A. 13 training-days

B. Intervision-meetings

C. Leading a PBSP exercise group

D. Studying literature

E. Evaluation

A. 13 training-days in the 1st year

The first year consists of 13 training days. These days will cover:

• theoretical introductions and lectures
• explanation of the theory by demonstrating PBSP exercises by trainers
• experience-oriented learning in structures; each participant one structure in the first year
• training in therapeutic attitude
• training in observing verbal and non-verbal communication
• training and supervision on PBSP exercises
• studying and discussing literature

General principles

• The mind-body dichotomy: philosophical, cultural and therapeutic implications
• New research on the brain, memory, body, emotions and consciousness
• The inner pressure to enjoy the fruits and rewards of living: pleasure, satisfaction, meaning, connectedness instead of pain, frustration, despair, alienation
• Affect, emotion and body sensations as sources of information
• Physiology of organismic satisfaction following completion of basic needs
• Basic emotions: disgust, fear, anger, curiosity, pleasure, love
• The world seen by the ‘lens’ of internalized interactions in the past
• Other therapeutic viewpoints: resolution in the therapeutic relationship; offering insight about the past; resolution in present relationships; parenting the ‘inner child’

Therapeutic attitude

• The therapeutic relationship: safety and responsibility
• ‘Possibility sphere’; how to provide a psychological space to clients and how to understand body language that becomes apparent in that space
• Micro-tracking: how to see and name affective states and emotional expressions
• How to hear and playback verbal statements which are the foundation of personal values and life strategies
• How to let the client explore ‘Inner screens’ and develop ‘External stages’
• Motivation, Contract, Relationship
• Confrontation, interpretation and clarification; respect for resistance
• Life-history seen from a physical and development-psychological perspective
• Understanding limiting patterns: ‘Old Maps’
• Developing possible alternative experiences: ‘New Maps’

Terms and theory of PBSP

• History and development of Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor
• Event – Record – Experience – Expression – Map
• Interactive energy
• Genetic nature requirements:
  • Basic developmental needs:
  • place, nurturance, support, protection, limits
  • stages of need satisfaction
  • deficits of need satisfaction: an alternative diagnostic schema
• Integration and unification of polarities of being; understanding what is required to gain greater mastery of all aspects of one’s physical and emotional being
  • how to own and harmonize genetic, neurological, sensori-motor, behavioral and symbolic polarities
  • deficits of integration and unification of polarities of being
  • consequences of early parental loss
  • literal, symbolic and magical bonds
• Development of consciousness: naming the outer world; internalizing meaning
• Development of the ‘Pilot’, the highest order of consciousness: the observing, decision-making and executive ego
  • awareness of the Pilot about Soul and Ego information
  • the need for autonomy and responsibility
• Realize uniqueness and potentiality: how do we become who we are?
  • the genetic push for self-realization in service to self and others
• Modalities of movement: reflex, voluntary and emotional movement
• Self – Self interaction
• ‘Shape – Counter Shape’
• The True Self, the Ego and the Self
• Energy – action – interaction: satisfaction, validation, internalization of meaning
• Interaction, accommodation and polarization: positive, negative, ideal figures
• Overview of structure sequence: Possibility Sphere, Center of Truth, True Scene, Historical Scene, Antidote
• Internalizing new experiences, re-mapping memories, changing perspective

Practical skills and exercises

• Structured exercises to increase the physical sensitivity and awareness of therapist and client
• Exercises for observing body-language: concrete and symbolic meaning of body-posture and motor movement
• The influence of body-posture and body-position within the therapist-client relationship
• Handling ambivalence by polarization techniques

 Group-directed and individual exercises:

a. Modalities of movement

• Reflexive Movement
  • Reflex-relax stance (Species Stance)
  • Fall-catch exercise
• Voluntary movement
  • Conscious voluntary movement exercise (arm raise exercise)
  • Voluntary patterns in the service of interest and curiosity
• Emotional movement
  • Breathing exercise
  • Emotional movement exercise

b. Spatial exercises

• Exercises concerning spatial placement
• Circle diameter exercise
• Gesture exercise
• Controlled approach

c. Interaction exercises

• Interaction with objects
• Interaction with self
• Interaction with others
• Face telling, Body telling
• Self-self, Self-others

d. Accommodation exercises:

How to precisely provide -in a role played procedure-, those anticipated responses to emotional needs that give maximum satisfaction

• Positive accommodation exercises
• Negative accommodation exercises
• Ideal parent exercises
• Expressing own sensations and imaging the accommodation wanted
• Limiting exercises
• Organization of a PBSP exercise-group

B. Intervision meetings

At the end of the second training-block of the first year the group will work during one day as a self-organizing entity, supported by a protocol of intervision guidelines.

Depending on geographic situations, two or three intervision-groups will be formed to meet three days to practice PBSP exercises. This as a follow up of the demonstrations given during the training days.

An instruction book containing a detailed description of the exercises, and the guidelines for optimal work within an intervision-group will be available.

 C. PBSP Exercise therapy-group

During the first block of training days, therapist-pairs may be formed with the aim of starting an experience-oriented exercise group with clients. During the last 4 months of the first year, this group will get together on six to eight evenings for two or three hours. The sessions of these exercise-groups will be videotaped for the purpose of supervision within the training-days.

D. Study of Literature

In total 400 pages of literature will be studied. Three readers will be available as part of the training. Two books on PBSP have to be bought by the trainee.

E. Individual evaluation at the end of the first year

The first training year is concluded with individual evaluation. During the last training block, each trainee either directs a PBSP exercise with the participants of the training group or shows an PBSP exercise on video within a client-group. Based on concretely described criteria, the trainee receives feedback concerning therapeutic attitude, clarity of instruction and technical direction. Trainers will give motivated advice concerning suitability for the second and third training-year. The progress during the basic training will form part of the assessment.

In general, recognition as a psychotherapist according to national standards is handled as a prerequisite for participation in the advanced PBSP training. A limited number of candidates, who are not registered as such, may be accepted for the subsequent training, based on their experience, a specific affinity or suitable previous schooling.