Voice Dialogue, based on the theory of the Psychology of Selves, is a method by which we contact the many different sub-personalities or “selves” residing in our psyche impacting our lives. It is a highly effective tool that allows psychotherapists to rapidly gain awareness of their clients’ inner selves and guide their journey toward conscious living. The method broadens the practitioner’s skills to enhance decision making abilities in their clients by helping them identify which part of their personality is making the decisions. Insights and behavioral realizations achieved while using this technique are permanent; it is very difficult to regress to a lesser state of awareness. An additional benefit of this tool is that it can be incorporated in any other psychological system. The method of Voice Dialogue was created by the internationally renowned psychologists Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone and practiced around the world.

This course is a practical introduction to Contemplative Dialogue. This practice focuses on ways to improve the awareness of one’s own filters, assumptions and blind spots when engaging in dialogue with others - even during those times of major differences of opinion. With a clearer intention to understand and with more freedom of choice as to how we “show up” and respond, this practice is not about reaching agreement but rather about cultivating a more non- defended presence which results in a deeper, more trusting, and transformative relationship and connection with the client.

Some of the learning topics to be presented are as follows:
• Cultivating Authentic Presence
• Understanding Ladder of Inference
• Freedom and Awareness
• Telling the Truth with Compassion
• Engaging with a Non- Defended Stance
• Active Noticing / Mindfulness

Divorce can be devastating as it can impact every aspect of an individual’s life. Frequently, the client is frustrated because the law doesn’t always take into account what the client perceives as just. Lawyers and therapists have the same goal: to empower the client. This presentation will provide the therapist with legal insights and tools to help the client navigate the divorce process.

Can mental health professionals work with clients that they know from outside of the
job? Can you barter with clients for your services? Mental health professionals are
charged with the legal and ethical responsibility to maintain professional boundaries, but
the obligation isn’t always so easy to discern. This course brings real-world context to
ethical concerns often experienced by professionals in practice in maintaining
appropriate professional boundaries. This course will provide a framework to
contemplate ethical dilemmas and make informed decisions that insulate professionals
from legal liability while protecting clients from harm.
THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NYS REQUIREMENT OF MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO RECEIVE 3 HOURS OF TRAINING ON
MAINTAINING APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES. THIS COURSE IS NOT NEW YORK STATE SPECIFIC, AND CAN SATISFY ETHICS
AND BOUNDARIES TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR ANY STATE.

The Masterclass will enrich your couples therapy skills whether you are a beginner or a season psychotherapist. Day one will present the theoretical body of the method. Day two will dive into the specific skills needed to begin integrating this method in your current methodology. Day three will demonstrate through live examples how the method is utilized in couples work.

Yolanda Koumidou, a 30+ years veteran in working with couples nationally and internationally and trained directly by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone - the creators of the Bonding Patterns approach - will introduce the theory and demonstrate the experiential aspect of this cutting-edge method of working with couples.

The Masterclass will enrich your couples therapy skills whether you are a beginner or a season psychotherapist. Day one will present the theoretical body of the method. Day two will dive into the specific skills needed to begin integrating this method in your current methodology. Day three will demonstrate through live examples how the method is utilized in couples work.

Yolanda Koumidou, a 30+ years veteran in working with couples nationally and internationally and trained directly by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone - the creators of the Bonding Patterns approach - will introduce the theory and demonstrate the experiential aspect of this cutting-edge method of working with couples.

Why is pausing a skill? Pausing is not inherent in our personality, it needs to be learned. Why, and how would this improve one’s life? For the client, learning this skill can enhance their relationships, help avoid fighting, expand their choices, enable decision-making without regrets and enrich self-awareness. For therapists, learning to pause before offering an intervention will improve their listening ability which will lead in understanding the client in a much deeper level. We are wired to live in a default position. This course will reveal how this auto-mode both helps and hinders interactions and one’s self-expansion. It will offer various ways to notice and overcome the challenge of being on autopilot and demonstrate the necessary steps in mastering the skill of pausing.

This course will discuss the value of using the wisdom of the Tao in modern day helping professions. Lao Tzu’s book was written in the fifth century BC. John Heider, in the book ‘The Tao of Leadership’, states this book has three main topics: natural law, or how things happen; how-to live-in accordance with natural law and how to teach or lead people in accordance with natural law.’ Lao Tzu studied nature and natural processes and was able to translate that understanding to wisdom and actions into human processes. We will examine linkages between the Tao and Motivational Interviewing, which was also created through observation of processes.
William Miller initially created Motivational Interviewing while on sabbatical, training a group of Norwegian psychology students. He would do role plays with students and they would stop him and ask about his interventions, e.g. why did you say this at this point? Why didn’t you say this other thing? Their observations of the interactions caused Miller to look for principles beneath the interventions and which interventions were the most efffective. MI was born.
Both MI and Taoism have similar spirits – that which is in us which informs what we do. Depending upon one’s values and beliefs, you can either be kind and compassionate or harsh and judgmental. Our intentions as helpers are pivotal to our ability to help.
Intentions are not enough; oftentimes a helper can be well intended, but not effective. The best helpers have both values and beliefs that make us the most helpful, then skills to translate these helpful values and beliefs into right action.
In this workshop, we will look at both intentions and actions we can take to be most effective as helpers by making connections between both ancient and modern wisdom and techniques that are timeless.

Research has proven and demonstrated the positive affects meditation has in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. In this course we will explore various methods of meditation and demonstrate ways to incorporate them in the psycho therapeutic work with clients.

Voice Dialogue is a method that can help clients become aware of the many different parts of their personality residing in the psyche, how they affect their decision making and how to consciously choose from the strengths and limitations of these various parts. The main goal of this method is the development of a process by which a client can separate from and embrace the many parts of their personality thus expanding their inner landscape of who they are and their choices when making decisions.