Bodynamic Foundation Training
Edmonton, Canada
Starting Oct 30, 2024
Childhood development is an amazing and complex process. Along with the normal physical milestones such as sitting, creeping, crawling and walking, the child undergoes several stages of psychological and emotional development – in effect transformation – that is driven primarily by the child’s desire to be in deep Mutual Connection with others and the world around it.
The Seven Developmental Stages are each named for the main emotional theme that is developed in the given time frame. Each stage is also defined by various developmental movements as muscles come under conscious control and are neurally mapped in the brain. Also delineated are various emotional and cognitive capacities which we term ego functions which develop at certain times.
The Seven Developmental Phases
- Existence (2nd trimester → 3 months):
- This stage focuses on the basic imprint of one’s right to exist and the sense of being alive, starting from the womb life to early infancy. Disruptions in this stage can lead to either withdrawal from connection or anxiousness about potential loss of connection. Key themes include sensations, emotions, contact, mirroring, and the distinction between the ‘Me’ and the ‘I’ (Ego).
- Need (1 month → 18 months):
- This stage revolves around the infant’s experience of having their basic needs met in relation to their parents. Disruptions can lead to either a despairing or distrustful attitude about getting needs met. Key themes include establishing rhythms, mirroring, exploring in contact with others, and connecting words with emotions and needs.
- Autonomy (8 months → 2 years, 6 months):
- Here, the child’s curiosity drives them to explore the world, marking their journey towards autonomy. Disruptions can lead to a lack of awareness of one’s impulses or a fear of commitment. Key themes include curiosity, distinguishing emotions, mastering activities, and learning to use the toilet.
- Will (2 → 4 years):
- This stage is about the child’s ability to separate thinking, intentions, and actions, making choices, and putting power into action. Disruptions can result in either acting from a self-sacrificing position or holding back power. Key themes include choice and consequences, managing power, distinguishing between intention and action, and understanding dualities.
- Love/Sexuality (3 → 6 years):
- This stage focuses on the child’s learning to love in a romantic way and integrating heart and sensual feelings. Disruptions can lead to a split between loving and sensual feelings. Key themes include awareness of one’s gender, integration of love and sensuality, and balancing loving, intimate, and sensual emotions in social contexts.
- Opinion (5 → 9 years):
- The child learns to express themselves in words and deals with rules, norms, and culture. Disruptions can lead to difficulty in forming and expressing opinions or having rigid opinions. Key themes include understanding meanings of words, reality testing, forming own opinions, and using arguments.
- Performance/Solidarity (7 → 12 years):
- Children in this stage seek to find their role within groups and the broader culture, often gravitating towards same-sex groups. They experiment with various roles, from leadership to mediation, while also striving to specialize in specific skills or hobbies. Disruptions in adulthood can lead to either a fear of competition or an overwhelming need to stand out in group settings.
Training Details:
The Foundation Training is a one-year introductory program in the Bodynamic System. Throughout this foundational course, you will delve into character structures, character positions, and the fundamental concepts essential for understanding contact and communication as presented by the system. These concepts include mutual connection, dignity, boundaries, centering, and grounding.
The detailed breakdown of the various developmental phases during childhood, paired with central developmental issues and their association with evolving defense mechanisms, offers a framework for comprehending human expression. Through this training, you will sharpen your skills, enabling you to be more present and accurate in your professional endeavors.
What will we cover in this training?
During these 20 days of training, divided into 4 modules, we will present lectures on fundamental psychological and physiological development and how these two are interconnected. This unique combination will provide information about the formation of character and its various defense systems. You will learn how your character affects your body and why your physiological body appears as it does. You will understand the reasons behind your unique preferences and biases, and we will explore what has been helpful to you in those tendencies and what obstacles they can create in your life.
Moreover, you will become acquainted with different Bodynamic techniques that will teach you how to support someone in changing their behavior. These techniques can be applied to people of all ages, including children. Additionally, you will become more skilled in reading the physiological body and interpreting this information in psychological terms by identifying areas of a person’s strength and areas needing more attention. This knowledge will offer new perspectives on how to act and help you determine what would be most beneficial in contact with others. Lastly, you will familiarize yourself with the short version of the Bodyknot, a technique we teach for maintaining dignity and mutual connection in difficult situations with others and oneself. It is a valuable tool for conflict resolution and developing an observing ego.
Why should I take Bodynamic training?
The Bodynamic system has been in existence for 40 years, emphasizing the research and understanding of the body’s connection to psychology and development from its inception. It is among the pioneering schools to holistically integrate the body, brain, and human behavior. This system provides an unparalleled array of tools and techniques to deepen one’s understanding of oneself and others. Uniquely, it is designed to render psychological progress “measurable,” offering a novel degree of practicality for those who utilize this material, whether in their professional or personal lives.
Who is this training for?
- Therapists
- Mental Health Counsellors
- Doctors
- Physiotherapists
- Massage Therapists
- Yoga teachers
- Dance teachers
- Trainers
- Sales people
- Psychiatrists
- Osteopaths
- Naturopaths
- Social workers
- Cranio-sacral specialists
- Pedagogues
- Teachers
- And of course parents!
Foundation Training Outline
4 x 5 Day modules = 20 Days Total
Classes run from 10am – 6pm every day. Lunch break 1pm-2:30pm.
Registration Details:
Cost:
Total cost for the training including GST: $4,500 CAD
Registration:
Contact Arijana Lukic at arijana@bodynamic.comto express your interest in this training. She will be sending you 3 forms, an Intake Form, a Guidelines Form and a Payment Information Form to read and sign. Once these have been completed and returned to her, she will give you the OK to send in your first enrollment payment.
Venue:
Training is in-person only.
Location: Integrity Seminars, 14920 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton, AB T5P 3X8
Instructor Bios:
Wolfgang Brandt
Wolfgang first encountered spirituality, movement arts, and body psychotherapy during his initial career as a banker. Over the past 30 years, these have become his primary areas of interest. In 2000, he qualified as a natural health professional and obtained a state license for psychotherapy (HPG). After dedicating seven years to a clinic specializing in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Wolfgang established his private practice for body psychotherapy in Dresden, Germany. He also served as a trainer for body-oriented psychotherapy.
In addition to his extensive experience in humanistic therapy, Wolfgang has received training in NLP, Qigong, Feldenkrais®, and Somatic Experiencing®. His discovery of Bodynamic in 2012 enabled him to integrate his core interests in a manner previously unattainable. He has been a certified Bodynamic therapist since 2017.
Mar Barroso
Mar Barroso holds a master’s degree in clinical and health psychology, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and another in human resources, complemented by an associate degree in training management. With over 13 years of experience in clinical practice, she is a Bodynamic® educational therapist and a member of the international training team at Bodynamic International® (covering Foundation, Practitioner, and Shock Trauma). She has taught in Portugal, Spain, and Turkey.
Mar is the founder and CEO of SOMATIC – School of Body Psychotherapies (established in 2014). She is the official representative in Portugal for Somatic Experiencing®—where she serves as a Senior Assistant—and represents Bodynamic International® in both Portugal and Spain, boasting over 600 enrolled students. Furthermore, Mar has received training in various areas, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Children’s Shock Trauma with Maggie Klein, Developing Trauma and Somatic Experiencing with Peter Levine, Clinical Case Study with Stephen Porges, and Spirituality and Reorienting Birth with Lisbeth Marcher. She has also assisted as a teacher in Shock Trauma courses with Ditte Marcher.
Currently residing in Portugal, Mar is happily married and the proud mother of two remarkable teenagers. She has a passion for people, nature, and dancing.