Connecticut Center for Human Growth & Development
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PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS


Introducing Body Centered Psychotherapy:
An Integration of Gestalt Therapy & Bioenergetic Analyses

This Program has been temporarily cancelled

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  • PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY
  • PROGRAM GOALS
  • WHO SHOULD ATTEND
  • FORMAT AND PROGRAM OUTLINE
  • ENROLLMENT INFO








PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

"Lose your mind and come to your senses
                            ........and discover what's possible".
                                                                               - Fritz Perls -
Body-Centered Psychotherapy is based on a philosophy of self- empowerment, responsibility and maturity. A basic insight in Gestalt Philosophy is, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The whole gives meaning to its parts: the parts give meaning to the whole.

In Body Centered Psychotherapy a person is seen as the whole of his body, his self and his mind. The Mind is more than the thinking self; rather, the body and the mind are functionally identical. Understanding this is the key to Body-Centered Psychotherapy. The body tells the story of the mind's conflict with itself, for the body records and remembers the sum of one's life experiences often in spite of what one wills the brain to forget. Learning to read the body means learning to read and understand the story told by the body's posture, the energy in the eyes, the quality and strength of the voice and by patterns of breathing. Understanding body-process and how the body tells it's story then is a way for the body-centered psychotherapist to help the client access and experience emotions and conflicts that are unconsciously stored in the body and are at the root of most psychological issues. By doing so the therapist helps the client to develop a more meaningful and satisfying experience of life.
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Feelings and emotions are spontaneous physical processes, that should be able to flow freely. When we block - or repress - so-called "bad feelings", we disrupt the body-mind system and set the stage for disease, including pronounced physical and psychological symptoms like eating disorders, addictions, violent relationships and chronic depression.

The Two-Year Psychotherapy Training program integrates Gestalt, Bioenergetic Analysis and Object Relations. This approach aims at helping a person to become responsible for his or her growth and development and so come to experience and accept all that makes up the Self. Acceptance leads to emotional growth, the transformation of character and a new sense of autonomy and wholeness.


PROGRAM GOALS:

We will study:
  • The philosophy and theory of Gestalt and Bioenergetic principles
  • Personality development and character structure from a character analytic and object relations point of view
  • transference and counter transference
  • The mind-body connection from a body- centered perspective
  • Disease processes, including alcoholism and other addictions
  • Personality dysfunction and defense styles

We will experience and practice:
  • Bioenergetic Bodywork,
  • Working under direct supervision
  • Experimental work that will guide the participants into a deeper appreciation of the body's energetic process
  • Living a group process
  • Personal growth and self-awareness

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
  • This Training Program will be available to those with a master's degree in a helping profession, i.e.:  Mental Health Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Social Workers,   Psychotherapists, Physicians, Psychologists, Physical Therapists etc.
  • Applicants with comparable experience - Psychiatric-Nurses, Massage Therapists etc. - or who are enrolled in graduate courses in a Mental Health Field related program at an accredited University or College may also be considered.

This program might be particularly useful for:
  • Any psychotherapist who wishes to expand his/her understanding of the therapeutic process.
  • Any substance abuse counselor who wishes to help his/her client to move beyond abstinence.
  • Any health care provider who works with the body-mind connection.
  • Any individual considering psychotherapy as a profession and has sufficient life experience pertaining to the Mental health Field or who is attending graduate level courses in Mental Health.
FORMAT:
The basic Program consists of two courses each spread out over 6 monthly weekend sessions from October to April.  (Please see our Current Events Calendar for exact dates.)
​It is highly recommended to attend both courses consecutively, it is however optional to attend only one of the two courses without committing to the second one.

General Weekend Outline:
FRIDAY 6:30 - 8:30 PM:    THEORY
SATURDAY 9 AM - 4 PM:   INTEGRATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE
SUNDAY 9 AM - 1 PM:       PRACTICING UNDER SUPERVISION

COURSE A: Defense Styles and Character Analyses

Body-centered Psychotherapy focusing on developmental theory from a Bioenergetic and object relations perspective. Click here for a more detailed course outline.

COURSE B: The Process of Body Centered Psychotherapy

Focusing on the process and practice of body centered psychotherapy from a Gestalt Object Relations and Bioenergetic perspective. Click here for a more detailed course outline.

The required reading list include such authors as Alexander Lowen, Alice Miller, Fritz Perls, Wilhelm Reich, Steven Johnson etc. 

For Students, who wish to deepen their learning experience after having completed the courses A & B the ConnCenter offers the ADVANCED CLINICAL TRAINING, consisting of two parallel running courses.

click here for further information:
OPTIONAL ADVANCED CLINICAL TRAINING
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ENROLLMENT INFO FOR THE BASIC TRAINING:

  • TUITION: $1500 per year
  • PLACE: CONNECTICUT CENTER FOR HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
  • CERTIFICATE of COMPLETION: Upon successful completion and attendance of at least 130 training hours over the two year course and submission of the evaluation forms given at the end of each course, a Certificate is given to every Participant who completed the Basic Training Program.
  • A Confirmation of Attendance, stating the number of CE hours attended, is given to any Student who wishes to disenroll before the completion of the Program. Minimum to earn any CE Credits is the attendance of at least one full weekend (12 CE hours)
  • CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS
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MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS:  

The Connecticut Center for Human Growth and Development has been approved by the NBCC as an Approved Cont. Ed. Provider, ACEP # 5664.Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Conn. Center is solely responsible for all aspects of its programs. 


​This Program provides a total of 72 CE hours per training year.


Registration:
  • Contact the Connecticut Center to schedule an Interview (free of charge):     Phone: 860 537 3977 or email: info@conncenter.com
  • Submit curriculum vitae to the Connecticut Center
  • Upon acceptance, after Interview and review of CV, a non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to reserve a place in the  program.
  • For the remaining tuition, an individual payment schedule can be worked out.



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                               "DON'T PUSH THE RIVER......"

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