as student therapists in private practice.
Interested?
Call: 0422 883 410 – Enquire Online Today
