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Special Programs

The programs listed below are either part of an ongoing series, formatted unusually, or longer than the standard Esalen workshop.

28-Day Massage Practitioner Certification Training

May 8 - June 5, 2009
Brita Ostrom & Dean Marson

November 15 - December 13, 2009
Perry Holloman & Deborah Anne Medow

Esalen Massage is a unique form of bodywork developed over the past forty years. Known for its long, integrating strokes that create an experience of deep relaxation, the Esalen approach supports the natural ability of body and mind to self-heal.

This training provides a minimum of 150 hours of comprehensive instruction in fundamental massage skills, enabling participants to give a professional full-body massage. Massage study is complemented by daily meditation, yoga, and other movement disciplines, giving participants the experience of aliveness and flowing presence central to Esalen Massage. This process of self-exploration is key to grounding the teaching in embodied experience. In so doing, what might simply be a technique is transformed into a healing art.

Whether your intent is to explore a change of career, deepen your knowledge of bodywork, or to spend time on a journey of self-exploration and transformation, the skills and knowledge gained may last a lifetime.

Please bring your favorite CDs for listening and comfortable clothing for giving massages and practicing movement disciplines.

This is a professional training program with limited admission. Following successful completion of the program, students wising to complete the certification process have six months to document thirty massage sessions. Upon payment of a $100 processing fee, a California state-approved certificate is issued.

Please request an application from the Esalen office (831-667-3005).

• Recommended reading: Jeff Kripal, On the Edge of the Future: Esalen and the Evolution of the American Culture.
• CE credits available for nurses and NCBTMB practitioners.
• Standard accommodations: $4,910.
• Bunk bed rooms: $3,700.
• $10 materials fee paid directly to the leaders.

The Coaches Training Institute

The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) is the largest in-person coach training school in the world. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, CTI offers accredited coach training, comprehensive leadership training, professional coaching certification, and powerful coaching skills for people in any profession. CTI’s Co-Active Coach Training curriculum consists of five courses: Fundamentals, Fulfillment, Balance, Process, and In the Bones. More information at www.the coaches.com.

To register for a CTI course hosted by Esalen, please first contact CTI (registration@thecoaches). com or call 415-451-6000 ext. 701. Only after you have reserved a place in the course through CTI will you be able to reserve your accommodations with Esalen at 831-667-3005. (CTI receives course fees, Esalen receives accommodations fee.)

The Santa Barbara Graduate Institute (SBGI) Embodied Psychotherapy Certificate Program in Relational Somatic Psychology

The Certificate Program gives participants a foundation in the leading-edge field of somatic psychology. It is designed to meet the needs of professionals and practitioners (educators, healthcare professionals, therapists, psychologists) as well as individuals interested in learning an in-depth somatic/psychological perspective. The Santa Barbara Graduate Institute (SBGI) faculty or affiliates teach all courses. An approved application is required. Complete the application on the Internet at www.esalen.sbgi.edu and allow one week for processing and for you and Esalen to be informed of your status.

This Certificate Program is a series of courses inspired by the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute somatic psychology post-graduate academic curriculum. Completion of six courses qualifies one for the Foundational Certificate; completion of nine courses qualifies for the Advanced Certificate.

Each of the segments may be taken individually for a certificate of attendance. The segments are offered every two to four months with the entire program presented in approximately three years. Graduate course credit is also available (see below).

SBGI Relational Somatic Psychotherapy Certificate Program Segments

The following segments may be taken in any order, either as individual courses or as an entire program.

• Body and Self in Relationship: Relational Somatic Psychotherapy The therapeutic relationship is explored in terms of its psychological and somatic dimensions, including the therapeutic impact of sensations, breath, and somatic experience. Faculty: Diana Fosha, Ph.D.
• Essentials for an Embodied Psychotherapy Practice An integrative study and overview of the practice of body-oriented psychotherapy addressing the whole person. Faculty: Gabriele Hoppe MA, Dyrian Benz, Psy.D. & JoAnna Chartrand, PsyD.
• Body and Mind Integration: Utilizing Somatic and Breath Awareness Effectively in Clinical Practice Fundamental skills for the somaticinfused clinical practice, including the use of breath awareness, the potential of touch, and somatic experience. Faculty: Kathy Kain, MA & Dyrian Benz, Psy.D.
• Body and Self in Relationship: Relational Somatic Psychotherapy The therapeutic relationship is explored in terms of its psychological and somatic dimensions, including the therapeutic impact of sensations, breath, and somatic experience. Faculty: Diane Fosha, Ph.D.
• Neuroscience and Relationship: Practical Interpersonal Neurobiology, Attachment Theory, and Psychotherapy Our brains are highly social organisms. Explore how attachment relationships and the early development of the brain are formed and transformed and have massive effects throughout the lifespan. Faculty: Marti Glenn, PhD & Paula Thomson, PsyD.
• Working with Character, Trauma, and Developmental Issues: The Somatic Experience in Psychotherapy Participants will experience how character strategies, trauma, and core beliefs are revealed and transformed through the body. Current Faculty: Larry Heller, Ph.D. & Aline La Pierre, PsyD.
• The Embodiment of Being: Body, Soul, and Presence in Somatic Psychology Recognize the connection between mind-body-being, in order to experience the spiritual dimension of the body in clinical practice. Current Faculty: Dyrian Benz, PsyD. & JoAnna Chartrand.
• Embodiment and Development: Foundations of Presence, Compassion, and Healing: Learn basic embodiment practices and tap into the natural human functions of presence, compassion, and healing and explore the brain/mind-body partnership. Current Faculty: Susan Aposhyan, MA & Dyrian Benz, PsyD.
• Innovative Approaches In Relational Somatic Psychology The study, exploration, and practice of recent developments and applications of relational somatic psychology and psychotherapy. Current Faculty: Christine Caldwell, PhD. or Pat Ogden, PhD.
• Attachment, Attunement, and Adult Sexuality This seminar provides a therapeutic model for emotional intimacy and sexual fulfillment that synthesizes the relevant research and clinical practice for relationship and sexual concerns. Current Faculty: Siegmar Gerkin, PhD. and Cornelia Gerkin.
• Mindful Body-Mind Psychology and Practice Mindfulness in psychotherapy creates scientifically recognized enhancements in our brain physiology, our mental functions, and our interpersonal relationships. Current Faculty: Ron Kurtz, MA & Dyrian Benz, PsyD.
• Practicum in Relational Somatic Psychology Experiential segment practicing somatic psychology with case presentation, practice, and collaborative consultation. Current Faculty: Michael Sieck, PhD & JoAnna Chartrand.
• Embodied Movement and the Group Current faculty: Ruella Frank, PhD.
• Practice of Relational Somatic Psychology A practicum and learning experience in Relational Somatic Psychology focused on skill practice, case consultation, and professional practice topics. Current Faculty: Bill Bowen, MA and Dyrian Benz, PsyD.

Please note: The use of touch is always optional in each of these segments. For a more extensive description of each of the segments see www.sbgi.edu.

SBGI Graduate Ph.D. Course Credit in Relational Somatic Psychology

This program can also be taken as a more scholarly course of study which includes additional reading and writing for students who would like to earn graduate credit toward a doctoral degree program at Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. To use this training as credit toward a Ph.D. degree, students must first apply and be accepted in the Professional Specialty Ph.D. program at SBGI. Information on the Somatic Psychology Foundations Certificate and Ph.D. Professional Specialty Program is available on the SBGI website: www.sbgi.edu. For information or to register, call 805-963-6896 or email dharkin@sbgi.edu.

Please note: An approved application is required; contact Esalen for registration only after your application has been accepted by SBGI.

The Harvard Medical School Continuing Education Series

Esalen has been selected to host Continuing Education courses offered by Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Continuing Education. To reserve a space in any of these courses, you must first register with Harvard Medical School prior to reserving your accommodations at Esalen. Please call 617-384-8600 or visit the Harvard website at www.cme.hms.harvard.edu/courses/spring. Only after you have reserved your place in the course through Harvard will you be able to reserve your accommodations through Esalen at 831-667-3005. (course fees and accommodations are separate). The courses, dates, and instructors offered during this catalog period are:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy: A Clinical Update, 2009 (August 23-28, 2009) Robert Goisman, Ph.D.
• Psychopharmacology and the Health Food Store: The Integration of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Treatments, (October 11-16, 2009) Andrew Stoll, Ph.D.

Harvard Medical School Accreditation

Physicians: Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Harvard Medical School designates the winter and weeklong Esalen seminars for a maximum of 15 and the weekend Esalen seminars for a maximum of 10 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists: The Massachusetts Mental Health Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. All weeklong programs offer 15 credit hours. The weekend seminars offer 10 credit hours. Massachusetts Mental Health Center maintains responsibility for the program.

Counselors: Massachusetts Mental Health Center is approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors to offer continuing education to participants. All weeklong programs meet the criteria for 15 credit hours. The weekend seminars meet the criteria for 10 credit hours.

Social Workers: For information on the status of the application to the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, please call 617-998-5028 or email: infocme@bidmc.harvard.edu.

Nurses: Massachusetts Mental Health Center is approved by the Arizona State Nurses Association to offer continuing education credits to participants. All weeklong programs meet the criteria for 18 contact hours. The weekend seminars meet the criteria for 12 contact hours.