We offer the following courses with 3, 6 ,12, 18 and 36 Contact Hours:

All courses are presented by Yolanda Koumidou-Vlesmas, LCSW unless otherwise stated.
Yolanda conducts the courses in a captivating, down-to-earth, light, and inviting style.

Most of the courses are offered in the comfort of your home on the zoom platform.
A few are offered in-person during the summer and fall at The Koumidou Retreat Center, upstate New York.

Courses at offsite facilities: All course work listed is also available on a flexible basis offered at your organization or facility by special
arrangement. If you would like us to travel to your area for a presentation, please contact The Koumidou Center here

For a program calendar of the courses taught throughout the year, click below
Yearly Program Calendar
To register for a course, click below:
Register for a Course
Testimonials

Course Descriptions

 

36 Hour Training in the Method of Voice Dialogue

36 CONTACT HOURS, IN-PERSON
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.

Decision Making Without Regrets: Loosening Habit Patterns

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
Our clients enter therapy when their life becomes unhappy and painful. The state of one's life is the result of decisions made. Decisions are made through different parts of our personality which have been formed into habit patterns. This is a natural, non-pathological process. However, when these patterns begin to dominate the clients' decisions without their awareness, regret and guilt often follow. One needs to reexamine and loosen the grip of these habit patterns. In this course we will explore how these patterns develop and how some of them become dysfunctional over time from both the psychological and spiritual points of view. We will introduce clinical skills to help clients become conscious and take control of their habit patterns, establishing decision making without regrets.

Experiences of Loss and Grief

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM, GUEST SPEAKER, Mary Adamo
This course will define grief and loss and revisit the grief process and potential impacting factors. Different types of loss and their complexity will review and explored, expanding the applicability and usefulness of grief work. Various approaches and tools to support the grief process will be introduced and discussed.

Helping Clients Leap into Retirement

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
This new frontier of extended lifetime offers surprising gifts and terrific limitations. As our clients prepare to retire or are already retired, they are faced with unfamiliar challenges. Retirement is when the emotional, psychological, mental, physical, and spiritual levels of one's being are directly affected. Necessary information, preparation and adjustments are needed so they avoid getting stuck in the states of disorientation, regret, and depression. In this course we will explore the challenges of every level and demonstrate specific tools you can utilize with your clients in handling this newfound prolong freedom retirement offers.

Igniting Inspiration and Creativity in Our Clients

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
Lack of inspiration and creativity is frequently found in clients suffering from anxiety. This course will focus on exploring the role and significance of inspiration and creativity in mental health. It will demonstrate how to balance clients' primary habit patterns creating anxiety with creative expressive outlets. It will further present ways to encourage and guide clients towards inspirational sources incorporating them in their daily routine.

Introduction to the Enneagram

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM, GUEST SPEAKER, Mary Adamo
This course will introduce the Enneagram as an ancient instrument - a tool for self-understanding, self- compassion and compassion toward others. The Enneagram identifies three perspectives (gut, heart and head) from which we primarily experience the world. It further delineates these three areas into nine basic personality patterns or styles and defines how each of these perspectives and styles impact how one copes with their reality. The Enneagram tool is utilized in psychological and spiritual development as well as in business and leadership development. It is relevant to the current need for and appreciation of diversity.

Introduction to the Theory of the Psychology of the Selves

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
The theory of the Psychology of the Selves is the study of the many selves residing in our psyche and their effect on our lives. The course will offer an overview of the theory and demonstrate its application in clinical interventions.

NEW: 36hr Training in the Method of Voice Dialogue

36 CONTACT HOURS, IN-PERSON
Three Weekends:
January 21, 22
January 28, 29
February 4, 5

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.

NEW: Implicit Bias Training

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM, GUEST SPEAKER, Kathryn Krase
This course explains the role of implicit and explicit bias in defining the systems that provide physical and mental health care in America. This course also includes strategies for individual professionals, and professionals in collaboration, to use in order to reduce disparities in access to and delivery of physical and mental health care services.

NEW: Overview of Motivational Interviewing and Preview to the 4th Edition of MI

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM, GUEST SPEAKER, Gary Stofle
This course will cover the basics of MI including the Spirit, OARS, the four processes with a particular focus on the aspects of the spirit which help to establish a therapeutic relationship with a client/patient. Also highlighted will be research on the characteristics of effective psychotherapists (and how they are addressed in MI). Additionally, anticipated changes that will be included in the fourth edition of Motivational Interviewing by Miller and Rollinick will be discussed.

Psychological-Spiritual Therapy

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
Spiritual esoteric traditions emphasize the importance of "detachment" while making decisions for a more balanced and satisfying existence. The psychological core principles of the theory of the Psychology of the Selves focus on enabling clients to identify and separate from their Operating Ego, thus enhancing the skill of detachment. The course will demonstrate ways to assist clients identify the parts of their personality composing their Operating Ego and develop the ability of detaching from these parts, thus promoting conscious decision-making skills.

The Art of Fighting with Loved Ones

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
Clients coming to therapy with the presenting problem of "conflict in relationships" are often stuck, hurt and helpless as to how to disentangle from these conflicts. In this course you will be introduced to the Language of Vulnerability. Vulnerability will be presented from a new psycho-spiritual angle. We will explain the significant role vulnerability plays in the formation of conflict and demonstrate ways you can help clients utilizing it for effective resolution of conflict in any relationship.

The Latest Perspectives in Couples Work

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
Bonding Patterns is a cutting-edge theory on how relationship patterns in couples form and develop. This course will introduce the Bonding Patterns approach and explain its application in marital therapy.

The Legalization of Cannabis: Emerging Issues for Clinicians

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM, GUEST SPEAKER, Kevin Wadalavage
As cannabis products become legalized and commercialized across the country, we have seen the emergence of old, new and evolving issues regarding their use, concerns, risks and stances which clinicians might need to consider in their professional work (as well as perhaps personal decisions about cannabis use). This presentation will review some of these emerging issues and invite participants to consider how the anticipated expansion of cannabis use might be integrated into our work and culture.

The Role of Energy in Psychotherapy

3 CONTACT HOURS, IN-PERSON
Targeted to the needs of psychotherapists and other practitioners with high job stress and burnout, this course offers a method for becoming aware, experiencing, and consciously controlling the flow and direction of energy between ourselves and our clients. You will learn new simple and powerful skills you can apply with your clients.

The Role of Intuition in Psychotherapy

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM
The mind overrides intuition and leads to intellectual decisions devoid of right timing and direction. That is one contributing factor for clients experiencing feelings of guilt and disappointment. Since messages received through intuition are accurate and since everyone carries the ability to be intuitive, the goal of this course is to demonstrate ways to help clients identify, trust and follow their intuition in their decisions and problem solving. The course will focus on how to identify and remove psychological obstacles preventing clients’ ability to trust and follow their intuition.

The Use of Meditation in Psychotherapy

3 CONTACT HOURS, IN PERSON, Lynbrook NY
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.

The Voice Dialogue Method, an Introduction

3 CONTACT HOURS, IN-PERSON
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.

Understanding and Supporting Transgender Clients and their Families

3 CONTACT HOURS, ZOOM PLATFORM, GUEST SPEAKER, Bianca Posa
Many transgender individuals avoid seeking therapy due to a lack of awareness and information about the transgender culture. This course is targeted to help clinicians become culturally competent by understanding the role of gender and sexual orientation within the transgender population. Topics include gender dysphoria, hormone replacement therapy, family & social adjustments, risks associated with the population, and current trends of the LGBTQ community.
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For courses taught throughout the year,
click on the calendar below:
Course Calendar

Testimonials

"Whether in conference, therapeutic, or classroom setting, Yolanda Koumidou is informative, intuitive and inspiring." – Alice Scourby, PhD, Chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Long Island University
"I have had the pleasure of attending several of Yolanda’s trainings and she is exceptional. She is very knowledgeable about the subject matter, always providing vignettes, techniques and tools. A very engaging, energetic and interesting speaker who encourages audience participation. I would recommend her trainings to all my colleagues without hesitation." – Anita Mancini, LCSW
"Yolanda Koumidou is an enthusiastic, exciting, and knowledgeable teacher. She has studied Voice Dialogue and the Psychology of the Selves with us for many years and we are happy to recommend her work - both as a teacher and as a therapist." – Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone, creators of Voice Dialogue
"A beautiful enriched experience that took me on a journey which highlighted how psychology and spirituality intertwine." – Marshalee Brown, LMSW
"Working with Voice Dialogue has helped me manage myself more effectively; learn my assets, blind spots and hidden biases. It raised the volume on my inner voices; gave me a respect for the many facets of my personality and brought me to greater balance." – Mary Adamo, MSEd, SPHR, Director, Leadership, Human Resources
"Yolanda Koumidou has an exceptional ability to present complex topics in a clear manner. The blend of experiential, psychological and spiritual concepts of the Psychology of the Selves breaths life to the material, gathering it all in a comprehensive whole." – R. Gasparik, LCSW
"Yolanda's message is clear, unflinching, and convincingly optimistic. She is a therapeutic force to behold." – Richard Hoetzel, MD, Psychiatrist
"Yolanda creates a dynamic workshop packed with her remarkable insights into the links between the wisdom of certain spiritual teachings and the Theory of Psychology of the Selves. Her discussions are useful as well in deepening the understanding of curative factors found in other theories and techniques of psychotherapy." – S. Perkins, LCSW
"...In my almost 40 years in social work practice, this training was the most dynamic and impactful of any training over the years. Yolanda brings deep passion and expert leadership to her work. Participants cannot be disappointed; but forever changed by her training..." – Sherry Fraser, LCSW
"This training will take you on a self-awareness journey that will have a tremendous impact on how you view yourself and how you relate to others in your personal and business relationships." – SL, Attorney
"I had one of the best experiences in my career. The combination of teaching and nature was an excellent component. I never expected to learn so much in these last three days. The different exercises, even when challenging, were instrumental in learning and appreciating the material." – W. Rodriguez, LCSW
"Profound spiritual experience that put me on a path of more in depth learning for my personal and professional life. Eternally grateful." – Yana Gaykov, LCSW