Therapeutic Models & Paradigms

These models can be pivotal in your therapy practice. We will work with the individual models, test drive them on ourselves in our work together, and support the implementation into your practice as it makes sense for you.

These classes are for pre-licensed Therapists in Training.

This includes Associates, Practicum students and advanced MA students.

You must schedule an Intake interview to talk about participating if you are new and you must reserve a space! 

  • Where: 870 Market Street, Suite 1211

  • Cost: $25 or Zero $ if you cannot afford

  • See the FAQ’s bottom of this page for more information.

Agency

Saturday 2PM-5PM

December 14, 2024

The authors Avdi and Etelämäki and others posit that agency is:: The clients’ ability to attribute thoughts, feelings, and actions to themselves as well as their capability to take initiative and responsibility for their own actions in everyday life (Avdi, 2005; Etelämäki et al., 2021). In this module we will think together on how to foster agency in our own client populations and also inquire into our levels of agency as therapists.

Image of a clock

Beginnings... Time Management... Endings...

Saturday 10AM-1PM

December 14, 2024

How we start our sessions with clients is a skill and an art. The same goes for managing the time together with clients -expectations, flow, co-regulation, shared responsibility for the space together and then finally how to finish the session where the client is resourced, is grounded and ready to reengage with their daily life.

ID EGO Super- EGO

Monday 6PM-9PM

December 9, 2024

We update this model to integrate Gestalt and Somatic paradigms. From Gestalt the Super-Ego is formed by Introjects and then our Ego attempts to impinge the ID with these outdated, undigested beliefs that make life more miserable than it needs to be. We will work to unburden our clients and ourselves of these unhelpful ways of being and work on the restoration of self by following the ID in a healthy dialogue with the Ego.

Languaging for Therapists

Thursday 6PM-9PM

December 12, 2024

This class will focus on how we language in a session. Being especially cognizant of priming, absolutes, Colombo technique, indirect suggestions, and a whole tool kit to use for effective session work. The words we use have impact. We will practice together how it feels to say something, what it’s impact is, how to repair a misattunement, and model effective communication.

Window of Tolerance-Resilience-Thriving

Saturday 10AM-1PM

December 28, 2024

The Window of Tolerance is a model that was presented by Dan Siegel M.D., it has since undergone more iterations by Pat Ogden Ph.D. & Peter Levine Ph.D. and many others. This class will present the model, and more importantly provide ways to think about expanding the window and practical things you can do everyday to make sure you can thrive in the experience of life. Some of the most important learnings about the model are the management of Exercise, Sleep Hygiene , and nourishment; these three components form the basis for a robust resilient self. We will talk deeper together about how to psycho-educate the client on the importance of having a weather eye on their Window of Tolerance.

Theory of Mind & Meta-Cognition

Saturday 2PM-5PM

December 28, 2024

In psychology, theory of mind refers to the capacity to understand other people by ascribing mental states to them. A theory of mind includes the knowledge that others' beliefs, desires, intentions, emotions, and thoughts may be different from one's own.[1] Possessing a functional theory of mind is considered crucial for success in everyday human social interactions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind

Implementing Interventions

Saturday 10AM-1PM

December 21, 2024

We will look at various models of therapy, including somatic approaches and their implementation in session. Specially- How to contextualize change and the changes in your approach as you work together over time with your client. Clients often train their therapists to “do” therapy based on their experience, what they’ve seen in Social media and cable. Our job is to assist them in their transformative process. Depending on your situation- you often will be following the model of the clinic, supervisor, or therapeutic mandate of the setting. When thinking about your future as a therapist we will look at how it works in practice and it is important to begin now to think and act about how you want to work.

Asking Questions that make a difference

Why is a question that both therapists and clients ask. Why will take you and the client into the mind and most likely story-telling and meaning making; not always helpful. What we know is that asking why may lead to insight it doesn’t often lead to action. Questions like HOW and WHAT are the kind of questions we will practice both in our own process in and in our work with clients. This allows the client to make sense of what is happening and how to be an agent on their own behalf.

Supportive Touch

One of the single most important interventions a therapist can make is physical contact. Many of us have been taught to fear making contact with clients. And yes, there are some therapists who have crossed the boundary. But that is not who you are. You are someone who wants to learn how to effectively make contact that is healing and creates space for the client to get the touch they need from the people in their life.

What we are talking about is as simple as a supportive hand, a hug, a shoulder to cry on. This is an open dialogue about somatic touch and interventions. Boundary, support, psyhco-education, Modeling and Interventions.

How to help your clients Change

& Radical Acceptance

Using the Gestalt model of Change and acceptance we will look at how to articulate this with clients and make it actionable.

The first place look is whether or not we can change the situation we are in. If we can’t change it, then we often find ourselves stuck in resisting the fact that we can’t change it. Finally accepting that it is not changeable and embracing the is-ness of it fully provides the space for something else to occur. Consider it a dynamic of polarities and by allowing the polarities of change and acceptance to exist together in the field something more becomes available. In this class we will inquire into how to verbalize and help our clients through their relationship with change and acceptance.

Somatic Therapy with Gay Men

This class is based on my dissertation work- it is a broad overview on topics to address, methods, and models of therapeutic work with cisgendered Gay Men. A lot of our focus will be on the sexual issues that Gay Men present in therapy and how to navigate those for themselves and prospective partners.

FAQs

  • We will be meeting at:

    870 Market Street, Suite 1211, San Francisco

    Flood Building- Market & Powell- Cable car turnaround.

    Map

  • All of the classes will be live only.

  • There will be no recordings. However some keynote and other materials will be available for the folks who attend the class.

  • We will be in 500 sq foot room, 5 large windows that will be open. Seating is backpacks, some chairs, and pillows. Drinks and some snacks will also be available.

  • Classes are $20-30 sliding fee. If you need support for that please ask. We will use a Square reader to self pay.

  • There is a registration pull down at the top of the menu bar.