Trainers

The Training Staff are authorized to teach Hakomi Workshops and lead Hakomi Trainings.

Cedar Barstow, M.Ed. is a Certified Hakomi Therapist in private practice, and a Certified Hakomi Trainer. She has led trainings nationally and internationally, in England, Ireland, Asheville, N.C., Santa Barbara, Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta, and has taught workshops throughout the U.S., and in the South Pacific. Cedar is currently developing and teaching a professional training in Ethics and Right Use of Power. She served as Administrative Director of the Hakomi Institute for ten years, has served on the Board of Directors, Ethics Committee, and as Managing Editor of the Hakomi Forum. As Hakomi Librarian, she collects, organizes, and re-distributes the computerized log of evolving theory, curricul um, and exercises. She is the author of several books on women and healing, and is a core member of a ceremonial dance community in Boulder, Colorado.

Karen C. Blicher, LCSW, CHT is a Certified Hakomi Therapist, a Certified HakomiTrainer and a Lead Trainer of the Internal Family Systems model for the Center for Self Leadership in Chicago. Devoted to the study and practice of body centered psychotherapy, Karen also is the Director of Regional and Mental Health Education at MAHEC (Mountain Area Health Education Center) in Asheville, NC. She enjoys teaching the principles and techniques of Hakomi and IFS to a variety of audiences and utilizes Hakomi and IFS in her role as teacher, administrator, clinician and consultant. Karen has also served on the Board of Directors of the Hakomi Institute for several years and has been an Organizer of Hakomi trainings for over a decade. Known for her well organized and playful teaching style, she is committed to creating a safe and inspiring training environment. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Karen spends her leisure time hiking, backpacking and kayaking.

Phil (Lucky) Del Prince, M.A. is a Founding Trainer of the Hakomi Institute. He has been a practicing therapist for 15 years, and a trainer at all levels of the Hakomi Method since its inception. Hi s teaching and therapy rest on a broad base of training and experience with traditional counseling approaches: Gestalt, Bioenergetics, Group Therapy, Psychodrama, and the bodywork disciplines of Massage therapy (amta), and Postural Integration (cpi). Phil enjoys creating specialized trainings for advanced students and therapists to refine and integrate their skills in the Hakomi Method within the context of their unique wisdom as a person and style as a therapeutic professional. He currently lives, works, and skiis in Boulder, Colorado, though not necessarily in that order.

Scott Eaton, M.A., M.F.T. has been facilitating groups, workshops and trainings in the United States and Europe for over 30 years. He is a licensed psychotherapist and has maintained a private psychotherapy practice in San Francisco and Oakland, California since 1988. He works with adults of all sexual orientations and specializes in gay and lesbian issues, spirituality, shame reduction, PTSD, recovery, and relationship dynamics. In addition, Scott is a long standing teacher of meditation, an avid world traveller, and a tour organizer for annual spiritual tours to India.

Jon Eisman is a Founding Trainer of the Hakomi Institute, a member of its Board of Directors, and serves as co-director for Hakomi of Canada, director of Hakomi of Oregon, and adjunct faculty for Hakomi of San Francisco. With an extensive background of academic and clinical study in alternative healing methods, he has been studying and practicing psychotherapy since 1978. He has taught at, or in conjunction with, Dominican University, Antioch University, Southern Oregon University, JFK University, Marylhurst College, Southwest College and the Fielding Institute for Graduate Studies. He has also served as staff and clinical Psychotherapist at Plaza Santa Maria Hospital for Metabolic Disorders. Jon's particular area of interest is Hakomi Character Theory, and its interface with Child Development, the "child states" of Consciousness, and the re-creation of functional family systems. He is also a crusader for the application of Hakomi Principles in group process. Jon has led trainings in North America, Europe, and New Zealand. He has written two books,and is the creator of a unique model of human dynamics, "The Re-Creation of the Self."

Beth Falch-Nielsen, R.C.C. is a Registered Clinical Counselor with 25 years experience in the counseling field, including 12 years in private practice. She teaches Hakomi trainings, Re-Creation of the Self couples and personal growth workshops with Jon Eisman, and sees clients (couples and individuals) in Duncan and Victoria, B.C. and in Edmonton, Alberta. Recently, she has also started consulting with other professionals, teaching couples work using the Re-Creation of the Self model. She lives with her family in Duncan, B.C.

Rob Fisher, M.A., M.F.T., is a psychotherapist, consultant and CAMFT certified supervisor in private practice in Mill Valley. He is a certified Hakomi Therapist and Teacher. He is an adjunct professor at JFK University where he teaches marriage and family therapy classes and case consultation seminars as well as an adjunct professor at CIIS where he teaches Hakomi and Theories and Techniques of Body Oriented Psychotherapy. He also teaches couples therapy at the post graduate level at a variety of agencies in San Francisco and Marin country. He is the publisher of the Couples Psychotherapy Newsletter and the author of a book about experientially oriented couples therapy entitled Experiential Psychotherapy With Couples, A Guide for the Creative Pragmatist, published by Zeig/Tucker. He has been a Master and Peer Presenter at the annual CAMFT Conference and at other national conferences such as the USABP. He is also a California State Licensed Continuing Education Provider.

Maya Shaw Gale, M.A. has been teaching Hakomi and training Hakomi therapists since 1993 in California, Kansas, Georgia,, North Carolina, New Zealand and Australia, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Hakomi Institute. She works in Santa Barbara, CA, and has also trained in Process-Oriented Psychology and World Work Conflict Resolution with Arnie Mindell and Max Schuepach; Neo-Reichian bodywork with Myron Shariff; Ericksonian Hypnosis, Embodied Dreamwork Massage and many expressive therapy modalities, including Gestalt Dance Therapy, Art Therapy, Authentic Movement, Psychodrama, and Sandtray. Maya is a professional life coach certified in Total Awareness Coaching, and is currently training other coaches in this method. For 8 years she has been on the adjunct faculty of Cambridge College Graduate School of Education, training teachers in the integration of somatic awareness, mindfulness and emotional intelligence into school curricula. Maya is also a performance artist in dance/theater and brings her love of movement and creative expression into her teaching, counseling and coaching processes. She particularly enjoys sharing her transformational work in a retreat setting and is the founder of "Write from the Body, Write from the Bones", a retreat workshop for writers.

Melissa Grace, M.A. is co-director of Spring Grove, offering a range of services including psychotherapy, life coaching, executive coaching and organizational consulting. As core faculty for the Hakomi Institute, she has served on the Board of Directors, and trained students in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, New York and the UK. She also teaches Advanced Supervision Trainings in Boulder. Melissa has been trained as a life coach and executive coach through the Coaches Training Institute, The Institute for Life Coaching, and Conversant. She has trained in group leadership with the National Training Laboratory and the Group Leadership Training, and has facilitated groups for twenty years. Melissa also brings a dance and movement background to all of her workshops and trainings. She lives with her family in the mountains west of Boulder.

Richard A. Heckler, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at JKF University and is the Director of the Hakomi Institute of San Francisco. Richard has a private practice in San Francisco, and is the author of two books: Waking Up, Alive, a critically acclaimed book about suicide, and more recently, Crossings, research about the Psychology of the Unexpected. Richard has been interviewed on radio and television both locally and nationally, and his work has been featured on ABCÍs Good Morning America and ABC's 20/20. Richard is also an adjunct faculty member at both The California Institute for Integral Studies in San Francisco, and Union Graduate School in Ohio.

Morgan Holford, L.P.C. is the Director of Hakomi Southwest, a Trainer for the Hakomi Institute and a therapist in private practice in Santa Fe, NM. She has taught Hakomi at Southwestern College and Sch erer Institute, and conducts workshops and trainings throughout the US. Morgan cocreated, with Susan McConnell, the Hakomi for Bodyworkers Training, bringing aspects of the Hakomi Method to this population. Morgan brings her deep commitment to spiritual g rowth to her work with individuals, couples and groups.

Jaci Hull, M.A. is a certified trainer for the Hakomi Institute. She has trained extensively in a combination of traditional and contemporary approaches including Contemplative Psychotherapy, Hakomi Body-Centered Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and EMDR. In practice for over 14 years, she works with individuals, couples and families, emphasizing clear and heartfelt communication, a loving, respectful and supportive homelife a nd the co-creation of healthier behaviors and values. Education: M.A. Contemplative Psychotherapy,'87 Certified Hakomi Trainer,'96 Colorado Institute For Marriage and Family Therapy,'96 EMDR, Group Leadership Training, Co-Leader of Professional Skills Training in Experiential Couple's Psychotherapy, Memberships: APA,USABP,CAP,HTA. Insurance accepted.

Gregory Johanson, Ph.D. is a Founding Trainer of the Hakomi Institute. He is editor of the Hakomi Forum, co-editor (with Ralph Cohen) of the Journal of Self Leadership, Book Review Editor of the Journal of Spirituality in Counseling, and on the editorial committees of the Journal of Pastoral Care, The United States Association for Body Psychotherapy Journal, and The Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association. He has taught in a number of schools, currently in the graduate schools of Loyola of Chicago, and Northeastern Illinois State University, and as Research Faculty at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. Greg leads Hakomi workshops and trainings throughout the United States and overseas, and is a trainer in Internal Family Systems work. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Pastoral Psychotherapist with degrees in psychology, philosophy, and theology, who was awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship with the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University. He has published over one hundred items in the fields of pastoral theology and psychotherapy including the book (with Ron Kurtz) "Grace Unfolding: Psychotherapy in the Spirit of the Tao-te ching", which has been translated into five languages. His special interest is in Integral Psychology, which relates spirituality to individual consciousness and behavior, in the context of social and cultural issues. He lives with his wife Hope and son Leif in Chicago.

Ron Kurtz lives in Ashland, Oregon, with his wife, Terry Toth, and their young daughter, Lily May. He developed the Hakom i Method and is the Founder of the Hakomi Institute, and served on the faculty and Board of Directors from 1980 - 1999. He has been on the faculty of San Francisco State, JFK University and Naropa Institute. He has written two books, The Body Reveals, with Hector Prestera, and Body-Centered Psychotherapy, The Hakomi Method. Ron's interests vary widely and include psychotherapy, philosophy, the presently popular, paradigm shift and theories of chaos and order. He is interested in bringing ab out global change through understanding structures of consciousness and the methods by which they are learned, maintained and changed.

Mukara Meredith, M.S.W., has 25 years of experience in teaching, consulting, and training. She is a Group Process Leader for the Somatic Psychology and Environmental Leadership departments at Naropa University. Mukara is a trainer for the Group Leadership Training and works with large corporations, including Mattel, Inc., training executives and employees to work together in group settings. She believes knowledge of groups, membership, and leadership is key to our personal, community, and planetary healing. A Buddhist practitioner for 15 years, Mukara is devoted to the practical application of world wisdom teachings in everyday life.

Manuela Mischke Reeds, M.A., M.F.T., is a certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer, and Somatic Psychotherapist. She trains health professional in the Hakomi Method in San Francisco and Sydney, Australia. Manuela specializes in integrating somatic psychotherapy, attachment therapy, pre-perinatal psychology, movement therapy and somatic trauma work. She is adjunct faculty at JFK University, Institute Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto and CIIS, San Francisco. She co-developed "Waking up from the Family Trance", a somatic approach to exploring and transforming internalized Family Systems. Manuela is an authorized Continuum Movement Teacher leading regular Continuum classes in SF and abroad. She holds a MA in Somatic Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, and a BA in Dance Therapy from the Naropa Institute. In addition she has trained in various methods of working with trauma, counseled survivors of political oppression and torture and victims of trauma. She is an SE Practioner in the Trauma Resolution method developed by Peter Levine. Manuela has extensive training in the field of arts, movement/dance, Buddhist meditation. She maintains a private practice in Menlo Park working with individuals, couples and children. Email: manuela@sfhakomi.org.

Lorena Monda, M.S., D.O.M., has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1977. She is also a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a member of Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh's core community, the Order of Interbeing. In addition to teaching Hakomi, Lorena is on the faculty of the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin, Texas where she teaches courses on Oriental Medicine and Psychology. Lorena lives and practices in Placitas, New Mexico. She is the author of the book The Practice of Wholeness: Spiritual Transformation in Everyday Life.

Marilyn Morgan, SRN, B.A., MNZAP is a psychotherapist and teacher of psychotherapy in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Marilyn has been a psychotherapist since 1981. She originally trained as a nur se, and has worked as a practice nurse and nursing tutor, as well as a community education tutor.She has a particular interest in trauma recovery, and in the use of art as a therapeutic tool. At present Marilyn teaches on the Eastern Institute of Techno logy Diploma in Psychotherapy programme, and on the current Hakomi Training at EIT (Diploma in Integrative Psychology - Hakomi), and maintains a private practice in psychotherpay and supervision.

Julie Murphy, Certified Hakomi Trainer, has been training professionals in Somatics for 17 years. Bringing together years of professional experience in the fields of anthropology, somatics and the arts, Julie developed the Mythic Body and co-developed Waking up from the Family Trance. She holds a degree in Anthropology, has pursued graduate studies in Contemplative Psychology at the Naropa Institute and has years of training in Movement, Somatics and Buddhist meditation practice. Julie has presented at numerous conferences including the American Massage Therapy Association, the Hakomi Institute International Conference, and most recently for USABP at Johns Hopkins University. Julie teaches internationally.

Maci Tater, Ed.S., L.P.C. received her training in Hakomi in 1986 after completing a Master's Degree in Education at Harvard University. Maci also has an Educational Specialist Degree in Professional Counseling. Maci is on the faculty in Boulder, CO, Atlanta, GA, and Asheville, NC. She was an organizer of Hakomi workshops and trainings for five years, a member of the Hakomi Institute Board of Directors for two years, and the Editor of the Hakomi Therapist Association's newsletter for ten years. Maci completed the advanced coaching curriculum through Coaches Training Institute and provides career/life planning, in addition to psychotherapy, as the Director of LifeWorks Career Services. She maintains a private practice in Atlanta, GA.

 

— European Trainers —
link to European website

Carl Edelbauer, M.D.,is a physician practicing psychotherapeutic medicine. Carl is in private practice, and teaches Hakomi workshops and trainings. He also teaches psychosomatic medicine at a Vienna University, and is our Hakomi representative in Austria. He is the founder of the Institute for Consciousness Training in Vienna.

Uta Günther, Dipl.-Psych., ECP, is a fully accredited clinical psychologist with training in a variety of psychotherapeutic and body-psychotherapeutic modalities (Rogerian, NLP, Psychodrama, art therapy, Rolfing, etc.). Early in her carreer she has founded a public psychological counselling center, which she she directed for many years. Today she works in private practice with groups and individuals, and teaches Hakomi workshops as well as segments of Hakomi trainings.

Cora Rohlf-Grimm, Dipl.-Psych., is a fully accredited clinical psychologist with training in humanistic and body-oriented psychotherapy modalities, as well as psychodynamic therapy. Cora has been working as a psychotherapist since 1983, and co-founded and worked for many years as a counselor for women's issues in an institution. She now offers individual-, couples-, and group therapy, as well as supervision for therapists.

Helga Holzapfel, HP, ECP, is a licensed psychotherapist, body- and movement therapist, and a Postural Integrator, with 7 years of professional experience in a psychiatric hospital. She maintains a private practice and a residential seminars center near Passau, Germany, with her husband, Uli Holzapfel, and is our lead trainer in Berlin, Munich and Vienna.

Ulrich Holzapfel, HP, ECP, is a licensed psychotherapist. Ulrich (Uli) had his original training as a state-licensed art teacher. As a psychotherapist he was also trained in systemic family therapy (V. Satir) and as a Pesso Therapist. Uli teaches Pesso and Hakomi workshops, and is our lead trainer in the Essen, Zurich and Berlin trainings. 

Halko Weiss, Ph.D., Dipl.-Psych., ECP, supervisor (BDP) is a licensed clinical psychologist, co-founder and Senior Trainer of the Hakomi Institute in Boulder, USA, as well as International Director of the Hakomi Institute of Europe in Heidelberg, Germany. Halko has worked as a therapist since1973, in private practice and in a number of institutions. Since 1978 he has also been a psychotherapy trainer in Europe, North America, New Zealand and Australia. Additionally, he works as a trainer and coach for executives within international corporations, such as DaimlerChrysler. Halko has published a number of books and articles, among them the new "Handbook of Bodypsychotherapy" (2004, with G. Marlock, eds.)

Susan McConnell, M.A. lives and plays and works in Chicago where she is the founder and director of Matrix Center for Body Mind Therapy. Both in her work with clients and in her teaching, Susan draws from Hakomi, Internal Family Systems Therapy, various bodywork modalities, and her Buddhist practice. In addition to co-creating the Hakomi for Bodyworkers curriculum, she is a senior trainer for Richard Schwartz's Internal Family Systems trainings . She recentlly received a M. A. from DePaul University with a focus in Somatic Psychology.

Inge 'Mula' Myllerup-Brookhuis Cand.Psych., LPC, CEAP, is a Danish psychologist licensed as a professional counselor and certified as an employee assistance professional in Georgia. She specializes in mind-body integrative therapies, including Hakomi, Internal Family Systems therapy, yoga therapy, EMDR and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Theoretically, she has a special interest in the interphase between spiritual philosophies, mind-body integrative therapies and neuropsychological functions. Inge 'Mula' is also an assistant trainer for the I.F.S. Center for Self Leadership, and functions as an assistant professor at State University of West Georgia. She lives in Carrollton, Georgia with her husband and daughter, where she practices psychotherapy and teaches Iyengar hatha yoga at her 'Zenter'

Kamala Quale, M.S.O.M., L.Ac., has a master’s degree in classical Chinese medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist. She is also a senior practitioner and
teacher of Jin Shin Do‚ Bodymind Acupressure‘. In her private practice and teaching Kamala brings together her depth of experience in the healing arts and her love for Hakomi, nature, energy practice and spirituality. Kamala teaches Hakomi skills to practitioners of Chinese medicine and bodywork in the Pacific Northwest. She has also taught extensively in Victoria, B.C.

Laurie Schwartz, M.S., L.M.T., is a Certified Hakomi Teacher and Therapist. She is also certified in Hellinger Family Systems and Somatic Experiencing, and has trained extensively in Modern Analytic Group Therapy. Laurie has been in private practice since 1986 in New York City, working with individuals, couples, and groups, and specializing in work with trauma survivors. She conducts numerous supervision groups in NYC., attended by doctors, clinical psychologists, social workers, and other therapists seeking to integrate a body-centered approach with their previous training She also works with teams of medical doctors treating trauma, as the body-centered adjunctive therapist. She is a supervisor for the Somatic Experiencing trainings, and has taught and supervised students in the U.S., Israel, Poland and Switzerland. Laurie has worked extensively in Israel, presenting seminars and workshops for therapists, and working with trauma survivors in clinics, treatment centers, and schools, including Micha, a center for deaf children, and Amcha, a center in Beersheva for families healing from Holocaust trauma.

— European Teachers —
link to European website

Karin Apfel, HP, ECP, is a licensed psychotherapist, has been in private practice since 1990, and is a teacher in a Public College. Her experience includes focusing and couples therapy, teaching Hakomi workshops and specialty trainings, and seminars for executives within large corporations, such as DaimlerChrysler and HypoVereinsbank. She offers individual-, couples- and group therapy.

Hans-Joachim Diehl, HP, Dipl.-Paed., ECP, is a licensed psychotherapist. He is a trained family therapist with 12 years of professional experience as a substance abuse therapist, and is director of the Heidelberg Child Protection Agency. Hajo also works as a Hakomi therapist in private practice, and as a Hakomi workshop teacher and training assistant. He is currently the Hakomi representative for the Forum of the European Body-Psychotherapy Association.

Anne Fischer, Dipl.-Psych., is a fully accredited clinical psychologist, trained in a number of Humanistic Psychology and systemic methods, psychodynamic therapy, and Hakomi group therapy. She is working in private practice as a Hakomi therapist, and has been teaching Hakomi workshops and training segments.

Christian Gottwald, M.D., is a physician for psychotherapeutic medicine, neurologist and psychiatrist. He has had comprehensive training in a number of modalities of humanistic psychotherapy, and is an accredited psychoanalysis trainer. He has worked as a psychotherapist since 1975, and has led his own institute since 1977. Christian maintains a private practice where he offers individual and group therapy. He has taught Hakomi in workshop and training settings, and has been active in interfacing body-psychotherapy with the medical community.

Heike Schulmeister, Dipl.-Soz.Paed., HP, is a licensed child and juvenile psychotherapist with many years of experience in substance abuse therapy. Heike works in private practice and has been teaching Hakomi Worshops and trainings segments. She also co-developed and teaches the Hakomi Basics of Psychotherapy Program.

Dagmar Wernicke, HP, ECP, is a licensed psychotherapist with 15 years of experience in a large variety of humanistic and body-oriented psychotherapeutic modalities. She has taught many Hakomi workshops and training segments. Dagmar is also working in private practice, with individuals, couples, and groups, and as a supervisor for therapists. For several years she has also done training and coaching with executives of international corporations.

Patricia Wurll, Ph. D., HP, is a licensed psychotherapist. Her background is in sports education. She worked psychotherapeutically in psychosomatic and neurological hospitals for twelve years, and is now in private practice. Patricia has been assisting in Hakomi trainings, and has started to offer Hakomi workshops with an emphasis in her own special interest: therapeutic archery.