Year Two - Dharma In Action
The heart of the work in year two revolves around 'Dharma in action' or 'Dharma in relationship'. In this year the emphasis changes from the client's process to the therapist's. The essential focus now becomes the psychotherapeutic relationship from the therapist's perspective. Inner exploration is still the vehicle for this and a deepening appreciation of the formation of character structure is pursued. The psycho-therapeutic relationship between client and therapist is the context for this exploration with an emphasis on the therapist's position. 'Active Supervision' is introduced as the main vehicle for this shift in focus from client process to therapist process. Again the session work is generally conducted in triads with observer as 'Fair Witness'. In the first year this role involved feedback as to the observer's own arising process. In the second year this role shifts to reflections focused on the observation of the therapist's process.
The psychotherapeutic relationship which unfolds from this process acknowledges the joint nature of the work. Psychotherapy is seen as a journey in which both therapist and client are jointly engaged and are fellow travellers, hence the work is sometimes called 'joint practice'. This is extended to the dynamics of the group which are explored as an expression of this personal process in relationship. The nature of the mind and consciousness itself becomes revealed through this joint engagement within the psychotherapeutic encounter.
During this shift to the therapist's position, the cultivation of 'sustained attention' is encouraged. This is a process in which the ability to be present in a sustained way is refined. In this, a state of sustained presence is brought to the relationship and a greater potential for 'Wise Mind' and a deeper sensitisation to our human condition naturally arises. All psychotherapeutic intervention is seen through this lens. The theme of resonance, which was introduced in the foundation course, is deepened and experienced as a bridge between the personal and the transpersonal. The ability of the training therapist to resonate, tolerate and work with states of fear, conflict and confusion is strengthened. These states of inner confusion, need and resistance are seen as the ground of potential transformation. It is through our ability to tolerate and be present within these states, that the natural arising of wisdom occurs.
'Wise Mind' is always present if we let go of fear and allow our Core to be expressed. This is natural and is indeed our birth-right. The journey is simply to see what is in the way of this. This is the essence of the psychotherapeutic process.
In the second year, Western models of ego process are presented. In this, models of personality from Characterological Schools are emphasised and explored in an experiential context. Trainees will explore their own patterns of character strategy and defensive positions which are rooted in early childhood experience. It is this period of early character formation in which our basic assumptions about the world coalesce. Our incorporation of the beliefs and views of our parents, primary caretakers and early peers are especially powerful during this period. In this context, the early formation of our conditioned societal and cultural beliefs and world views can be accessed and experienced. The Core Process Model and Buddhist psychology are the lenses through which these Western models of personality are seen. This process is extended and deepened in an exploration of Persona and Shadow.
Those aspects of our sense of self which we feel comfortable with and feel to be acceptable to others becomes our Persona. Those aspects of our sense of self which we find unacceptable, dangerous and terrifying becomes our Shadow. We attempt to repress those unacceptable parts of ourselves, but the Shadow always lurks within our experience of the world. This basic split creates an inner conflict and tension whose healing is an essential part of the transformative process.
With this foundation, the processes of transference and counter-transference are explored through the joint practice of the maturing psychotherapeutic relationship. These are seen as arising from our tendencies to perceive the world the same way much of the time. It is a process in which our conditioning dictates our response to present experience. This can only lead to confusion and suffering. Transferential processes must be addressed in a field of compassion and sustained attention. Transference is seen in the context of a 'call' by the client to the therapist's awareness and the therapist's reciprocal process, or their counter-transference, is seen as their response to this call. It must be remembered in the midst of this psycho-dynamic process that not only is this not all of who we are but, at the essence of this confusion, lies clarity and peace. The Core Process model of group dynamics and psychotherapeutic process will be introduced and explored in this year.
Application and Dates
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