About SOSBA’s Bioenergetic Training Program

Bioenergetic Training appeals individuals from many backgrounds…

• Individuals who have an undergraduate or graduate degree in psychology, social work, addictions counselling, pastoral counselling, or a related field.
• Therapists who are interested in training in a holistic, body-centered psychotherapy that includes both a strong theoretical framework and experiential learning.
• Holistic Therapists who would like to advance their careers.
• Holistically minded individuals who want to take their inner exploration and healing processes to even greater depths.

The Training is designed for…

• individuals with training in psychotherapy  The Bioenergetic Training program was originally designed as a post-graduate study program for psychotherapists.
• individuals with no psychotherapy training To meet the needs of students who are not psychotherapists, the Trainer will help the student identify any gaps in knowledge (basic concepts, skills and models) required to practice therapy in Ontario. This missing knowledge will either be incorporated into the regular workshops and/or additional workshops will be made available. The model SOSBA developed is used by other Bioenergetic Societies.
  

SOSBA's training philosophy

SOSBA’s Bioenergetic Training Program combines solid theoretical knowledge and an experiential approach to ensure that the student "gets the feel" of the concepts presented, bioenergetically and developmentally. The workshops move back and forth between solid theoretical models and experience, thus giving the knowledge a solid foundation. The training incorporates learning from the experiences of each other, in a playful, safe, supportive, open-hearted setting.

The Bioenergetic Training Program is a 4 to 5 year program, consisting of 3 sectors.

• 480 hours of workshops
• 150 hours Personal Bioenergetic Therapy
• 50 hours Supervised Bioenergetic Practice

Participants are asked to make a commitment each year to attend the workshops to allow for budget planning and scheduling. Membership in IIBA through a local society is required.

The 480 workshop hours follow the IIBA curriculum and are in 2 sections:

• a Pre Clinical phase (years 1 & 2) where the concepts & techniques are learned and how they influence & support the healing process;
• and a Clinical phase (years 3 & 4) where the emphasis is on how to use these concepts and techniques to create a healing environment

150 hours Personal Bioenergetic Therapy is required to help the trainee therapist know the experience of Bioenergetic work. This helps in accurate pacing and in being able to stay grounded in the presence of raw emotion - like a lightening rod in a thunderstorm.

50 hours Supervised Bioenergetic Practice to solidify the knowledge gained and to integrate the Trainee’s therapeutic skills.

• The Trainee chooses a Certified Bioenergetic Therapist as a Supervisor (not the Trainees’ own therapist).
• 15 hours of the 50-hour total can be Group Supervision where a number of Trainees meet with one Supervisor. This enhances the training by seeing other approaches, concerns, struggles and ideas.
• Supervisor fees are established by SOSBA and are the same for all supervisors.

Certification
SOSBA’s Bioenergetic Training Program is approved by the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis (IIBA) and leads to Certification as a Bioenergetic therapist and is recognized worldwide.

Final Notes

The SOSBA Training Manual ~ At the first training weekend, participants will be given a training manual covering the requirements for: Certification, The Curriculum Outline, Bibliography and detailed information about the local and international Bioenergetic communities that support Bioenergetic training

Bioenergetic Fundamentals: A Self-Exploration Manual ~ Participants will be asked to purchase this work book ($20), to be completed prior to the clinical phase of the training.

For specific content of upcoming workshops click on the sidebar

          • What is Bioenergetic Analysis?

          • Bioenergetic articles

          •  Bioenergetic Training Program

           •  Upcoming Workshops

          •  Certification

          • The Trainers

          •  The Curriculum

          • Find a Bioenergetic Therapist

          •  Testimonials

          •  About SOSBA

          •  SOSBA Code of Ethics

          •  SOSBA Bylaws

          •  Other Bioenergetic Societies

          •  About IIBA

Bioenergetic Analysis, in the words of Alexander Lowen, the founder"

"...integrates work with the body, with the patient’s interpersonal relationships, and with his mental processes; each of which is correlated and interpreted in terms of the others…. Bioenergetic analysis starts with the reality of the body and its basic functions of motility and expression.” (A. Lowen, New York, 1963)