Focusing is bodily attention, not to mere sensations but to an at first unclear, implicitly complex bodily sense-of a situation, problem, or aspect of life. Therapy deepens immediately with many clients if asked what physical sense comes in the middle of the body in relation to what is being worked on. With half a minute of repeated direct attention, clients can assign a "quality-word," e.g., "heavy," "fluttery," or "tight." Then small steps come to say the crux of the problem. Each brings a slight (later large) "shift" and release, a direct sense of validity, although further steps may again change the whole problem.
Patients come to therapy because they have problems. These problems range from difficulties in working, in social and sexual relationships and in functioning. Symptoms may be depression, anxiety and fear, or a general sense that life has no meaning. In all cases it can be seen that the body is emotionally crippled by chronic muscular tensions which limit the person's energy and decreases his vitality. In this workshop Lowen explains how one recognizes these tensions and how they can be released.
Rossi (1992) demonstrates his approach to mind-body healing while working with a volunteer, Jennifer, who has rheumatoid arthristis in her hands, which have become distorted and painful. Rossi explains that mind-body healing follows a predictable pattern. During the final phase of this approach, Jennifer begins to experience automatic movement in her hands. She exclaims that her hands are moving more freely than they have in the last five years. Rossi attributes the success to "a genuine moment of self-empowerment."
Eugene Gendlin (2000) demonstrates with two volunteers. The first is guided through feelings of tension in her shoulders and shakiness in her stomach. Gendlin conducts a second demonstration. The next volunteer presents the trauma of a hysterectomy due to cancer. Gendlin concludes with an explanation of his method.
IC01 Short Course 12 - The Relationship and Relevance of Dr. Rossi's Mind-Body Work to Other Therapeutic Modalities - Bruce Gregory, PhD
Over the past 20 years Dr. Rossi has innovatively expanded Ericksonian work by demonstrating
its connections to microbiology, chemistry, physics, chaos theory and mathematics. This course
will explore the relationship and relevance of Dr. Rossi's mind-body work to other forms of
psychotherapy. We will learn how mind-body work utilizes and integrates many of the core
processes used in the work of Winnecott, Klein, Jung, Gestalt, Masterson, Kohut and cognitive
therapy.
This workshop will address the rapid treatment of trauma and psychosomatic disorders by utilizing an Ericksonian orientation that understands the importance of the symptom as a pathway to inner healing. The skills needed for the rapid treatment of trauma will be reviewed. The course will highlight Ericksonian methods for the immediate reorganization of transforming somatic-affective experience into new healing rhythms in the body.
Over the past 20 years Dr. Rossi has innovatively expanded Ericksonian work by demonstrating its connections to microbiology, chemistry, physics, chaos theory and mathematics. This course will explore the relationship and relevance of Dr. Rossi's mind- body work to other forms of psychotherapy. We will learn how mind-body work utilizes and integrates many of the core processes used in the work of Winnecott, Klein, Jung, Gestalt, Masterson, Kohut and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Let’s rework and reframe natural life transitions as positive. Disease models have no place in natural processes. Explore these aspects of change on the deepest levels of gene expression and brain plasticity during mind-body communication and healing in psychotherapy. Let’s explore how we can optimize our lives in an age of unprecedented scientific advances.
This workshop explores how the Native American belief system contains ingredients to keep the mind and body in harmony and promote well-being. We will explore adding time-frames, respect and gratitude; the circle of life, and symbols as reminders of the "right" path.