About The Hakomi Institute

About the Hakomi Institute

Founded in 1981 by Ron Kurtz and a core group of trainers, the Hakomi Institute is the original and most extensive organization providing training and information on Hakomi Experiential Psychotherapy worldwide.

Our website provides in-depth info about Hakomi, including an international Directory of Practitioners, a Calendar of Workshops and Trainings with links to Hakomi organizations internationally, an online Professional Journal, and many other resources.

About Hakomi Institute Trainings

"It has been the most powerful journey I have ever taken."
— Thomas Ruettgers, M.A., Psychotherapist, Germany

"A gift – a wonderful experience that will shape the rest of my life."
Kate Mazuy, M.A., L.P.C., Colorado

Building on the original method developed by Ron Kurtz, over the past 30 years the Institute has enhanced, expanded and refined the Hakomi Method to create updated and highly effective trainings for professionals and graduate students. We teach the complete Comprehensive Professional Training in the Hakomi Method, offering:

  • The widest spectrum of effective, applicable Hakomi Therapy skills for professionals, clinicians, and graduate students.
  • An integration of leading-edge discoveries in the psychotherapy field (including neuroscience, trauma and attachment research) to support professionals in their work. These new discoveries both illuminate how and why the Hakomi Method works, and inform our curriculum and teaching approaches.
  • Evocative, transformational personal development for practitioners

"After practicing for 30 years, with this training I feel like I'm finally
the therapist I always wanted to be."

Carol Wichers, M.A., L.C.S.W., L.M.F.T., Minnesota

In continuing to develop the Hakomi Method, our faculty of professional therapists, counselors, social workers, and educators use their in-depth ongoing experience in clinical practice with clients, where the effectiveness of different aspects and new developments in the Method can continue to be evaluated and enhanced.

Many also teach in universities worldwide, allowing them to integrate their academic expertise and knowledge of current research and development in the psychological and neuroscience fields. Click here to see the many colleges and universities where Hakomi Institute faculty teach.

"I learned so much, thoroughly enjoyed the people and process, and found the
instructors amazing in the breadth and depth of their experience and knowledge"
Pat Waterman, L.C.S.W., Vermont

- Scroll down to read more quotes from participants in Hakomi Institute trainings -


More about the Hakomi Institute and its Trainings

"A '10' - I cannot speak highly enough about the trainers
and the consistency of excellence.

— Keating Coffey, Psy.D., L.P.C., Colorado

The Hakomi Institute is a non-profit, professional organization with worldwide affiliates.

Our trainings provide a warm, nourishing, open, yet structured and organized training environment.

Trainings are designed mainly for therapists, counselors, social workers, and graduate students in these fields. The trainings have also proved invaluable for professionals in related fields (including coaching, the healing arts, organizational and group work, and other disciplines).

Hakomi Institute faculty are extensively trained: The majority of our Trainers have been trained, certified, and/or approved by Ron Kurtz, and our Senior Trainers are co-Founders of the Hakomi Institute, co-developed the Hakomi Training with Kurtz, and have taught Hakomi for over 25 years. Certified Teachers are trained for at least 5 years prior to certification, and Certified Trainers at least 8-10 years. The majority of faculty have advanced academic degrees and/or licensure.

Our trainings include an approach to group process which emphasizes safety, and is designed to enhance the learning environment and help the group to interact in more constructive and supportive ways.

Our trainings welcome and solicit feedback from training participants to further openness and continuous improvement, requesting anonymous evaluation forms from participants in every workshop and training segment.

Our trainings have an application process for admission, including at least one prerequisite workshop.

The Institute has a formal Code of Ethics and requires all students, faculty and Certified Hakomi Therapists to adhere to this code.

The Hakomi Institute is a professional member of the Association of Humanistic Psychology (AHP) and the U.S. Association of Body Psychotherapists (USABP)

The Institute has a professional journal, the Hakomi Forum published since 1985, which includes articles on applications of Hakomi Therapy in a variety of fields and with many different populations.

The Hakomi Institute is a CEU provider nationally for NASW (National Association of Social Workers), and NBCC (National Board of Certified Counselors). NBCC-approved workshops may often be used to fulfill license renewal requirements in many states. We are in the process of becoming approved to offer CEU’s for psychologists (APA) and substance abuse counselors (NAADAC). Additional CEU's are offered in specific states:

California: The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (LCSW's and MFT's); the California Board of Registered Nursing; MCEP credit  (Mandatory Continuing Ed for Psychologists) available for Professional Training.

North Carolina: N.C. Psychologists Category A credit; N.A.A.D.A.C. credit; and N.C. substance abuse general skill-building credit.

Texas: CEU's for Texas Social Workers; and for nationally certified acupuncturists through the NCCAOM.

Testimonials

What participants have said about Hakomi Institute trainings:

"Excellent - rich and satisfying. It has expanded me as a person and as a therapist. The trainers were exceptional - all were superlative. The training enables you to deepen self-awareness, become more present, and learn to work with inner and outer challenges with ease, compassion and honesty - and then help others to do the same."
— Debra Babarsky, Ph.D, L.P.C., Virginia

"A very supportive and confidence-building training - I'm inspired by this work and its
capacity to offer real support and change for clients, as well as increase confidence in
bringing all of myself to the role of therapist."

— Laura Stone, M.A., L.P.C., Colorado

"Learning the Hakomi Method has been one of the most personally and professionally
enriching experiences of my career. I have gained tools to help my clients rapidly access
and transform their pain and struggle, and found it profoundly effective across a wide range of individuals with a variety of long-term and challenging clinical and life problems.
I cannot recommend this training highly enough."

— Jeffrey Rutstein, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist, New Jersey

"An amazing experience – I feel my learnings here are applicable
both working as a therapist, and personally"

— Emily McKay, M.A., L.P.C.

"This training gets my highest recommendation. It excels in all the right ways, as an effective method of psychotherapy and as a transformative personal process. I loved the hands on, experiential method of the training itself, and enjoyed learning something that really WORKS in the office with clients - I'm already helping people with this gentle and powerful work. Not only have I been well-trained in a modality that I’m already using successfully, but I’ve also personally transformed in ways I’ve always longed for."
— Lucien Renjilian-Burgy, R.U.P., Colorado


"Hakomi allows me to work with clients in a way that compassionately
uncovers and integrates their core experience"
— Jyoti Sharp, M.A., Colorado

"It has been the most powerful journey I have ever taken."
— Thomas Ruettgers, M.A., Psychotherapist, Germany

"After practicing for 30 years, with this training I feel like
I'm finally the therapist I always wanted to be."

Carol Wichers, M.A., L.C.S.W., L.M.F.T., Minnesota

Hakomi Institute

Executive Director
Laurie Adato

Board of Directors
Gregory J. Johanson, Ph.D., C.H.T., Chairman*
Jon Eisman, C.H.T.*
Maya Shaw Gale, M.A., C.H.P.
Melissa M. Grace, M.A., C.H.T.
Jacqueline Hull, M.A., L.M.F.T., C.H.T.
Halko Weiss, Ph.D., C.H.T.*
Laurie Adato, Secretary/Treasurer

*Hakomi Institute Co-Founders

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You can contact the Hakomi Institute at: P.O. Box 1873, Boulder, CO 80306.
Phone: 303-499-6699, or (toll-free from within the U.S.): 1-888-421-6699.
You can also email the Institute directly at HakomiHQ@aol.com.