Body in Presence
The Art of Embodiment in the Therapeutic Relational Field
February 2027 - May 2029
*“By fully allowing what is, moment by moment, all experience finds its natural resolution.”
Lumiere, L. M. (2003)
What is Body in Presence Programme?
Body In Presence Programme offers an experiential skills based practice in an embodied approach to working with clients in the therapeutic relational field.
Where?
The programme will be held in-person, at the Gorse Hill Centre, Bray, County Wicklow. Please note it is non-residential.
When is the programme?
February 2027 - May 2029 (see module dates below)
Who is Body in Presence Programme for?
Body in Presence is created with the intention of enhancing the practice of being fully present in the therapeutic relational field. It is designed for professionals whose practice has a one-to-one therapeutic relationship at its core, such as psychotherapy, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, play therapy, art therapy, occupational therapy.
The programme is suitable for those who have completed their therapy training and are seeking to include an embodied, psycho-spiritual approach in their existing practice, alongside their continued personal therapy and supervision.
What is the Overall Structure?
Modules
The programme consists of eight modules offered over the course of two years, from February 2027 to May 2029. Each module will commence at 2pm on Fridays and finish at 5pm Sundays.
Attendance at all modules is a requirement, along with a commitment to participating in a number of online sessions such as;
● Tutor meetings
● Monthly peer group meetings
● Peer partner meetings
A note about the structure of the facilitation:
In the process of leaving the ‘work in good hands’, following 35 years of teaching and developing somatic and embodied work, Joan Davis will be guiding the other faculty members in their facilitation. They, in turn, can ask any questions whilst in the midst of, or after, their facilitation. Therefore, this structure is close to a ‘training within a training’. You, the participant, get to see this live, in the moment, and to ask your questions too. This way EVERYONE learns and the process is a very transparent method in offering the material in an embodied way. We call this approach INTERLEARNING. It is akin to live supervision.
Participants are encouraged and supported to experience this Interlearning for themselves over the duration of the programme.
Body in Presence Essentials
1. The Art of Resourcing (what supports us to be ok enough, safe enough)
2. The Art of Tracking Felt Sense (sensations in the body)
3. The Art of Witnessing (attuning to oneself and another in present time).
4. The Art of Direct Embodied Languaging (communicating from body awareness)
5. The Art of Embodied Listening
6. The Art of Group Interactive Exploration/Experience
(When one person does their personal work in a group setting, all members of the group benefit).
7. The Art of Offering and Receiving Constructive Feedback (‘Appreciation’, ‘curiosity’ and ‘more of’)
8. The Art of Integration (enquiry, reflection)
9. The Art of Psychospiritual Awareness (aligning body, mind and spirit)
How do we explore these?
● Guided movement
● Reflective practice
● Personal process (live, supported embodied enquiry in a group setting)
● Interlearning (faculty members model the art of embodiment in the therapeutic relational field, akin to live supervision)
A more detailed description of what gets covered in each module and of the structure of the weekend will be available prior to the commencement of the module, along with the provision of any support materials.
Programme dates
Module 1 - February 26th to 28th, 2027
Module 2 - June 11th to 13th, 2027
Module 3 - October 1st to 3rd, 2027
Module 4 - February 25th to 27th, 2028
Module 5 - June 9th to 11th, 2028
Module 6 - October 6th to 8th, 2028
Module 7 - February 23rd to 25th, 2029
Module 8 - May 18th to 20th, 2029
Programme Fees
Fees for the whole programme total: €3,800
There is a €500 non-refundable deposit, payable not later than 10th November 2026
We are open to considering any payment plan for the remaining €3,300 that suits your financial situation. Please discuss with us.
What next?
Make contact to register your interest before 31st October, 2026
Payment of **non-refundable deposit is due by 10th November, 2026
**No refunds are possible for this programme except in the case of extreme circumstances such as bereavement, sudden life threatening illness or accident. This would require a medical note.
Contact details
Jasmine Oschun (Administrator): bodyinpresence@outlook.com
Faculty Members
Deirdre Cotter RSMET is a Registered Integrative Somatic Therapist and Educator in private practice, offering one to one therapy and group therapeutic embodiment education. The past two decades has seen Deirdre working and studying at the intersection of Embodied Spiritual Practice, Depth Trauma Therapy and Contemplative Art as relational witnessing practice.
See also www.someti.ie
Joan Davis has been exploring somatic and body based approaches to Art and Therapy for over 35 years. She pioneered contemporary dance in Ireland in the 70s & 80s and has offered two somatic trainings in Ireland: ORIGINS, a developmental journey from pre-birth to two years, and ORIGINAL NATURE, a Practice in Presence.
www.gorsehill.net
Sally Ann O’Reilly, BA; RSME/RSMT has a Diploma in Origins, a programme developed by Joan Davis and affiliated with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA). She is a graduate of BodySoul Rhythms Leadership training and is currently assisting on Marian Dunlea’s second BodyDreaming CPD training based on her seminal book, BodyDreaming in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma.
Leanne Szklarzewicz has a background in psychology, education and social care. She has been studying body-based therapies for over 15 years, graduating from the ORIGINS programme, 2015, and ORIGINAL NATURE, 2021. Leanne is currently applying these experiential learnings, through the lens of Embryology and Attachment, in her work as a Therapy Assistant, Mother-of-two young children and programme development of Body in Presence.
In the spirit of community, please pass on to anyone you think might be interested in this programme.
*Lumiere, L. M. (2003). Healing trauma in the eternal now. In J. J. Prendergast, P. Fenner, & S. Krystal (Eds.), The Sacred Mirror: Nondual wisdom and psychotherapy (pp. 250–270). Paragon House Publishers