Integral Somatic Psychology

In the fourth and final module, we will look at the comprehensive model of the psyche from Integral Somatic Psychology (ISP) and see how the building of capacity to tolerate opposites in human experience through the practice of embodying emotions can improve our diverse spiritual practices. In particular, how it can improve discrimination and differentiation of levels of experience, sense of self, and pure awareness, a practice that is often involved on the path of non-duality or enlightenment; and have a personal experience of the potential for improving discrimination and differentiation of levels of experience, sense of self, and pure awareness in the practice of non-duality.

How the practice of embodying emotions can increase the capacity for tolerating opposites in emotional experience.
How the practice of embodying emotions can improve cognitive, emotional, and behavioral outcomes and shorten treatment times in all therapy modalities and in life.
How the practice of embodying emotion can improve physical and energetic wellbeing.
At least two examples of the always-present and often-overlooked sensorimotor emotions.
How the ability to tolerate opposites in human emotional experience can further improve the practice of mindfulness.
How the practice of embodying emotions can improve the level of development on any spiritual path including the pursuit of enlightenment or non-duality.

Raja Selvam, Ph.D., is the developer of Integral Somatic Psychology (ISP), an approach based on the science of embodied cognition, emotion, and behavior in cognitive and affective neuroscience. He is a licensed clinical psychologist and a senior trainer in Dr. Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing program. Dr. Selvam has taught for 25 years in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Far East. His work is influenced by psychoanalytic approaches, Jungian psychology, body psychotherapy systems, bodywork and energy work schools, yoga, quantum physics, and Advaita Vedanta. Selvam's publications include the 2013 “Jung and Consciousness,” published in Spring.

Beginning in infancy, each baby develops a rhythm of engagement (alert interest in the physical and social environment) and disengagement (rest and recovery needed). Attuned caretakers follow babies’ leads to establish attachment patterns that persist throughout life. This seminar explores developmental origins of intuitive styles—whether we ‘lean in’ or ‘lean out’—that unconsciously color every social interaction. We examine roots of attachment styles within early proto-conversation and other forms of childhood play. By learning to identify our own leanings, including their advantages and pitfalls, we can use conscious intentions to modulate what normally flies under the radar.

In this seminar, you will discover how you can help your body in its struggle to come into being, how emotions are experiences of feeling in the body and what to do when they threaten to overwhelm the mind, and how trauma can disrupt the inner collaborative communication between mind and body. It is true for all of us that our capacity for emotional connection and bodily presence carries the imprint of our early relational experiences. This seminar will help you create a loving container in which body and mind can thrive in an empathic dance between a deeply feeling body and an embodied psyche.

Depth Hypnosis is a therapeutic model that combines elements of these diverse traditions to facilitate deep personal transformation. The somatic principles within this approach emphasize the importance of the body as a gateway to understanding and healing the mind. This process helps to uncover the root causes of various emotional, psychological, and physical ailments, allowing for a profound healing process that integrates the body, mind, and spirit. This talk provides tools for individuals seeking to deepen their self-awareness and foster a holistic sense of well-being.

Learn The Science and Practice of Embodying Emotions

Integral Somatic Psychology