Year Two
Embodied “I Thou”: Introduction to Relational Phenomenology

Year Two explores the intersection between the politics of being human and the disciplined practice of embodied relational dialogue with one another inside the group. Students develop awareness of “first wave” responses, which are ungrounded reactivity to the other, and begin to manage conflict and difference with compassion, respect and curiosity. In this way through mutual recognition and awareness of co-creation of each situation, every encounter is a healing dialogue. The theory of creative adjustment guides us away from assessing others by their behaviour instead seeking in each interaction what we call the “intention for contact” underlying that behaviour. Group process becomes the stimulus for building awareness of fixed patterns or roles which are co-created. Class group process is also the stimulus for dissolving these fixed patterns and replacing them with flexibility and genuine curiosity. In this year you can expect to deepen your sense of the group as a support for ongoing challenge and growth.

Learning Outcomes Include:

• Build & maintain effective relationships

• Use effective communication – access genuine curiosity and interest in one’s own responses to another’s approach & style

• Include awareness of phenomenology in response to the other

• Develop “double awareness” in which the views of the other are given equal weight to our own perspective

• Address emerging conflicts & differences with perspective, self–awareness and respect, use of ‘I–Thou’ & ‘Here and Now’

• Achieve successful resolution of authority issues

• Maintain self-care and health & manage energy during training weekends

• Integration of knowledge of cultural, racial, gender diversity in relation to other group members.

Students are expected to complete:

• Oral & written assignments

• 180 hours of experiential & didactic teaching

• Fifteen hours of personal therapy with a Gestalt psychotherapist in Year Two for a minimum of 30 therapy hours by the end of Year Two.

Successful completion of Year Two includes integration of theory, attendance, and interpersonal assessment — the ability to respond to another with curiosity, humility and respect and to include oneself as an antidote to judgment and blame. The last is the most important aspect leading to readiness to begin Year Three.

Tuition Fee

• • $5100 plus residential fee
  • Five-Day May Residential fee of $860 includes accommodation and all meals.

*Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the individual