Dutch trainings will take place according to RIVM regulations and governmental rules. Specific details will be communicated.

This training will be taught in Dutch

Admission Criteria: Toelaatbaar tot deze training zijn personen met minimaal een HBO - Bachelor diploma op het gebied van psychologie / pedagogiek / therapeutisch werk/ sociale wetenschappen , die werkzaam zijn in de reguliere geestelijke gezondheidszorg. De training is voor HBO geschoolde hulpverleners die werken als therapeut/begeleider. Bij voorkeur is men lid van een professionele organisatie en opgenomen in een bijbehorend beroepsregister. See attachment

Trauma-informed bodywork equips practitioners to better understand the symptoms and issues related to trauma and attachment and to work with clients in a more safe and constructive way. With a neurobiological understanding of the presenting problems of these clients and equipped with resourcing interventions that speak directly to how the issues are driven by the body and the nervous system, students will be able to work with clients with a range of challenges from emotional regulation and stabilization to embodiment and integration.

The Trauma-informed bodywork training presents simple, body-oriented interventions for tracking, naming, and safely stabilizing trauma-related somatic activation, creating new competencies, and restoring a somatic sense of self. Techniques are taught within a phase-oriented treatment approach, focusing on stabilization and symptom reduction. Sensorimotor Trauma-informed bodywork can support easily and effectively psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and EMDR-focused treatments.

Course Structure

The Trauma-informed bodywork training consists of 18 contact hours in a 3-day module.

The module is accompanied by a handout in which the slides that are used in the lecture are printed.

The didactical means are theoretical instructions, video, and live demonstrations as well as practical exercises.

Trauma-informed bodywork Curriculum Topic Overview - themes covered in the Training

Introduction to Trauma and the Body:

1. The importance of the body in trauma and attachment treatment

2. Animal Brain

3. Modulation Model

4. Polyvagal Theory

5. Tracking

6. Psychoeducation

Resourcing skills to reinforce here and now awareness

1. Organization of experience and core organizers

2. Proprioceptive/interoceptive awareness

3. Embedded relational mindfulness

4. Somatic resources for stabilization

Therapist's Somatic Presence and Attunement

1. Foundational theoretical principles

2. The use of mindfulness within the therapeutic alliance

3. Contracting the unconscious: framing

4. The relational field and your own bodily sense

5. Physical countertransference

Introduction to trauma processing: stuck patterns, involuntary movements, and parts

1. Tension in the body, stuck patterns

2. Identifying and stabilizing involuntary responses in the body

3. Complex trauma and awareness of dissociative processes

4. Risk issues

5. The therapeutic use of touch and its pitfalls

6. Restoring empowering actions

Using social engagement and groups for new safe experiences

1. How to address attachment-related issues

2. Interactive regulation

3. Trauma informed bodywork in groups

4. Techniques to restore adaptive, flexible somatic boundaries

5. Panksepp's primal emotions

6. Noticing new, healthy experiences

How to savor new experiences

1. Stitching and unstitching core organisers

2. Transformation

3. Integration

4. Towards integrated action and greater embodiment

Accreditations: based on profession of applicants accreditations will be put in, e.g. at register vaktherapie, registerplein, skj

Netherlands Admission Criteria

- Free Parking

Public Transport or train to Bilthoven Station and OV-fiets to cycle to the venue (15 minutes cycle)