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NP Part 5: Calgary, AB


  • Private Villa 40090 Retreat Road Cochrane, AB, T4C 2K2 Canada (map)

Special Topics and the Role of the Therapist

OCD  •  Physical Pain  •  Depression  •  Collaborative Alliances

This 4-day training explores further details of working with “process,” for both you and your clients.  

Participants need to take NP 1 and 2 before taking this training, as we expand on that foundation. (It is not required to take NP 3 or 4 to attend.)

We will again use a combination of presentation, discussion, exercises, demonstrations, and longer practicum sessions with personalized feedback.  We will also do more short role plays, where you can bring in tough moments from your sessions.  We will explore ways to approach, assess and work through them.

As with previous trainings, we focus on fine-tuning engagement with somatic processes, close tracking of nervous system reactions and resiliency, and judicious use of EMDR and other uses of bilateral stimulation.

As before, we will engage in “trusting the process” of the drive for completion. 

Obsessive Compulsive Dynamics

  • Helping your client to sustain awareness, so there’s a chance for self-assessment

  • Tracking dynamics of disconnection as critical for creating the space for newness

  • Working moments of urgency, and the “draw” to action

Physical Pain

  • As presenting problems, and as it arises in the process of a session

  • Role of the therapist in face of “no guarantees”

  • Working the client’s relationship with the pain

  • Exposing vs. causing pain

  • Bracing to facing dynamics

Working with Depression and Depressive Dynamics

  • Isometric patterns that bind and prohibit movement

  • Hypo-arousal and finding the energy

  • Finding leverage in what is “most important”

  • Pacing into desperation and hopelessness

  • Working with “no sense of self”

Critical Aspects of the Therapist-Client Collaborative Alliance

  • Client “caution” as it emerges throughout the work; addressing overrides

  • Therapist-client split agendas when clients go hyper- or hypo-aroused

  • Disconnections - more on noticing occurrences and consequences

  • When getting a focus for the session is challenging

  • Dynamics where the therapist needs to take a stronger lead

  • “Tightening the work”

Assessing One’s Own Cases - “What the heck is going on here?”

  • Strategies for self-assessing dynamics of difficult cases

  • Noting one’s own challenging moments

  • Turning tough processes into workable dynamics

  • Ways to use your session notes more effectively

Role Playing Difficult Scenarios from your Practice

Bring examples of your toughest moments for us to play out, dissect and strategize

Extended Practicums with Personalized Feedback


Location: Beautiful, spacious, private villa in Cochrane with views and ample parking.

40090 Retreat Road, Cochrane, AB T4C 2K2, Canada

There are plenty of affordable hotels nearby in Cochrane - you can check out hotels.com, airBnb or another website for housing.