Embodied Self-Awareness

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WELL-BEING & TRAUMA RECOVERY PRACTICES A Three-Day Workshop in Embodied Self-Awareness with Alan Fogel PhD, LMT Friday 10th April - Sunday 12th April 2015 Recent research into the physiological and

1 WELL-BEING & TRAUMA RECOVERY PRACTICES A Three-Day Workshop in Embodied Self-Awareness with Alan Fogel PhD, LMT Friday 10th April - Sunday 12th April 2015 Recent research into the physiological and neurological impact of touch-based therapies has created a surge of interest in the body as an appropriate resource for psychological well-being. The body is now recognized as inextricably linked to our thoughts, emotions, and unconscious selves. When we are first born, before we can speak or use language to express ourselves, we use our physical sensations, our body sense, to guide us toward what makes us feel safe and fulfilled. As we develop into adults, it becomes easy to lose touch with these crucial mind-body communication channels, but they are essential to our ability to navigate social interactions and deal with psychological stress, physical injury, and trauma Alan Fogel, Body Sense (2013).

2 Fogel s extensive research as a developmental psychologist and his clinical practice of a modality developed by Marion Rosen, Rosen Method Bodywork, led to his interest and subsequent research into Embodied Self-Awareness. Embodied Self-Awareness (ESA) is a core concept of the Rosen Method somatic approach to whole-person integration which employs original touch and dialogue techniques to contact the unconscious through the body. The specific qualities that identify Embodied Self-Awareness make it an important tool of value to those working with clients suffering from trauma or prolonged stress. Alan will present neuroscientific research showing conclusively that Embodied Self-Awareness offers an avenue for self healing and reparation that sustains as well as repairs the parts of us damaged or closed down through trauma, stress, difficult experiences and lack of self awareness. Moreover the range of benefits associated with ESA make it attractive to those who wish to explore human potential without having a problem or pain to prompt their curiosity. Such clients value the resource of ESA for enhancing and expanding their emotional and physical wellbeing rather than looking to be fixed. Embodied Self- Awareness also offers benefits that are in some way comparable to mindfulness for the body, acting as a form of preventative healthcare for those who believe that prevention is preferable to cure. Both clients and practitioners experience a quality of ESA different to that tolerated in everyday life. This is because the level of relaxation and awareness in the practitioner needs to be sufficiently authentic to invite the autonomic response in the client. Both are touched by the work. Practitioners who work with ESA report feeling re-energized when working, as both body and intellect are engaged. The practitioner is literally inspired. Different somatic modalities may sound as though they share similar techniques and goals. Yet crucially the experience of each approach is different, again for both client and practitioner. This seminar explains why ESA is so important, both the science and the practice of it.

3 This three-day workshop by Alan Fogel PhD, author of Body Sense: The Science and Practice of Embodied Self-Awareness (2013, Norton) will combine Fogel s own extensive clinical experience (plus the latest neuroscience research and compelling clinical case studies) with experiential exercises from the Rosen Method and group discussion, to enable those who attend to: Practice how to work directly and effectively with the felt experience of pain both physical and emotional rather than trying to simply alleviate or dismiss it. Learn about whole-body processes including how immune, digestive, hormonal and sensorimotor systems respond to the felt and lived experience of the body. Understand the links between embodied self-awareness (or body sense), well-being and interpersonal connection. Explore specific scenarios and clinical cases where enhancing body sense has played a key role in change. Discover an original, integrated model of therapeutic relationship, proven to optimise well-being and trauma recovery.

4 Why is Embodied Self Awareness so important? As trauma and other unresolved life experiences impact our thoughts, judgments, feelings and images of the self our conceptual self-awareness we can become dissociated from present-moment body experience. This creates behaviour and thought patterns that compromise both physical and mental health and well-being. Neuroscientific research shows that thinking about the body is not sufficient to improve health. Rather, directly feeling one s own embodied experience (including emotions and sensations related to the inner state of the body) activates the nervous system to improve regulatory functions (including sleep, weight control, emotion regulation, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems) that then improve health and well-being. When we truly listen to ourselves through Embodied Self-Awareness feeling sensations such as pain and muscle tension and emotions such as fear, sadness and joy in the moment it shifts our whole neurophysiology; we relax and parts of the nervous system are activated that promote regulation and repair throughout the body. Research has shown that through Embodied Self-Awareness we can: Revise and re-programme neural circuits that have developed persistent post-traumatic dysfunction. Significantly boost the effects of medical, pharmacological and psychological treatment, as well as complementary and alternative interventions. Open the way to profound change in our inner and outer lives. In this workshop, you will learn how both therapists and clients can optimize well-being through the development of Embodied Self-Awareness See full workshop content at

5 Day 1 Friday 10th April Exploring the possibilities The Neurophysiology of Embodied Self-Awareness & Health Learn about the neurophysiological links between embodied self-awareness and health. Explore your own possibilities and limitations to being fully present and alive in your body. 10:00 Welcome and introductions 10:30 Lecture: What is Embodied Self-Awareness? What facilitates ESA and what compromises our ability to feel ourselves? How do stress and trauma impact ESA? 11:30 Break/Coffee 11:45 Experiential Exercise: Conceptual vs. Embodied Self-Awareness 12:00 Small Groups: Embodied Self-Awareness in Everyday Life: What brings us closer, or keeps us at a distance, from ourselves? 13:00 Lunch 14:30 Rosen Method Bodywork Introduction and Demonstration 15:45 Break/Coffee 16:00 Lecture: Effects of Embodied Self-Awareness on Health 17:00 Moving with Awareness (Jacqueline Fogel) 17:30 End

6 Day 2 Saturday 11th April Therapeutic encounters via body sense The interpersonal neurobiology Learn how to develop your own body sense as a clinician in order to create a connection with clients, and to support their ability to tolerate bodily sensations and feelings thus helping to break dissociative, distracted or compulsive thinking and behaviour patterns. 10:00 Lecture: Interpersonal Relationships and Embodied Self-Awareness 11:30 Break/Coffee 11:45 Experiential Exercise: Interpersonal Embodied Resonance 12:15 Discussion, Q & A 13:00 Lunch 14:30 Rosen Method Bodywork Demonstration: Using the practitioner s ESA to promote the client s ESA 15:45 Break/Coffee 16:00 Small Groups: Interpersonal Embodied Resonance in Everyday Life 17:00 Moving with Awareness (Jacqueline Fogel) 17:30 End

7 Day 3 Sunday 12th April Identifying best practices in Trauma Recovery Embodied practices that facilitate a return of well-being and renewed resilience for therapists and clients Learn to recognize signs of trauma in yourself and your clients. Understand that trauma is in the nervous system, and not in the event. Thus each person may respond in a different way to the same event. Learn the differences between trauma precipitated by a single event vs. trauma that occurs over a longer period (developmental trauma). 10:00 Lecture Identifying trauma and resilience in self and others 11:30 Break/Coffee 11:45 Small Groups: Am I just stressed or am I in a state of trauma? Learning to pay attention in everyday life to the state of our nervous system and the possibility for resilience 13:00 Lunch 14:30 Case Presentations and Discussion 15:45 Break/Coffee 16:00 Closing Discussion, Q & A 17:00 Moving with Awareness (Jacqueline Fogel) 17:30 End

8 Is it for me? This workshop is for all who work with body or mind in clinical, health or educational settings, and others who wish to learn about practices that have the potential to transform dysfunctional and limiting patterns and beliefs. Alan Fogel, PhD, is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner and Senior Teacher. He is also, a licensed massage therapist. With many research articles and books spanning a period of more than 35 years, he has actively contributed to research on the development of embodied emotional communication. He teaches internationally. Assisted by Jacqueline Fogel, MS, LMT Jacqueline Fogel, MA in Art, MS in Counselling, is an international Rosen Method Movement Teacher, certified NIA instructor and licensed massage therapist. Cost April 10/ April Early-bird price 350 if paid by 10 February 2015 Registration info@rosenmethod.co.uk. Please note places are non-refundable / non-exchangeable. Venue Pax Lodge NW3 5PQ Olave Centre, 12c Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead, London More information

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