Training in bioenergetic analysis

The ACSBA is collaborating with the Massachusetts Society for Bioenergetic Analysis to provide in-depth training in the theory and practice of bioenergetic analysis following the curriculum of the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis (IIBA). Certification as a Bioenergetic Therapist is available from the IIBA to mental health professionals who successfully complete the training program and meet requirements for personal bioenergetic therapy and supervision.

The training includes both didactic and experiential teaching methods, along with relevant readings, discussions, and extensive group work. The goal of the latter is to foster both personal and professional growth by expanding self-awareness, self-acceptance, and vitality. We gain an understanding of how our history has shaped our present, how our character structures came to be, how we can decrease our fears and energetic blocks, and thus how we can move towards becoming the therapists we strive to be. Ultimately, as bioenergetic therapists, our bodily experience and our personal development guide our work. We place a strong emphasis on individual therapy, both in the group and with a personal therapist.

The bioenergetic training program consists of 80 contact days spread over four years. It operates on a one-room schoolhouse model with trainees from multiple years frequently learning together. The training is open to therapists, other professionals, and to those seeking personal growth.

The training dates for the 2024-25 year have not yet been established. Typically, a training year consists of four in-person and two online sessions. The in-person weekends are in either Kensington, NH or Essex, MA and run from Thursday morning to Sunday midday. The online weekends are Friday evenings and full days on Saturday and Sunday. One additional small-group meeting is usually required between sessions. Applications for the program will be open in spring 2024. For more information, contact the ACSBA at AtlanticCanadaBio@gmail.com

If you find yourself interested in the program but are unable to commit to a full year, consider taking our online Sunday-morning series Cultivating Vitality: An Introduction to Bioenergetics. See the Current Events section for details.