Integrating Somatic Techniques in Therapy | A 3-Month Online Training

Starts on September 14, ends on December 14, 2023

11 teachers
A 3-month training
17 workshops
55 hours in total
Live + Recording

experiential activities:

10 Guided Somatic Exploration Sessions
10 Connection Circles
Demo sessions
Q&A sessions

Integrating Somatic Techniques in Therapy

<b>Bringing the body</b> into the therapy process

Bringing the body into the therapy process

Being aware of the importance of bringing the body into the therapy process, you may have asked yourself these questions:

How to effectively introduce somatic techniques into your therapy room (regardless of the modality you use)?
How to invite clients to experience somatic interventions (especially those, who are hesitant to try new things)?
How to effectively use somatic techniques while working online?
How to choose the right somatic tools for specific issues?

We have prepared a 3-month (55 hours) online training with some of the leading minds in the field of somatic therapy to provide detailed answers to these questions.

Training in a nutshell

Here’s “Integrating Somatic Techniques in Therapy” training in a nutshell:

World-class faculty: Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Janina Fisher, Susan McConnell, Deb Dana, Efu Nyaki, Giten Tonkov, Esther Perez, Michael Mithoefer MD, Dr. Vincentia Schroeter, Tamu Thomas, and Elia Mrak.
17 experiential workshops with hands-on learning, demonstrations, Q&A, group work and sharing.
10 Connection Circles meetings for connecting with your fellow students, sharing, and getting support from the training team.
10 Guided Somatic Exploration sessions to move, open up to your body, and create a deep relationship with it.
A carefully curated selection of techniques from leading modalities like Polyvagal Theory, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic IFS, Somatic Experiencing, Breathwork, Psychedelic Psychotherapy, and Bioenergetic Analysis.
A certificate of attendance is provided.

By attending this training, <b>you will:</b>

By attending this training, you will:

Acquire a set of somatic skills and tools, learn how and when to use them, and how to integrate them into a therapy session regardless of your primary therapy modality.
Gain confidence in explaining and introducing somatic work, even to clients who are hesitant and skeptical (along with a list of strategies for dealing with client objections to somatic techniques).
Learn how to safely use somatic techniques both in-person and online.
Experience somatic explorations on your own, allowing you to connect with your body and truly embody the somatic approach to psychotherapy.
Support your clients in recognizing and processing trauma that has been stored in the body.
Connect with like-minded mental health professionals in a safe space for practice, sharing, Q&A, and networking.
Save time researching various somatic tools and be introduced to ones that are known to be effective, useful, and easy to integrate into your practice.

Janina Fisher

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Gabor Mate

Trauma lives in the body

Susan McConnell

Somatic IFS

Giten Tonkov

Breathwork

Efu Nyaki

Somatic Experiencing

Deb Dana

Polyvagal Theory

Esther Perez

Introduction to Somatic Therapy

Vincentia Schroeter

Bioenergetic analysis

Michael Mithoefer

Psychedelic Therapy

Elia Mrak

Guided Somatic Explorations

Tamu Thomas

Introduction to Somatic Therapy

Program Structure

During this 3-month training, we will meet twice each week:

Tuesdays for a 2,5-hour workshop
Thursdays for:
- 30-minute Guided Somatic Exploration session
- followed by a 30-minute Connection Circles

There are a few exceptions to this:

For workshops 1,3,14,16 we will meet on Thursdays,
Also, for workshops 4 and 5 we will meet on Wednesdays.

All Workshops and Guided Somatic Explorations are taking place live and will be recorded.

Workshop 1 / Introduction / Tamu Thomas / September 14
Workshop 2 / Trauma lives in the body / Gabor Maté / September 19
Workshop 3 / Core somatic therapy ideas / Esther Perez / September 21
Workshop 4, 5 / Polyvagal theory / Deb Dana / September 27, October 4
Workshop 6, 7 / Sensorimotor psychotherapy / Janina Fisher / October 10, October 17
Workshop 8, 9 / Somatic IFS / Susan McConnell / October 24 / October 31
Workshop 10, 11 / Somatic Experiencing / Efu Nyaki / November 7, November 14
Workshop 12, 13 / Breathwork / Giten Tonkov / November 21, November 28
Workshop 14 / Bioenergetic analysis / Vincentia Schroeter / November 30
Workshop 15 / Somatic psychedelic integration / Michael Mithoefer / December 5
Workshop 16 / How To Safely Integrate Somatic Techniques in Therapy / Vincentia Schroeter / Dec. 7
Workshop 17 / Next steps and Closing / Teacher TBA / December 12

Guided Somatic Explorations and Connection Circles:
September 28 / October 5 / 12 / 19 / 26 / November 2 / 9 / 16 / 23 / December 14.

Date & time

09:00 PT (Los Angeles)
12:00 ET (New York)
17:00 BST/GMT (London)*
18:00 CEST/CET (Warsaw)*

*Due to the time change in the US, we will start the Workshop on October 31 and Somatic Exploration session on November 2 one hour earlier in Europe.

16:00 GMT (London)*
17:00 CEST/CET (Warsaw)*

Learn core concepts of somatic therapy, gain effective somatic tools, and integrate them into your practice

By signing up for "Integrating Somatic Techniques in Therapy A 3-Month Online Training" you get:

Live access to 17 online workshops led by 11 experienced teachers,
Guided Somatic Exploration sessions every week,
Connection Circles meetings every week - a safe space for a group sharing and Q&A, supported by a Training Assistant,
All-time access to the Workshops and Guided Somatic Explorations recordings – no time limits,
A bonus worth $147 - access to a 12-day „Introduction to Internal Family Systems” course created by Michael Pasterski,
A Certificate of Completion.

987^USD

<b>Skills and tools</b> that will be presented and practiced include:

Skills and tools that will be presented and practiced include:

Working safely with both big “T” and small “t” trauma.
Identifying body memories that the client may not be able to verbalize (and accessing those memories safely).
Gradually introducing (titrating) mindful interventions for a client who may find it too overwhelming to slow down.
Helping clients understand that confusing symptoms are normal and building trust in the therapeutic relationship.
Understanding what a "bottom-up" versus a "top-down" approach is and how they can be integrated.

Developing an understanding of how dissociation can aid in survival.
Recognizing transference and countertransference as they happen somatically.
Explain how trauma affects the brain and the body’s survival responses to stress.
Be able to recognize somatic manifestations of trauma & shock on the body.
Explain the importance of trauma release within the window of tolerance.
Identify different types of trauma and connect them to mental and physiological symptoms.

Helping clients <b>bridge Mind and Body</b>

Helping clients bridge Mind and Body

As a mental health professional, you may understand the importance of incorporating somatic work into therapy sessions. However, it can be challenging to implement new strategies into your practice. Individuals with a history of trauma often stay in their heads and are hesitant to try new things, particularly when it involves connecting with their bodies.

They may have, in fact, actively disconnected from their bodies to avoid distressing emotions and sensations. With proficiency in somatic modalities, the therapist can support clients in developing (or returning to) a trusting relationship with their bodies.

The challenge of using somatic techniques in therapy becomes even greater with the rise of online therapy. When you and your client are physically far away from each other, how can you effectively work with the body? Pioneering developers of somatic modalities have found that not only is it possible to do so, but it is essential to have a somatic lens when doing trauma work, even during online therapy.

Our program synthesizes the core concepts of leading somatic modalities. With so many trauma trainings on offer, we aim to provide a comprehensive curriculum on how our body heals from trauma, and how understanding our nervous system shapes various cutting-edge therapy modalities.

By presenting an array of somatic approaches, we will focus on teaching specific techniques that work best with complex trauma. Our primary focus is on tools that are adaptable to various settings and issues like anxiety disorders, mood disorders, PTSD and cPTSD (amongst others).

Another barrier that prevents mental health professionals from using somatic techniques is the misconception that they need to master an entire modality before including the body in therapy. While it is valuable to master a somatic modality, there is also significant merit in an integrative approach. It is typical for clients to respond differently to various methods, and for somatic methods to be more or less effective at different times. Therefore, an approach that combines multiple techniques is becoming increasingly popular among professionals.

<b>A Comprehensive Curriculum</b> of Somatic Approaches

A Comprehensive Curriculum of Somatic Approaches

This training introduces the basic principles that connect current emerging research from a variety of fields:

The neurobiology of the mind and the brain,
Models that help understand and regulate the autonomic nervous system (Polyvagal theory and the window of tolerance),
Attachment theory,
Developmental trauma (how the body holds non-verbal memory),
Mindfulness.

The program will also emphasize the reasons for using Somatic Therapy, including its history, efficacy, and current research. It will explain why the somatic approach is becoming not only more relevant but also essential in accessing the body for healing trauma and overall wellness.

During each workshop, our teachers will provide practical instruction; including demonstrations, experiential learning, somatic techniques, Q&A, group work, and sharing.

Parts work

This training is parts work informed. It incorporates the understanding that we all have multiple, non-pathologized parts of ourselves. Working with parts is an important aspect of effective trauma healing, and it will be addressed throughout the training. At Life Architect, we promote Internal Family Systems (IFS), a parts work therapy modality developed by Richard Schwartz. Some of our speakers - Janina Fisher and Susan McConnell, among others, are IFS informed or trained and will incorporate the multiplicity paradigm into their teachings.

No prior IFS training or experience is required to participate in this training. However, if you'd like to learn more about IFS before embarking on this journey with us, you will receive free access to our 12-day online course "Introduction to Internal Family Systems" after enrolling. More information is available in the "bonus" section.

If you are already IFS-informed, this training will greatly enhance your ability to work with parts. The chosen modalities and somatic techniques work well with the IFS protocol.

Somatic Approaches to Psychotherapy [LP] 84

Somatic Approaches to Psychotherapy [LP] 85

Somatic Approaches to Psychotherapy [LP] 86

Who is this training for?

This program is intended for mental health practitioners who wish to integrate somatic strategies into their trauma-healing practice.

While it is designed with mental health professionals in mind, other healthcare professionals would also benefit from this program: physicians, nurses, movement therapists, social workers, coaches, yoga therapists, breathworkers, psychedelic therapists, bodyworkers, psychologists, art and music therapists.

How it works

All events are taking place live, on the Zoom platform.
You will receive the link to the Zoom meeting along with the password one day before each session. There will be technical support available.

The Workshops and Guided Somatic Exploration sessions will be recorded. In 5 days after live session, you will receive access to the recording. We won't record Connection Circles meetings.

The recordings will be available in your Life Architect Account, so you can go through them at your own pace. Recordings will be available with no time limits only for those who have enrolled, with no option of purchasing access after the training ends.

Additionally, we will provide access to extensive handouts (ready for printing or using on your laptop or smartphone) to make it easier for you to engage with the theory in the most convenient way for you.

The Life Architect team

Life Architect is a therapist educational organization that is dedicated to helping mental health professionals grow professionally. Our overall mission is to create innovative models of education and therapy that support mental health professionals in coping with emotional problems and unlocking their full potential in their practices.

Our team of therapists, educators, and researchers is committed to advancing the field of therapy and education through ongoing research and the development of new methodologies.

We offer a variety of programs and services specifically designed for mental health professionals, including online and onsite workshops, certified training programs, and retreats.

This was a very enjoyable workshop. So great to meet and interact with others across the globe on the same topic. Workshops had a very good balance between learning and practicing, and the demos were very informative. Felt like everything was well thought out and organized, and very professional.

Mia Sarosi

It was a wonderful, rejuvenating experiential workshop. I've taken tens of trainings over the years, and the key to good trainings is making it experiential so you really take it in and embody it. Really excellent job.

Leah Iskowitz, LCSW

Phenomenal. This workshop far surpassed my expectations (...). The workshop was a perfect blend of content, demo experiences, experiential exercises, and time with other participants (...). Also, Life Architect did an excellent job hosting this workshop - the execution of the 4-part series was flawless.

Dr. Christine E. Kiesinger

I am very pleased with the offerings from Life Architect. Your customer service is wonderful!

Jenn Pagone, LCPC

Since I am already recommending you to friends there is nothing in my eyes that you would need to improve. You are a wonderful team. Thank you for doing this work and making it accessible.

Verena Mezger

I am so grateful that I was able to take this training. Everything was so professionally handled, and the teacher, the assistants, and the staffs were all capable and open-minded. Everything was highly professional. I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot.

Training participant

A sterling educational platform of the highest recommendation. Thorough and overflowing.

Paul Cilia

I really enjoyed every session and loved Mike's wisdom and humor throughout. The Life Architect team was very professional and kept things on track. They were creative and it felt like a community space.

Jenna Murphy

I thought the staff of Life Architect did an excellent job with all of the supporting elements - attending to the Zoom chat, reminder emails with links, as well as adhering to the schedule and starting and ending on time. Thank you!

Workshop praticipant

It was one of the best trainings I have participated in. Keep up the good work. All of your workshops have been excellent!

Alison Dyer

It was excellent in every way. All your workshops are brilliant. I love the way they are put together.

Nicola King

I am so grateful that I was able to take this training. Everything was so professionally handled, and the teacher, the assistants, and the staffs were all so capable and open-minded. Everything was highly professional. I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot.

Training participant

Tisha Shull

Program director

Tisha Shull is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor specializing in treating complex trauma, and anxiety disorders and working with adults healing from past abuse and sexual trauma. She is a Level 3 trained IFS Therapist and has been a Program Assistant for many IFS trainings internationally. She is the Co-founder of IFS Vermont, an organization dedicated to providing training, community and opportunities to share the IFS Model. Tisha is the Co-host of the popular podcast, IFS Talks.

Michael Pasterski

Program director

Michael is a Certified IFS Practitioner from Poland. He is the founder and CEO of Life Architect. He is the originator of this training and a leader of the whole training team. His role is to connect all of the dots to ensure the best possible experience for the participants. Michael is the author of "Insight. Road to Mental Maturity" - a book about the skill of looking into our inner worlds. Over the past 10 years, he published more than 400 articles, which attract the attention of more than one million readers a year.

"We designed the program with the intention of avoiding overwhelming you with information. You will have ample opportunities to experience the presented techniques and begin applying them in your therapy practice."

Up to 7 days after the first workshop, if you are not completely satisfied just let us know about it. We will give you a full refund. You are not required to give any reason. You have nothing to lose!

Connection Circles and Training Assistants

Meet with your fellow students once a week to share, support each other and ask questions to a Training Assistant. Learning and healing experiences are most effective when they take place in a community. To help you feel connected and supported throughout the training, we are creating small groups (5-7 people) that provide a safe space for sharing and Q&A. These groups will meet once a week (Thursdays after the Personal Somatic Exploration) for 30 minutes, with an option to stay longer. Each group will have a designated Training Assistant (there will be one assistant for every 2 or 3 Connection Circles) with training and experience in using somatic modalities for trauma therapy. During these small group meetings, you will have the opportunity to ask your TA questions about both the content/program and organizational issues. Participating in Connection Circles is optional but highly recommended.
Guided somatic explorations

Experience various types of movement in a weekly guided session in order to open up to your body and create a deep relationship with it. This training wouldn't be complete without a space designated solely for movement and exploration of our own bodies. Every Thursday, we will meet for a 30-minute session led by a somatic healer and therapist. During these sessions, the teacher will guide you into a deep connection with your body, using different explorations inspired by modalities presented during workshops, as well as some other types of movement. Please note that these sessions are optional, and each one will be recorded for you to explore at your own convenience (and as many times as you wish).
Q&A sessions

We will create a space for you to ask questions whenever you come up with them. You will be able to ask them during and in between the workshops and we will make sure that they arrive to the right teacher, so they can be answered at the right time throughout the training.
Demo sessions

These are session demonstrations in which the teacher does a live session with a volunteer. It may be a short, role-played session or a whole, longer session. Sometimes teachers show videos of sessions they recorded in the past.

Bonus worth $147

By enrolling for this training you will gain access to a 12-day „Introduction to Internal Family Systems” course created by Michael Pasterski, founder of Life Architect and a Certified IFS Practitioner. IFS is an evidence-based parts work therapy modality developed by dr Richard Schwartz.

As providers of official IFS training we believe in parts work and this lens will underpin the whole training. Previous experience or basic knowledge of IFS is not needed to participate in this 3-month training, but is recommended.

The 12-day course gives a good overview of this model with lots of personal practice for you to experience parts work on yourself. The time investment is around 30 minutes a day for 12 days. You will get access to the bonus course immediately after purchasing our 3-month training. It will be available in your Life Architect Account.

Learn core concepts of somatic therapy, gain effective somatic tools, and integrate them into your practice

By signing up for "Integrating Somatic Techniques in Therapy A 3-Month Online Training" you get:

Live access to 17 online workshops led by 12 experienced teachers,
Guided Somatic Exploration sessions every week,
Connection Circles meetings every week - a safe space for a group sharing and Q&A, supported by a Training Assistant,
All-time access to the Workshops and Guided Somatic Explorations recordings – no time limits,
A bonus worth $147 - access to a 12-day „Introduction to Internal Family Systems” course created by Michael Pasterski,
A Certificate of Completion.

987^USD

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it make sense for me to attend if I have taken your other courses?

If you have participated in our other workshops about Somatic IFS or Polyvagal Theory this training will still be valuable to you. It creates a larger, coherent whole and is focused on practical aspects of these modalities.

Do I have to attend all the live meetings to receive the certificate?

You do not need to be present at all live workshops. You can watch their recordings. After completing the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance from Life Architect (with no extra cost). We are in the process of applying for CEs. If you are interested in receiving CEs, we will let you know if they are available and what conditions are required in order to get them.

Can I pay in installments?

Yes, we will launch this option in early May. It will be possible to divide the regular price USD 987 into two installments. 

Is there a possibility of receiving an invoice?

We will ask you for invoice details before making the payment. Please note that the seller of the workshops is a British company IFS THERAPY LTD, registered for VAT.

$987 for a lifetime access