Key details
Date | Thursday 10 April, 2025
Time | 6.30pm - 8:30pm
Where | Online
Cost | $40 VAGP members. $50 non-members
Facilitator | Anna Kostina
About this event
Focusing on the client’s body can give the therapist access to deep processes that often remain hidden during a session. Bodily responses are spontaneous, raw reactions that emerge before emotions are processed into expressions we choose to display. When the therapist notices and supports these types of reactions, it increases awareness of the client’s current bodily processes, helping both therapist and client to be more present and authentic in the contact field.
In this workshop, we will explore:
- The types of bodily responses that can be observed by the therapist.
- How therapists can create space and provide support for the client’s bodily processes.
- Recognising signs of trauma experiences.
- Integrating this information into the flow of the session.
- Practical exercises to help maintain focus on the client’s bodily reactions.
About your facilitator
Anna Kostina (PhD in Clinical Psychology, GradDip Biosynthesis Psychotherapy, GradDip Supervision)
Anna is a clinical psychologist, body psychotherapist, and supervisor in Biosynthesis Therapy. She is a member of the European Association for Psychotherapy and has over 20 years of experience working with individuals and groups. Anna also teaches as an external collaborator at the Greek Centre of Biosynthesis, the Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, and other institutions.
Her extensive experience includes participation in the International Program between Moscow, Russia, and Heiden, Switzerland, which has enriched her psychotherapy practice with a multicultural and a broad perspective (https://www.europsyche.org/approaches/biosynthesis/).
She can be contacted at annabkostina@gmail.com.
About the Gestalt Centre
The Gestalt Centre is the heart of Melbourne’s Gestalt community. We offer a four-year psychotherapy training program through Gestalt Therapy Australia, staying true to the experiential roots of Gestalt while embracing cutting-edge developments in contemporary Gestalt thinking and practice worldwide.
We also operate ConnectGround, a community-based counselling and psychotherapy clinic. ConnectGround serves as both a training facility for psychotherapists and a provider of low-cost individual and group therapy for clients. The clinic emphasises the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist as a key support for building awareness and adaptability. Psychotherapy interns and volunteers gain valuable hands-on experience, enhancing their skills and professionalism through client work.
