PROGRAMS > ADULTS > WORKSHOPS > FAQ
What Is the Perinatal Period?
The perinatal period or what s known as the Primal Period is the time beginning at conception and lasting through the first year of life. Why is the Primal Period of interest to us in the health field? The field of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Therapy has grown from research showing that babies within the womb, during birth, and post natally feel, have consciousness and memories, and grow in response to their experiences. These experiences greatly effect not just early childhood development, but continue affecting us all the way along; through our lives into adulthood. Evidence confirms that many health issues - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual are linked to prenatal and birth experiences and parent-infant bonding. Patterns for one s ability to deal with stress and trauma are also laid down in these early times. Because these informative times are preverbal, we often only heal them through preverbal techniques or body-centered therapies. The perinatal workshop is an excellent way to repattern affects from the Primal Period.
What If I Am Unaware of Having Perinatal Issues?
The workshop setting offers the opportunity to uncover, explore and support healing, with understanding and compassion for our own prenatal and birth imprinting. By connecting to this early layer of physical and emotional experience, within a safe, sustaining environment, there is the potential to repattern our bonding and attachment and clarify, ease, and transform early trauma and current unsupportive reactions. Although the perinatal content of our lives will be a reference point with which to interpret our present day experiences, it is only one of many tools used. Each participant is supported in his/her exploration of whatever issue they choose - present-day or otherwise. A good place to start in intention setting is to try to put words or kinesthetic feeling to a pattern you notice in your life. It could be a habit you have in how you relate with a partners, at work, under stress or in your health. In small group settings (no more than seven participants over three days or two days with four or five participants, we offer more choice around how we respond to our relationships which in turn, opens us to deeper, more loving experiences.
This workshop is experiential in nature.
What is Required of Me To Attend ?
Each participant is required to be in attendance for the entire workshop as s/he is an important part of the surround. The initial phase of the workshop is about developing a safe and nurturing environment, then each participant has the opportunity to work on their chosen issue while the remaining members provide support with and under the direction of the leader. Upon application for this workshop participant will be sent a questionnaire. Answering the questions will begin the personal preparation for the workshop.
Do I Need Previous Experience?
The workshop will be a weave of three types of experiences: Didactic, theory-based information, offered by the facilitator, therapeutic body-work techniques, facilitated by the leader with voluntary involvement of the participants, and therapeutic dialoguing- facilitated by the leader and drawing at times from the participants. If you have therapeutic skills, or have parenting experience, or leadership experience, your skills are a welcome addition to the workshop. Although there is only one facilitator, you will have specific opportunities to feedback to the participant during their therapeutic piece. All backgrounds and life experiences are contributions to this workshop. It is recommended to have a link with another therapist or support person in your area, as this work is deep and the integration time can sometimes be up to six months.
