Blake O’Connor

How does the Polyvagal Theory affect our understanding of mindfulness? Blake O'Connor, Education Director of the Polyvagal Institute, interviews Serge Prengel.

Polyvagal-informed mindfulness: Serge Prengel & Blake O’Connor

Elizabeth English

We talk about freeing meditation from pressures and welcoming every aspect of our inner experience.

Elizabeth English: Gentle mindfulness

Antonio Damasio described Nora Arikha as a poet and a painter with the soul of a scientist.

Noga Arikha: The embodied mind

We discuss how we make sense of the world and our place in it, i.e. what is usually called spirituality &amp; philosophy.

A mindful take on spirituality & philosophy

Bruce Gibbs

We explore a concept that is very important to Bruce Gibbs, finding the right distance from our experience.

Bruce Gibbs: Finding the right distance from our experience

Ken Benau

This conversation with Ken Benau serves as an introduction to shame and pride-informed psychotherapy with adult survivors of relational trauma

Ken Benau: Shame, Pride, and Relational Trauma

We share with you what we like about the notion of "inquiry," and to do so by giving you a flavor of what we mean by it.

An experiential inquiry into the nature of inquiry

Lawrence Berger

We start this conversation from the perspective that human beings are self-interpreting animals, and go on to explore what gives us a sense of meaning.

Lawrence Berger: A quest for meaning

Jacqui Lewis

Jacqui Lewis &amp; Serge Prengel talk about bringing a quality of fierce love to our life, as a person and as an agent of change.

Jacqui Lewis: Fierce Love

Jeffery Smith

Jeffery Smith describes a 5-step pathway to go beyond the fragmentation of the different schools of psychotherapy and define how psychotherapy works.

Jeffery Smith: How psychotherapy works

Action-oriented mindfulness in life &amp; in therapy

I just started listening to this podcast and have already saved more episodes than any other I subscribe to. At first I was annoyed by interviewer's voice and style, especially when he interrupts. However, I am beginning to appreciate that perhaps he is trying to slow down his enthusiastic guests and summarize so audience can digest. Sometimes his recaps are more helpful than others, but it does give listener a chance to breathe. I would love to have some guests come back, especially Raja Selvam.

Great interviews

Active Pause

Janina Fisher

Trauma often inculcates fears of body awareness and incapacitating shame that complicate the use of somatic approaches. As Janina Fisher explored how to help such clients with befriending their emotional and body responses to trauma, she began to develop a way of helping them to understand themselves as fragmented and to become more aware of their ‘parts’ or states. With a body perspective and parts language, she found that they could better observe their emotional and somatic experience without the fear that the language of the body evoked.Janina Fisher, Ph.D. is the Assistant Educational Director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, an EMDRIA-approved EMDR Consultant, and a former instructor, Harvard Medical School.  An international expert on the treatment of trauma, she is co-author with Pat Ogden of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Attachment and Trauma (2015) and author of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation (2017) and the forthcoming book, Working with the Neurobiological Legacy of Trauma (in press).  See website.Published February 2019. See other conversation with Janina Fisher.

Trauma often inculcates fears of body awareness and incapacitating shame that complicate the use of somatic approaches. As Janina Fisher explored how to help such clients with befriending their emotional and body responses to trauma, she began to develop a way of helping them to understand themselves as fragmented and to become more aware of their ‘parts’ or states. With a body perspective and parts language, she found that they could better observe their emotional and somatic experience without the fear that the language of the body evoked. Janina Fisher, Ph.D. is the Assistant Educational Director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, an EMDRIA-approved EMDR Consultant, and a former instructor, Harvard Medical School.  An international expert on the treatment of trauma, she is co-author with Pat Ogden of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Attachment and Trauma (2015) and author of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation (2017) and the forthcoming book, Working with the Neurobiological Legacy of Trauma (in press).  See <a href="http://www.janinafisher.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published February 2019. See <a href="https://activepause.com/fisher-janina/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">other conversation with Janina Fisher</a>.

Janina Fisher: Integrating somatic approaches to trauma with ‘parts’ language

Steven Hayes

In this conversation, we talk about Acceptance &amp; Commitment Therapy (ACT) within the broader context of the human condition.Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor in the Behavior Analysis program at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, his career has focused on an analysis of the nature of human language and cognition and their application to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering. He is the developer of Relational Frame Theory, an account of human higher cognition, and has guided its extension to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a popular evidence-based form of psychotherapy that uses mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based methods. Dr. Hayes has been President of Division 25 of the APA, of the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Google Scholar data ranks him among the top ~1,500 most cited scholars in all areas of study, living and dead. See website.Published January 2019.

In this conversation, we talk about Acceptance &amp; Commitment Therapy (ACT) within the broader context of the human condition. Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor in the Behavior Analysis program at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, his career has focused on an analysis of the nature of human language and cognition and their application to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering. He is the developer of Relational Frame Theory, an account of human higher cognition, and has guided its extension to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a popular evidence-based form of psychotherapy that uses mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based methods. Dr. Hayes has been President of Division 25 of the APA, of the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Google Scholar data ranks him among the top ~1,500 most cited scholars in all areas of study, living and dead. See <a href="http://www.stevenchayes.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published January 2019.

Steven Hayes: Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Alaine Duncan

Kathy Kain

Combining Eastern and Western trauma physiology, Alaine Duncan and Kathy Kain introduce a new map for body-oriented clinicians to help restore balance in their clients. Using concepts from Acupuncture and Asian Medicine (AAM) alongside descriptions of the threat response from Western bio-behavioral science, they describe common physical symptoms, emotional presentations, and paths for healing for five survivor “types”. This approach is further developed in their new book, The Tao of Trauma – A Practitioner’s Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Healing.Alaine Duncan is an acupuncturist and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Her clinical curiosity, at the interface of the neuro-biology of traumatic stress and ancient healing principles from acupuncture and Asian medicine, inspired the creation of The Tao Trauma: A Practitioner’s Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Treatment. Her research background includes serving on studies assessing the impact of integrative medicine on compassion fatigue in military caregivers; use of acupuncture for treatment of combat-related traumatic stress, chronic headaches in OIF/OEF veterans with traumatic brain injuries, pain in veterans of all conflicts, and for Gulf War Veterans Illness.  She was founding director of Crossings Healing &amp; Wellness, Silver Spring, MD, a charter member of the Integrative Health &amp; Wellness program at the DC Veterans Administration Medical Center, and is Chair of the National Capitol Area Chapter of Acupuncturists Without Borders, providing free acupuncture for immigrants and refugees.  See website.Kathy Kain, PhD has been practicing and teaching bodywork and trauma recovery skills for over 38 years.  She teaches in the U.S., where she lives, as well as internationally. She is a Senior Faculty member for the SE Trauma Institute, and was a senior trainer for 12 years in the Somatic Psychotherapy training program based in Sydney, Australia, which helped develop her expertise in the integration of touch into the practice of psychotherapy and trauma recovery, as well as in somatic approaches to working with developmental and complex trauma.  Kathy is co-author of these books: Nurturing Resilience – Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma;The Tao of Trauma – A Practitioner’s Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Healing, and Ortho-Bionomy – A Practical Manual. See website.Published  May  2019.

Combining Eastern and Western trauma physiology, Alaine Duncan and Kathy Kain introduce a new map for body-oriented clinicians to help restore balance in their clients. Using concepts from Acupuncture and Asian Medicine (AAM) alongside descriptions of the threat response from Western bio-behavioral science, they describe common physical symptoms, emotional presentations, and paths for healing for five survivor “types”. This approach is further developed in their new book, The Tao of Trauma – A Practitioner’s Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Healing. Alaine Duncan is an acupuncturist and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Her clinical curiosity, at the interface of the neuro-biology of traumatic stress and ancient healing principles from acupuncture and Asian medicine, inspired the creation of The Tao Trauma: A Practitioner’s Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Treatment. Her research background includes serving on studies assessing the impact of integrative medicine on compassion fatigue in military caregivers; use of acupuncture for treatment of combat-related traumatic stress, chronic headaches in OIF/OEF veterans with traumatic brain injuries, pain in veterans of all conflicts, and for Gulf War Veterans Illness.  She was founding director of Crossings Healing &amp; Wellness, Silver Spring, MD, a charter member of the Integrative Health &amp; Wellness program at the DC Veterans Administration Medical Center, and is Chair of the National Capitol Area Chapter of Acupuncturists Without Borders, providing free acupuncture for immigrants and refugees.  See <a href="http://www.integrativehealingworks.net" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Kathy Kain, PhD has been practicing and teaching bodywork and trauma recovery skills for over 38 years.  She teaches in the U.S., where she lives, as well as internationally. She is a Senior Faculty member for the SE Trauma Institute, and was a senior trainer for 12 years in the Somatic Psychotherapy training program based in Sydney, Australia, which helped develop her expertise in the integration of touch into the practice of psychotherapy and trauma recovery, as well as in somatic approaches to working with developmental and complex trauma.  Kathy is co-author of these books: Nurturing Resilience – Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma;The Tao of Trauma – A Practitioner’s Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Healing, and Ortho-Bionomy – A Practical Manual. See <a href="http://www.somaticpractice.net" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published  May  2019.

Alaine Duncan & Kathy Kain: Restoring inner balance

Hilary Bradbury

Bill Torbert

In this conversation, we explore how people deal with power, and the goal of mutuality in relationships. This conversation is available as a video, as well as audio only, and as a printable PDF transcript.Hilary Bradbury is a scholar-practitioner focused on the human and organizational dimensions of creating healthy communities. A professor of organization studies since 1998 (Case Western, USC and OHSU), she is editor-in-chief of the international peer reviewed Action Research Journal (Sage Publications). She was named 2018 Jubilee Professor at Chalmers Institute of Technology, Sweden. Hilary was born and bred in Dublin, Ireland and educated at Trinity College after which she attended the Divinity Schools at Harvard and University of Chicago. Her PhD from Boston College focused on organizational change and transformation toward a more sustainable world. Her latest books include Eros/Power: Love in the Spirit of Inquiry (Integral Publishers, 2016, with Bill Torbert) and Cooking with Action Research (2017, with AR+ Associates). Hilary, who has served as a member of the teaching circle at Zen Center of Portland, brings an eye to integrating Eastern meditation with the work of sustainable social transformation.Having received both his BA and his PhD in Individual and Organizational Behavior from Yale, Bill Torbert served as Director of both the War on Poverty Yale Upward Bound Program and the Theatre of Inquiry. He also taught leadership at Southern Methodist University, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and then, from 1978-2008 at the Carroll Graduate School of Management at Boston College, winning local and national teaching awards. At BC he served as Graduate Dean (the MBA program rising from below the top 100 to #25 during his tenure). He consulted to dozens of companies, not-for-profits, and governmental agencies and has served on numerous Boards. He has also published widely, based in part on the Global Leadership Profile psychometric measure of leadership development, and articulated the Collaborative Developmental Action Inquiry paradigm of social science. In 2014 he received the Chris Argyris Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Management.Published January 2018.

In this conversation, we explore how people deal with power, and the goal of mutuality in relationships. This conversation is available as a video, as well as audio only, and as a <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/transcripts/Bradbury-Torbert-2018-01.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">printable PDF transcript</a>. Hilary Bradbury is a scholar-practitioner focused on the human and organizational dimensions of creating healthy communities. A professor of organization studies since 1998 (Case Western, USC and OHSU), she is editor-in-chief of the international peer reviewed Action Research Journal (Sage Publications). She was named 2018 Jubilee Professor at Chalmers Institute of Technology, Sweden. Hilary was born and bred in Dublin, Ireland and educated at Trinity College after which she attended the Divinity Schools at Harvard and University of Chicago. Her PhD from Boston College focused on organizational change and transformation toward a more sustainable world. Her latest books include Eros/Power: Love in the Spirit of Inquiry (Integral Publishers, 2016, with Bill Torbert) and Cooking with Action Research (2017, with AR+ Associates). Hilary, who has served as a member of the teaching circle at Zen Center of Portland, brings an eye to integrating Eastern meditation with the work of sustainable social transformation. Having received both his BA and his PhD in Individual and Organizational Behavior from Yale, Bill Torbert served as Director of both the War on Poverty Yale Upward Bound Program and the Theatre of Inquiry. He also taught leadership at Southern Methodist University, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and then, from 1978-2008 at the Carroll Graduate School of Management at Boston College, winning local and national teaching awards. At BC he served as Graduate Dean (the MBA program rising from below the top 100 to #25 during his tenure). He consulted to dozens of companies, not-for-profits, and governmental agencies and has served on numerous Boards. He has also published widely, based in part on the Global Leadership Profile psychometric measure of leadership development, and articulated the Collaborative Developmental Action Inquiry paradigm of social science. In 2014 he received the Chris Argyris Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Management. Published January 2018.

Hilary Bradbury & Bill Torbert: Eros/Power

Eva Gold

In this conversation we talk about the convergences of Buddhist psychology/mindfulness with Gestalt therapy as well as how they are different in their emphasis and ultimate aims. This creates the ground for discussing the benefits of an approach that integrates the two—a Buddhist psychology informed Gestalt therapy (BPGT). This conversation is also available in video as a PDF transcript.Eva Gold, PsyD is a psychologist in private practice, founding co-director of Gestalt Therapy Training Center—Northwest in Portland, OR, and senior faculty for the program she developed integrating Buddhist psychology and mindfulness in Gestalt therapy training. Dr. Gold is co-author with Steve Zahm, PhD of the new book Buddhist Psychology and Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Psychotherapy for the 21st Century. She taught Gestalt therapy for fifteen years as an adjunct assistant professor at Pacific University School of Professional Psychology, and has also authored and co-authored a number of articles and book chapters on different aspects of Gestalt therapy theory and practice. A Gestalt therapist for forty years as well as a student of Buddhist psychology and an Insight meditation practitioner for almost twenty, she trains and presents nationally and internationally on the intersection of Buddhist psychology/mindfulness and Gestalt therapy. See her website.See also 3-minute video of Eva Gold talking about her book.Published November 2018.

In this conversation we talk about the convergences of Buddhist psychology/mindfulness with Gestalt therapy as well as how they are different in their emphasis and ultimate aims. This creates the ground for discussing the benefits of an approach that integrates the two—a Buddhist psychology informed Gestalt therapy (BPGT). This conversation is also available in video as a <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/transcripts/Gold-2018-11.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PDF transcript</a>. Eva Gold, PsyD is a psychologist in private practice, founding co-director of Gestalt Therapy Training Center—Northwest in Portland, OR, and senior faculty for the program she developed integrating Buddhist psychology and mindfulness in Gestalt therapy training. Dr. Gold is co-author with Steve Zahm, PhD of the new book Buddhist Psychology and Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Psychotherapy for the 21st Century. She taught Gestalt therapy for fifteen years as an adjunct assistant professor at Pacific University School of Professional Psychology, and has also authored and co-authored a number of articles and book chapters on different aspects of Gestalt therapy theory and practice. A Gestalt therapist for forty years as well as a student of Buddhist psychology and an Insight meditation practitioner for almost twenty, she trains and presents nationally and internationally on the intersection of Buddhist psychology/mindfulness and Gestalt therapy. See her <a href="https://www.gttcnw.org" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. See also 3-minute video of Eva Gold talking about her <a href="https://www.gttcnw.org/our-book/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">book</a>. Published November 2018.

Eva Gold on Buddhist psychology & Gestalt psychotherapy

Deb Dana

This conversation is about using the Polyvagal Theory in clinical practice. Deb Dana talks about how a focus on experientially understanding the role of the autonomic nervous system helps to creatively involve clients in their healing process. Note: See Deb Dana’s talk on the nervous system as a resource for clients.Deb Dana, LCSW, specializes in treating complex traumatic stress and lectures internationally on the ways Polyvagal Theory informs clinical interactions with trauma survivors. She is the Coordinator of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium in the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and the developer of the Rhythm of Regulation clinical training series. She is trained in Internal Family Systems and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and completed the Certificate Program in Traumatic Stress Studies at the Trauma Center. Deb is the author of The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy (Norton, 2018), co-editor with Stephen Porges, of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory (Norton, 2018), and is currently writing Polyvagal Exercises for Therapists and Clients (forthcoming from Norton). To learn more about Deb’s workshops and writing, visit her website.Published July  2019.

This conversation is about using the Polyvagal Theory in clinical practice. Deb Dana talks about how a focus on experientially understanding the role of the autonomic nervous system helps to creatively involve clients in their healing process. Note: See <a href="http://activepause.com/dana/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Deb Dana’s talk on the nervous system</a> as a resource for clients. Deb Dana, LCSW, specializes in treating complex traumatic stress and lectures internationally on the ways Polyvagal Theory informs clinical interactions with trauma survivors. She is the Coordinator of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium in the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and the developer of the Rhythm of Regulation clinical training series. She is trained in Internal Family Systems and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and completed the Certificate Program in Traumatic Stress Studies at the Trauma Center. Deb is the author of The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy (Norton, 2018), co-editor with Stephen Porges, of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory (Norton, 2018), and is currently writing Polyvagal Exercises for Therapists and Clients (forthcoming from Norton). To learn more about Deb’s workshops and writing, visit her <a href="http://rhythmofregulation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published July  2019.

Deb Dana: The Polyvagal Theory in psychotherapy

Rae Johnson

In this conversation, Rae Johnson talks about how the body is implicated in social justice work, and how to engage our bodies in the process of activism. Rae’s approach incorporates key ideas from many social justice theorists and somatic practitioners, and distills them into three key areas: (1) doing your own work, (2) working for others, and (3) working with others. This conversation is available as a video, as well as audio only. There is also a printable PDF handout with additional information on the topic.Rae Johnson, PhD, RSMT is a somatic scholar/practitioner working at the intersection of embodiment studies and social justice. Key themes in her work include the embodied experience of oppression, somatic approaches to research, and the poetic body. Rae is the author of the recently published book Embodied Social Justice and chair of the Somatic Studies in Depth Psychology doctoral program at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Links to Rae’s work can be found on her website.Published January 2018. See  other conversations with are Johnson.

In this conversation, Rae Johnson talks about how the body is implicated in social justice work, and how to engage our bodies in the process of activism. Rae’s approach incorporates key ideas from many social justice theorists and somatic practitioners, and distills them into three key areas: (1) doing your own work, (2) working for others, and (3) working with others. This conversation is available as a video, as well as audio only. There is also a <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/pdf/Johnson-Embodied-Activism-Handout.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">printable PDF handout with additional information on the topic</a>. Rae Johnson, PhD, RSMT is a somatic scholar/practitioner working at the intersection of embodiment studies and social justice. Key themes in her work include the embodied experience of oppression, somatic approaches to research, and the poetic body. Rae is the author of the recently published book Embodied Social Justice and chair of the Somatic Studies in Depth Psychology doctoral program at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Links to Rae’s work can be found on her <a href="http://www.raejohnsonsomatic.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published January 2018. See  <a href="https://activepause.com/tag/Johnson-Rae/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">other conversations with are Johnson</a>.

Rae Johnson on Embodied Activism

Nancy Eichhorn

Nancy Eichhorn talks about the magazine she founded 8 years ago, Somatic Psychotherapy Today.Who is Nancy Eichhorn?“I am a writer, editor, and teacher. Writing has always been my way to be me, to voice my experiences, my perspectives, my dreams, and my desires. Sitting with a blank white page, sensing the expanse before me draws forth creativity, feeds my need to play as possibilities spontaneously arise. One of my greatest joys comes by helping others discover their voice on the page and know they have something of value to say and the right to be heard. As the Founding Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Somatic Psychotherapy Today, I am blessed to write with our contributors and share in their self-discoveries as they express themselves, personally and professionally. Along with teaching writing and editing client work, my resume includes over 5,000 newspaper and magazine articles, and chapters in professional anthologies, including, When Hurt Remains: Relational Perspectives on Therapeutic Failure; About Relational Body Psychotherapy; and The Body in Relationship; Self-Other-Society. “See website. See also PDF with related information. And subscribe to Somatic Psychotherapy Today.Published January 2019.

Nancy Eichhorn talks about the magazine she founded 8 years ago, Somatic Psychotherapy Today. Who is Nancy Eichhorn? “I am a writer, editor, and teacher. Writing has always been my way to be me, to voice my experiences, my perspectives, my dreams, and my desires. Sitting with a blank white page, sensing the expanse before me draws forth creativity, feeds my need to play as possibilities spontaneously arise. One of my greatest joys comes by helping others discover their voice on the page and know they have something of value to say and the right to be heard. As the Founding Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Somatic Psychotherapy Today, I am blessed to write with our contributors and share in their self-discoveries as they express themselves, personally and professionally. Along with teaching writing and editing client work, my resume includes over 5,000 newspaper and magazine articles, and chapters in professional anthologies, including, When Hurt Remains: Relational Perspectives on Therapeutic Failure; About Relational Body Psychotherapy; and The Body in Relationship; Self-Other-Society. “See <a href="https://www.somaticpsychotherapytoday.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>.  See also <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/pdf/Somatic-Psychotherapy-Today.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PDF with related information</a>. And subscribe to <a href="https://www.somaticpsychotherapytoday.com/product/subscription-to-spt/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Somatic Psychotherapy Today</a>. Published January 2019.

Nancy Eichhorn: Somatic Psychotherapy Today

Harville Hendrix

Helen LaKelly Hunt

In this conversation, we talk about the “space between”, i.e. the space of relationship, and how Imago therapy helps clients make sense of it and change their relationship. There is also a partial transcript as a printable PDF.Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D believe that how we interact with each other, in all our contexts—family, workplace, schools, etc.—is the key to our emotional, physical and economic well-being and to the well-being of our children and society. Harville and Helen co-initiated Imago Relationships International as a training institute for couples therapists, Relationships First® as a collaborative mission to change the cultural value system, and Safe Conversations® as an experiment to raise the joy index of a whole city. Their professional partnership has produced 10 books including three NYT best sellers (Getting the Love You Want, Keeping the Love You Find, and Giving the Love that Heals). Their latest book is The Space Between (2017). They are working on a new professional text on Imago theory and therapy. A 30th anniversary edition of Getting the Love You Want will launch in 2018. See their website.Published July 2018.

In this conversation, we talk about the “space between”, i.e. the space of relationship, and how Imago therapy helps clients make sense of it and change their relationship. There is also a partial transcript as a <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/transcripts/Hendrix-Hunt-2018-07.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">printable PDF</a>. Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D believe that how we interact with each other, in all our contexts—family, workplace, schools, etc.—is the key to our emotional, physical and economic well-being and to the well-being of our children and society. Harville and Helen co-initiated Imago Relationships International as a training institute for couples therapists, Relationships First® as a collaborative mission to change the cultural value system, and Safe Conversations® as an experiment to raise the joy index of a whole city. Their professional partnership has produced 10 books including three NYT best sellers (Getting the Love You Want, Keeping the Love You Find, and Giving the Love that Heals). Their latest book is The Space Between (2017). They are working on a new professional text on Imago theory and therapy. A 30th anniversary edition of Getting the Love You Want will launch in 2018. See their <a href="https://harvilleandhelen.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published July 2018.

Harville Hendrix & Helen LaKelly Hunt explore “the space between”

In this conversation, we talk about a blending of disciplines – – specifically, using exercise science to bridge understanding in somatic psychology interventions. The goal is to bring together the science of the physical body with the science of the emotional body to go beyond symptom reduction and reconnect the self and body.Stacy Reuille-Dupont, PhD, LAC, CPFT is a licensed clinical psychologist and addiction counselor. Her current integrated care clinical practice blends her training as an exercise scientist and psychologist to create individualized programs that include exercise, diet, and positive coping skills to address a variety of mental and physical health concerns. Stacy is a graduate of the Hakomi Comprehensive Training Program, trained in EMDR, skilled in Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy methods among others. Stacy has worked in a variety of mental health clinical capacities and integrated care settings over the last 10 years. She is a professional member of The American Psychological Association (APA) and the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP). Stacy has been an Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Certified Personal Trainer for over 20 years and a former group exercise and yoga instructor. See website.Published September 2019.

In this conversation, we talk about a blending of disciplines – – specifically, using exercise science to bridge understanding in somatic psychology interventions. The goal is to bring together the science of the physical body with the science of the emotional body to go beyond symptom reduction and reconnect the self and body. Stacy Reuille-Dupont, PhD, LAC, CPFT is a licensed clinical psychologist and addiction counselor. Her current integrated care clinical practice blends her training as an exercise scientist and psychologist to create individualized programs that include exercise, diet, and positive coping skills to address a variety of mental and physical health concerns. Stacy is a graduate of the Hakomi Comprehensive Training Program, trained in EMDR, skilled in Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy methods among others. Stacy has worked in a variety of mental health clinical capacities and integrated care settings over the last 10 years. She is a professional member of The American Psychological Association (APA) and the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP). Stacy has been an Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Certified Personal Trainer for over 20 years and a former group exercise and yoga instructor. See <a href="http://stacyreuille.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published September 2019.

Stacy Reuille-Dupont: Using Exercise Science to Bridge Understanding in Therapy

Michael Soth

In this conversation, we talk about the therapeutic relationship as a bodymind process between two people who are both wounded and whole. This conversation is available as a video, as well as audio only, and as a printable PDF transcript.Michael Soth is an integral-relational Body Psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, with more than 30 years’ experience of practising and teaching from an integrative perspective. Drawing on concepts, values and ways of working from a broad-spectrum range of psychotherapeutic approaches across both psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions, he is interested in the therapeutic relationship as a bodymind process between two people who are both wounded and whole. He was Training Director at the Chiron Centre for Body Psychotherapy in London for 20 years, until its closure in 2010. He now teaches independently through INTEGRA CPD. He has written numerous articles and several book chapters and is a frequent presenter at conferences. Extracts from his published writing as well as summaries of presentations and hand-outs are available at www.integra-cpd.co.uk, or find him on Facebook and Twitter (INTEGRA_CPD). He is co-editor of the Handbook of Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology, published 2015.Published September 2018.

In this conversation, we talk about the therapeutic relationship as a bodymind process between two people who are both wounded and whole. This conversation is available as a video, as well as audio only, and as a <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/transcripts/Soth-2018-09.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">printable PDF transcript</a>. Michael Soth is an integral-relational Body Psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, with more than 30 years’ experience of practising and teaching from an integrative perspective. Drawing on concepts, values and ways of working from a broad-spectrum range of psychotherapeutic approaches across both psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions, he is interested in the therapeutic relationship as a bodymind process between two people who are both wounded and whole. He was Training Director at the Chiron Centre for Body Psychotherapy in London for 20 years, until its closure in 2010. He now teaches independently through INTEGRA CPD. He has written numerous articles and several book chapters and is a frequent presenter at conferences. Extracts from his published writing as well as summaries of presentations and hand-outs are available at <a href="http://www.integra-cpd.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.integra-cpd.co.uk</a>, or find him on Facebook and Twitter (INTEGRA_CPD). He is co-editor of the Handbook of Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology, published 2015. Published September 2018.

Michael Soth on the therapeutic relationship

Alice Ladas

In this conversation, Alice Ladas describes a workshop focused on identifying coping strategies in a way that respects people’s humanity instead of pathologizing them.While there is no transcript for this talk, there is  a write-up by Alice Ladas on the same topic, as well as the 2 lists mentioned in the talk. See: – Workshop on coping mechanisms, – List of the questions, – List of ways of dealing with anxiety.Alice K. Ladas, Ed. D., is a pioneer for body psychotherapy, educated childbirth, breastfeeding, and sexuality education.  The research she and her husband did (Women and Bioenergetic Analysis)  led to meeting her co-authors on the NY Times best seller The G Spot and Other Discoveries About Human Sexuality. Alice was chair of the research committee of the US Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) for many years. In 2008, the USABP honored Alice by naming its research award The Alice Kahn Ladas Research Award to honor her for her tireless efforts to further research in Somatic Psychotherapy. She is a licensed psychologist in New Mexico.Published November 2018. See also conversation with Alice Ladas about “What Sustains Me”.

In this conversation, Alice Ladas describes a workshop focused on identifying coping strategies in a way that respects people’s humanity instead of pathologizing them. While there is no transcript for this talk, there is  a write-up by Alice Ladas on the same topic, as well as the 2 lists mentioned in the talk. See: – <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/pdf/Ladas-Workshop.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Workshop on coping mechanisms</a>, – <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/pdf/Ladas-Questions.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">List of the questions</a>, – <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/pdf/Ladas-Anxiety.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">List of ways of dealing with anxiety</a>. Alice K. Ladas, Ed. D., is a pioneer for body psychotherapy, educated childbirth, breastfeeding, and sexuality education.  The research she and her husband did (Women and Bioenergetic Analysis)  led to meeting her co-authors on the NY Times best seller The G Spot and Other Discoveries About Human Sexuality. Alice was chair of the research committee of the US Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) for many years. In 2008, the USABP honored Alice by naming its research award The Alice Kahn Ladas Research Award to honor her for her tireless efforts to further research in Somatic Psychotherapy. She is a licensed psychologist in New Mexico. Published November 2018. See also <a href="http://whatsustainsus.com/ladas/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">conversation with Alice Ladas about “What Sustains Me”</a>.

Alice Ladas: Early coping strategies: another kind of addiction

Kathrin Stauffer

This discussion takes place in the context of the current (late 2017 and early 2018) sexual harassment scandals going around many professions. Kathrin Stauffer starts her reflections on these developments by some thoughts about the nature of power and her own relationship with it.Kathrin Stauffer PhD, Body and Integrative Psychotherapist (UKCP), was born and educated in Switzerland. Originally a research biochemist, she retrained at the Chiron Centre for Body Psychotherapy in London. She is the author of the book ‘Anatomy &amp; Physiology for Psychotherapists: Connecting Body &amp; Soul’ (W.W. Norton 2010). She works in private practice in Cambridge, England, as a body psychotherapist, EMDR therapist and supervisor. She is currently the Chair of the EABP Council of National Associations and a Board member of EABP. She has presented workshops on questions of self-confidence in the psychotherapy profession, and also on a panel of women’s issues at the 2016 EABP Congress in Athens, Greece. See website.Published February 2018.

This discussion takes place in the context of the current (late 2017 and early 2018) sexual harassment scandals going around many professions. Kathrin Stauffer starts her reflections on these developments by some thoughts about the nature of power and her own relationship with it. Kathrin Stauffer PhD, Body and Integrative Psychotherapist (UKCP), was born and educated in Switzerland. Originally a research biochemist, she retrained at the Chiron Centre for Body Psychotherapy in London. She is the author of the book ‘Anatomy &amp; Physiology for Psychotherapists: Connecting Body &amp; Soul’ (W.W. Norton 2010). She works in private practice in Cambridge, England, as a body psychotherapist, EMDR therapist and supervisor. She is currently the Chair of the EABP Council of National Associations and a Board member of EABP. She has presented workshops on questions of self-confidence in the psychotherapy profession, and also on a panel of women’s issues at the 2016 EABP Congress in Athens, Greece. See <a href="http://stauffer.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published February 2018.

Kathrin Stauffer reflects on sex & power

Seth Zuiho Segall

In this conversation, we talk about putting mindfulness and Buddhism in context — the contexts in which they evolved, and in which they are currently practiced in the Western world.Seth Zuiho Segall is a Zen priest in the White Plum Asanga and Zen Peacemaker Order lineages. He is a retired clinical psychologist who served for nearly three decades as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine. He is a former Director of Psychology at Waterbury Hospital, and a former President of the New England Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. Seth’s publications include Encountering Buddhism: Western Psychology and Buddhist Teachings (SUNY Press, 2003) as well as articles for Turning Wheel, Tricycle,and the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. He writes a monthly column for Mindfulness Research Monthly, and volunteers as a chaplain associate at White Plains Hospital. Seth’s blog,The Existential Buddhist contains over a hundred essays on Buddhist philosophy, ethics, history, art, meditation, and social engagement. He is currently working on a book on the enlightenment ideal in Western Buddhist modernism.Published June 2019.

In this conversation, we talk about putting mindfulness and Buddhism in context — the contexts in which they evolved, and in which they are currently practiced in the Western world. Seth Zuiho Segall is a Zen priest in the White Plum Asanga and Zen Peacemaker Order lineages. He is a retired clinical psychologist who served for nearly three decades as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine. He is a former Director of Psychology at Waterbury Hospital, and a former President of the New England Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. Seth’s publications include Encountering Buddhism: Western Psychology and Buddhist Teachings (SUNY Press, 2003) as well as articles for Turning Wheel, Tricycle,and the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. He writes a monthly column for Mindfulness Research Monthly, and volunteers as a chaplain associate at White Plains Hospital. Seth’s blog,<a href="http://www.existentialbuddhist.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">The Existential Buddhist</a> contains over a hundred essays on Buddhist philosophy, ethics, history, art, meditation, and social engagement. He is currently working on a book on the enlightenment ideal in Western Buddhist modernism. Published June 2019.

Seth Zuiho Segall: Mindfulness in context

Gregg Henriques

In this conversation, Dr. Gregg Henriques explains the Tree of Knowledge System and describes how it provides a way to think about the universe from an objective scientific view and a personal lifeworld view. It achieves this by dividing the universe into four different planes of existence, Matter, Life, Mind and Culture, and the discussion shows how the Tree of Knowledge allows for seamlessly transitioning back and forth between these two perspectives.Dr. Gregg Henriques is Professor of Graduate Psychology at James Madison University, and core faculty member in the APA-Accredited Combined-Integrated Doctoral Program in Clinical-School Psychology. Dr. Henriques received his Clinical Psychology from the University of Vermont and several years of post-doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania under Aaron T. Beck. Dr. Henriques teaches courses in personality theory, personality assessment, social psychology, and integrative adult psychotherapy. Dr. Henriques’ primary area of scholarly interest is in the development of a new unified theory of psychology, which offers a new scientific humanistic philosophy for the field. Dr. Henriques has published a book (A New Unified Theory of Psychology) and numerous scholarly articles on this work. Dr. Henriques is also a regular blogger on Psychology Today (Theory of Knowledge).Dr. Henriques is a licensed clinical psychologist in Virginia. See his website.Published July 2019.

In this conversation, Dr. Gregg Henriques explains the <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/pdf/Henriques-ToK.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tree of Knowledge</a> System and describes how it provides a way to think about the universe from an objective scientific view and a personal lifeworld view. It achieves this by dividing the universe into four different planes of existence, Matter, Life, Mind and Culture, and the discussion shows how the Tree of Knowledge allows for seamlessly transitioning back and forth between these two perspectives. Dr. Gregg Henriques is Professor of Graduate Psychology at James Madison University, and core faculty member in the APA-Accredited Combined-Integrated Doctoral Program in Clinical-School Psychology. Dr. Henriques received his Clinical Psychology from the University of Vermont and several years of post-doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania under Aaron T. Beck. Dr. Henriques teaches courses in personality theory, personality assessment, social psychology, and integrative adult psychotherapy. Dr. Henriques’ primary area of scholarly interest is in the development of a new unified theory of psychology, which offers a new scientific humanistic philosophy for the field. Dr. Henriques has published a book (A New Unified Theory of Psychology) and numerous scholarly articles on this work. Dr. Henriques is also a regular blogger on Psychology Today (Theory of Knowledge).Dr. Henriques is a licensed clinical psychologist in Virginia. See his <a href="https://www.gregghenriques.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published July 2019.

Gregg Henriques: A framework to integrate objective view & personal view

Terry Marks-Tarlow

Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD, has been a practicing clinician since 1985 and a practicing yogini since 1979. She specializes in deep transformation and issues surrounding creative production and believes that all effective psychotherapy is inherently creative. In this conversation, she and Serge Prengel discuss how the embodied creativity and meditative aspects of everyday life dovetail with the courage to face uncertainty and search for novelty in a fully relational clinical practice.Terry Marks-Tarlow, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Santa Monica, California. She is Adjunct Faculty at Pacifica Graduate School, Teaching Faulty at the Insight Center, Los Angeles, and Visiting Professor at Italian Universita Niccolo Cusano, London. She presents workshops and seminars internationally and nationally on clinical intuition, creativity, play, and nonlinear dynamics. As an Executive Board Member of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, she co-created and curates an annual exhibition of visual and performance arts, “Mirrors of the Mind: The Psychotherapist as Artist.” Dr. Marks-Tarlow has authored and co-edited numerous books, including Play &amp; Creativity in Psychotherapy (2018, Norton), Truly Mindful Coloring (2016, PESI), Awakening Clinical Intuition (2014, Norton), Clinical Intuition in Psychotherapy (2012, Norton), and Psyche’s Veil (2008, Routledge), all of which she illustrated herself. Dr. Marks-Tarlow embodies balance in life between play, imagination, and creativity through her dance, art, yoga, and writing opera librettos. See website.Published March 2019.

Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD, has been a practicing clinician since 1985 and a practicing yogini since 1979. She specializes in deep transformation and issues surrounding creative production and believes that all effective psychotherapy is inherently creative. In this conversation, she and Serge Prengel discuss how the embodied creativity and meditative aspects of everyday life dovetail with the courage to face uncertainty and search for novelty in a fully relational clinical practice. Terry Marks-Tarlow, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Santa Monica, California. She is Adjunct Faculty at Pacifica Graduate School, Teaching Faulty at the Insight Center, Los Angeles, and Visiting Professor at Italian Universita Niccolo Cusano, London. She presents workshops and seminars internationally and nationally on clinical intuition, creativity, play, and nonlinear dynamics. As an Executive Board Member of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, she co-created and curates an annual exhibition of visual and performance arts, “Mirrors of the Mind: The Psychotherapist as Artist.” Dr. Marks-Tarlow has authored and co-edited numerous books, including Play &amp; Creativity in Psychotherapy (2018, Norton), Truly Mindful Coloring (2016, PESI), Awakening Clinical Intuition (2014, Norton), Clinical Intuition in Psychotherapy (2012, Norton), and Psyche’s Veil (2008, Routledge), all of which she illustrated herself. Dr. Marks-Tarlow embodies balance in life between play, imagination, and creativity through her dance, art, yoga, and writing opera librettos. See <a href="https://www.markstarlow.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published March 2019.

Terry Marks-Tarlow: Embodied creativity & the courage to face uncertainty

Andy Fisher

This conversation is a wide-ranging exploration of the new field of ecopsychology. It includes discussions of how the lived body and Buddhist psychology figure in this field, as well as the radical implications of reconnecting our minds to nature.Andy Fisher, PhD, is a major figure in ecopsychology, having tracked and reflected on the development of the field for the last two decades. Author of one of the field’s primary texts, Radical Ecopsychology: Psychology in the Service of Life(2nd Ed.), he is best known for his critical scholarship and holistic vision of the ecopsychological project. Andy keeps up an active schedule of writing and teaching, including a year-long training in ecopsychology that he offers near his home in eastern Ontario, Canada. A psychotherapist in private practice and wilderness rites of passage guide, he also teaches courses in such related topics as Buddhist psychology, elderhood, and dream-work. For more about Andy,  visit his website.Published in March 2019.

This conversation is a wide-ranging exploration of the new field of ecopsychology. It includes discussions of how the lived body and Buddhist psychology figure in this field, as well as the radical implications of reconnecting our minds to nature. Andy Fisher, PhD, is a major figure in ecopsychology, having tracked and reflected on the development of the field for the last two decades. Author of one of the field’s primary texts, Radical Ecopsychology: Psychology in the Service of Life(2nd Ed.), he is best known for his critical scholarship and holistic vision of the ecopsychological project. Andy keeps up an active schedule of writing and teaching, including a year-long training in ecopsychology that he offers near his home in eastern Ontario, Canada. A psychotherapist in private practice and wilderness rites of passage guide, he also teaches courses in such related topics as Buddhist psychology, elderhood, and dream-work. For more about Andy,  visit his <a href="http://www.andyfisher.ca" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. Published in March 2019.

Andy Fisher: Ecopsychology

Susan Rudnick

Susan Rudnick’s comments about the sexual abuse of women by powerful men derive from Karen Horney’s formulation of the Real Self, as she articulated it in Neurosis and Human Growth. Even if we are severely alienated from that Real Self, it is still there, and we do continue to have human need for authentic connection to ourselves and others. The abuse or assault becomes a severely distorted expression of that need. And because the need is never really fulfilled, it becomes an endless hunger that needs to be repeated over and over. Power over another human being becomes a substitute for authentic relationship.This brief conversation (5 minutes) is available as a recording (below) and a printable PDF transcript. The recording, unfortunately, picked up  the background noise, which may be a bit distracting.Susan Rudnick,LCSW is a longtime psychotherapist in private practice in Manhattan. The three disciplines that inform her work are her Psychoananalytic Training  at the Karen Horney Institute, Focusing, and her practice of Zen Buddhism.  She is interested in the interface between spirituality and psychotherapy, and contributed a chapter to  the book Into the Mountain Stream: Psychotherapy and Buddhist Experience.  She is a haiku poet, and is about to complete a long term project of writing a memoir about growing up with her developmentally challenged sister. She serves on the board of the Focusing Institute.Published January 2018. See also conversation about what sustains her.

Susan Rudnick’s comments about the sexual abuse of women by powerful men derive from Karen Horney’s formulation of the Real Self, as she articulated it in Neurosis and Human Growth. Even if we are severely alienated from that Real Self, it is still there, and we do continue to have human need for authentic connection to ourselves and others. The abuse or assault becomes a severely distorted expression of that need. And because the need is never really fulfilled, it becomes an endless hunger that needs to be repeated over and over. Power over another human being becomes a substitute for authentic relationship. This brief conversation (5 minutes) is available as a recording (below) and a <a href="https://activepause.com/zug/transcripts/Rudnick-2018-01.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">printable PDF transcript</a>. The recording, unfortunately, picked up  the background noise, which may be a bit distracting. Susan Rudnick,LCSW is a longtime psychotherapist in private practice in Manhattan. The three disciplines that inform her work are her Psychoananalytic Training  at the Karen Horney Institute, Focusing, and her practice of Zen Buddhism.  She is interested in the interface between spirituality and psychotherapy, and contributed a chapter to  the book Into the Mountain Stream: Psychotherapy and Buddhist Experience.  She is a haiku poet, and is about to complete a long term project of writing a memoir about growing up with her developmentally challenged sister. She serves on the board of the Focusing Institute. Published January 2018. See also conversation about <a href="https://activepause.com/rudnick/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">what sustains her</a>.

Susan Rudnick about sexual abuse, the need for connection & power

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!

Best Episodes on Science, Humans & The World

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!