The University of South Florida Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and Balanced Living Psychology present a workshop with Joann Lutz LICSW

For psychotherapists, health care workers, and Yoga teachers.  12 CEUs though APA Continuing Ed for Psychologists as well as 12 CEUs for Social Workers 12 CEUs for Addictions Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Mental Health Counselors.

Friday 6-9, Saturday and Sunday 10-4:45

Strong emotions and uncomfortable feelings have long served as motivators for people seeking treatment. These emotions create the opportunity to help our clients further develop self-regulation skills. Yoga excels in offering the practitioner resources to identify body sensations and to be with them without reacting. 

Trauma-informed Yoga, based on the work of trauma researcher Bessel Van Der Kolk, is being used effectively with survivors of childhood trauma and military personnel.  In his most recent NIMH-funded research project, 64 women, 18-58 years old with chronic, treatment un-responsive PTSD, were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of Trauma-Informed Yoga classes or Women's Health Education classes. At the post-treatment assessment, 16 out of 31 (52%) of participants in the Yoga Group no longer met criteria for PTSD compared to 6 out of 29 (21%) in the Control Group.

Practical exercises and techniques will be taught mainly for the seated position with sometime in deep relaxation on our final day. 

While this workshop is primarily designed for mental health professionals, Yoga teachers may benefit from a deeper understanding of how to work with trauma survivors.

Workshop objectives are as follows

·        Gain the skill, through practice with a script, to bring chair yoga, 3-part yogic deep breathing, yoga nidra (yogic sleep) and two varieties of meditation into the consultation room.

·        Identify 3 benefits of classic yoga to psychotherapy and healthcare, regardless of diagnosis.

·        Be familiar with the subtle nervous system as described in the yoga tradition.

·        Understand 3 negative effects of psychological trauma on the nervous system.

JOANN LUTZ

Joann has been practicing these techniques for 40 years and teaching them for 30. She currently practices as a psychotherapist in Northampton, Ma. and teaches yoga to veterans with PTSD at the Verteran's Administration Hospital in Leeds, Ma. She was the staff yoga instructor for Walden Behavioral Care Eating Disorders Program in Northampton.

She is Certified in Trauma-sensitive Yoga, developed by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk at The Trauma Center in Brookline, Ma.; in Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy  through the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers; in Integral Yoga (Advanced Certification) with Swami Satchidananda;  EMDRand  in Psychosynthesis.  She completed Level One of the Somatic Experiencing training, developed by Dr. Peter Levine. 

For more information http://yogainpsychotherapy.com  

Cost and Registration

Workshop price is 310.00 Including CEUs.  Register early to take advantage of an early registration of 260.00, a 50.00 savings.

Networking and Supporting Organizations  

Friday’s meeting begins with a registration and networking hour to meet with supporting Yoga studios and organizations.   

Supporting studios are: Yogani, Bella Prana, The Lotus Pond, Jai Dee, Yoga Etc, and Wendy Fit Yoga. 

For workshop content questions please contact Joann Lutz at joannlutz@yahoo.com or call 413-586-6384.

For event specific questions please contact Dr. Diego Hernandez of Balanced Living Psychology Docdiego@earthlink.net or call 813-418-7868