Yael Schweitzer, LCSW, BC-DMT: Mindfulness-Based Therapy in Portland, Oregon

Courses & Trainings in Previous Years

2023


Israel - March 2023

Cultivating Resiliency through the integration of Dance/Movement Therapy, Mindfulness, and Somatic Experiencing (SE)

(SE) טיפוח חוסן בשילוב טיפול בתנועה עם מיינדפולנס והחוויה הסומאטית
בהנחיית מירב טל-מרגלית ויעל שוייצר
שישי-שבת 17-18.3 בין השעות 9:00-15:00

Led by Meirav Tal-Margalit and Yael Schweitzer
March 17-18, 9:00am – 3:00pm

For more information about the workshop please download the Cultivating Resiliency PDF



Workshops in Germany - September 2023

Offering three workshops at the Zentrum für Tanz und Bewegung / Akademie für Tanzpädagogik, Bochum*

Held at the Zentrum für Tanz und Bewegung - The workshops are offered in collaboration with Gabriela Juttner and are sponsored by Mettler Studios

  1. Mindfulness and Creative Dance
    Thursday September 21, 6:00-8:30 pm and Friday September 22, 10am - 5pm

  2. Basic Mettler-Based Dance improvisation workshop
    Saturday, September 23, 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, September 24, 10:00am to 2:30pm

  3. Advanced Mettler-Based Dance improvisation workshop
    Friday, September 29 & Saturday, September 30 - 10am to 5pm and Sunday, October 1st, 10am to 2:30pm

*The workshops are supported by a grant from Mettler Studios



2022


Online Workshops

China - December 11, 2022

Mindfulness in dance/Movement Therapy -The MB-DMT model

An online presentation at the 4th China International Arts Therapies Prospective Forum (CIATPF)

China - July through September 2022

MB-DMT – Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy

10 weekly 3-hour course (30-hour total) was offered by invitation to 33 full-time teachers from the psychology center of Beijing colleges and universities.

The course presented the main principles of dance/movement therapy (DMT) and mindfulness, and the rationale of integrating these approaches through MB-DMT model. Participants learn the theory, practices, benefits, and methods of intervention with their clients.

It was a participatory course where participants were engaged with movement experiences, mindfulness practices, interpersonal interactions, Roleplay, sharing cases by participants. and discussions.


In-Person Workshops

Germany, Bochum - April 2022

Held at the Zentrum für Tanz und Bewegung - The workshops are offered in collaboration with Gabriela Juttner and are sponsored by Mettler Studios

  1. Mindfulness and Creative Dance – This workshop will demonstrate the integration of Mettler-based work with mindfulness. The workshop will include theory and principles of Creative Dance and basic studies that naturally lend themselves to be integrated with mindfulness concepts and meditations.

    Saturday April 2nd, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday, April 3rd, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

  2. Mettler Study Group – This one-day workshop will offer the students an opportunity to dance with an international teacher and will explore specific topics/studies chosen by the group members to deepen and enrich their knowledge and experience in Mettler-based dance improvisation.

    Friday, April 8, 2022, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

  3. Basic Mettler-Based Dance improvisation workshop – A two-day Mettler-Based Creative Dance workshop given as a part of a year-long basic teacher training program for dance improvisation. It offers an introduction to Mettler-based Creative Dance principles and work, providing a two-day immersion experience of her approach to dance improvisation.

    Saturday, April 9, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, April 10, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

*The workshops are supported by a grant from Mettler Studios


Seattle, WA. - June 2022

An Introductory Workshop to Mettler – Based Creative Dance.

This workshop will entail an introduction or review of the basic principles and creative ideas of Barbara Mettler's work. Studies will center around the body as an instrument and movement material, including the exploration of organic improvisation with the individual and group bodies.

NO PRIOR DANCE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.

The introductory is held prior to the IACD annual congress and satisfies the requirement for experience in Mettler’s work in order to participate in the congress. For more information about the workshop and the congress please visit www.dancecreative.org


Saturday, June 18th - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4 pm
Sunday, June 19th - 9:00 am to 12 pm


Portland, OR. - June 2022

Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy – Summer Term, 1 credit (15 hours) course at Lewis & Clark college, Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Art Therapy program

The course presented the rationale, main principles, methods of intervention and the integration of dance/movement therapy with other mind/body approaches. Students learned the applications and effects of dance/movement therapy on diverse populations, psychological conditions, trauma, and personal growth.



2021


Korea - February 28, 2021

Interpersonal Mindfulness workshop - A 5-hour online workshop for KSDMP for dance/movement Therapists and other professionals

Interpersonal Mindfulness: Integrating Mindfulness and Dance/Movement Therapy This online workshop integrates the Interpersonal Mindfulness Program with Dance Movement Therapy to offer practitioners and their clients a powerful new way to build genuine connections with others. The unique aspect of this approach is mindfulness that arises from a physical foundation, embodied and expressed in the felt-sense connection between people, regardless of surface differences. Participants learn the six practical guidelines for being mindful in interactions, then experience those guidelines through dance and movement. Finally, they learn to implement the guidelines within the therapeutic framework, online and in-person, acquiring the skills and tools to cultivate mindfulness and creative expressions toward all their diverse clients and relationships. This short virtual workshop serves as an intro to provide participants with the experience and framework for the subsequent full in-person workshop.

China - April 24 – June 5, 2021

MB-DMT - An online 7-week course

Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy (MB-DMT) – a path to mind/body healing and genuine connection with self and others
At this workshop participants are presented with the theory and practice of MB-DMT. They learn to listen to the body, connect with their authentic self, witness their emerging movement, sense the wisdom of the body and extend mindfulness from an individual practice to mindfulness in relationship with others. All dance and movement practices are done without music to allow authentic and true expression of the inner life of each participant. This kind of movement emerges organically from the experience of the present moment, what the body wants to reveal and how one moves and reacts in relationships. Sessions will explore expression and connection through online limitations and possibilities. They include theory, meditations, movement and dance improvisation – individually and with others (using online breakout rooms), Q&A and sharing that include examination of psychological implications and relevance to everyday life.


In-Person Workshops: Germany, Bochum - May 2021

Held at the Zentrum für Tanz und Bewegung/ Akademie für Tanzpädagogik Bochum In collaboration with Gabriela Jüttner

  1. Mettler and kinesthetic sense Dance Group workshop – This one-day workshop will be woven into a group that meets once a month with intention of exploring dance as a kinesthetic art, movement expression and creativity, and how to connect while dancing in distance due to Coronavirus rules.

    Friday, May 7th, 2021, 10 am to 3 pm

  2. Basic Mettler-Based Dance improvisation workshop - A two-day Mettler-Based Creative Dance workshop is a part of a year-long basic teacher training program for dance improvisation provided by Gabriela Juttner and Michaela Koenen-Welles. The workshop includes theory of the basic elements and principles of creative dance, basic studies of force, time, and space, and the progression and theme exploration for individual, twos, small groups and whole groups dance improvisation. The intention is to help participants find their way to integrate Mettler’s approach in their dance, work, and personal life.

    Saturday, May 8th, 2021, 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, May 9th, 10 am to 2:30 pm

  3. Advanced Mettler-Based Dance improvisation workshop – This three-day Mettler-Based Creative Dance workshop is a part of a year-long Advanced Teacher Training program for dance improvisation. The workshop will deepen, expand and enrich the students’ theoretical and practical experience with Mettler work. Students will learn the broader scope and intricacy of the principles of Mettler’s work and how they apply in a variety of studies.

    Friday, May 14 & Saturday, May 15, 2021 - 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, May 16, 10 am to 2:30 pm (16 hours)

  4. Mindfulness and Creative Dance – This workshop will demonstrate the integration of Mettler-based work with mindfulness. The workshop includes theory, principles and basic studies of Creative Dance and basic mindfulness concepts and practices that together naturally lend themselves to be integrated , enriching and deepening both practices.

    Saturday May 1st 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday May 2nd, 10 am – 1 pm (9 hours))

*The workshops are supported by a grant from Mettler Studios



2020


Due to Coronavirus all scheduled courses and training (but a couple) were cancelled.

A Creative Dance course in Germany was conducted in-person:
Bochum, Germany - June 27-8, 2020: Creative Dance workshop

In these challenging times of Coronavirus and social distancing this workshop was an opportunity to relate, connect, express, and satisfy your kinesthetic sense. Across the safety space of 2 meter we explored a range of possibilities to create individual, duo and whole group dance improvisations.

The workshop presented the principles, concepts and applications of Mettler-Based Creative Dance and deepened the participants? understanding of the basic elements of dance: force, time and space. This workshop was designed for people with some experience of Mettler-Based Dance Improvisation.


Online workshop for people in China, February - July 2020

Between February to July 2020, Following the break of the Coronavirus epidemic in China, I provided 15 short online workshops (1.5 hour each) to medical stuff and other interested people in Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Harbin. The intention was to support the people as they cope with caring for the infected people in the hospitals and promote mental and physical health to those who were in isolation due to the shutdown. Every session included theory practice and Q&A and addressed 35-200 participants.

Topics that I presented

  1. The healing power of breath
  2. Being here now - cultivating presence and deep listening to self and others
  3. Embodied Mindfulness- bringing body awareness, compassion, and creativity to everyday life with MB-DMT
  4. Interpersonal Mindfulness- cultivating presence, attunement, and non-reactivity in relationships
  5. Cultivating centeredness and resiliency in times of challenge and change
  6. Taking in the Good - Building mindfulness and resiliency with pleasant experiences
  7. Self-compassion with MB-DMT


2019


China - Fall of 2019: MB-DMT workshops

4-day MB-DMT workshops for professionals and the general public


USA - October 2019: Interpersonal Mindfulness: An Integrative Approach to Connecting Across Differences

Date: October 17-20, 2019
Presenter at the ADTA annual conference "Building Connections: Dance/Movement Therapy in our Diverse World".
Presentation: Interpersonal Mindfulness: An Integrative Approach to Connecting Across Differences


Germany, Bochum - October 2019: Workshop

Date: October 4-6, 2019
Regional workshop at the teacher training at the Center for Movement and Dance (Zentrum Tanz): Free Movement Expression and mindfulness - Mettler based Creative Dance


USA - September 2019: Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy - 1 credit course for graduate students

Date: September 7-8, 2019
Location: Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Art Therapy program
Course description: Dance/Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual. The course presents the rationale, main principles, methods of intervention and the integration of dance/movement therapy with other mind/body approaches. Students learn the applications and effects of dance/movement therapy on diverse populations, psychological conditions, trauma, and personal growth. It is a participatory course integrating movement experiences, lectures, discussions and reading. The course is open to all. Experience in dance is not required.


USA, Tucson, AZ - July 2019: The Dance of interpersonal Mindfulness

Date: July 21-26, 2019
Presentation: The Dance of interpersonal Mindfulness

Presenter at the IACD annual congress "Turning Point: Changing Patterns through Creative Dance".


Israel, Be'er Shevah - June 2019: MB-DMT Course

Date: June 30- July 2nd, 2019 Location: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

A 3-day training for therapists and other professionals: MB-DMT - an applied course for integrating mindfulness and dance/movement therapy for professionals.


Martha's Vineyard, MA, USA - May 2019: Embodying Mindfulness

Date: May 10-12, 2019

Cultivating Mindfulness and Compassion with Movement Improvisation, a 3-day workshop.


2018


India, Dadar Mumba - December 2018: The Dance of Mindfulness

Date: December 12-16, 2018
Location: CID World Congress on Dance research, Dadar-Mumbai, India
Lecture: The Dance of Mindfulness - Integrating Mindfulness and Dance/Movement Therapy with MB-DMT.
Workshop: The Dance of Mindfulness - Mindful Pause and Organic Movement in MB-DMT.

Interpersonal Mindfulness focuses on Mindful speaking and listening, and staying centered in the midst of relationships. By learning six guidelines for speaking with awareness and for deep listening you learn to transform reactivity with mindfulness and calm and be more relaxed and accepting of yourself and others.


China - October 2018: MB-DMT Basic Program

Held in Beijing from October 11th - 14th and Shenzhen from October 18th - 21st.


Bochum, Germany - August 2018:

August 27, 2018 - One day workshop at the teacher training at Zentrum Tanz:
The Dance of Mindfulness - Mindfulness-Based Dance Movement Therapy (MB-DMT)


Portland, OR, USA - May 2018: Interpersonal Mindfulness

Date/Time: Saturday, May 20th, 9:00am - 4:50pm
Cost: $55 tuition
Location: PCC CLIMB Center, room 305, 1626 SE Water Ave, Portland, 97214

Interpersonal Mindfulness focuses on Mindful speaking and listening, and staying centered in the midst of relationships. By learning six guidelines for speaking with awareness and for deep listening you learn to transform reactivity with mindfulness and calm and be more relaxed and accepting of yourself and others.


Portland, OR, USA - May 2018: Embody mindfulness - Mindfulness in motion (The Dance of Mindfulness)

Cost: $55 tuition
Location: PCC CLIMB Center, room 305, 1626 SE Water Ave, Portland, 97214
Date/Time: Saturday, May 13th, 9:00am - 4:50pm

Expand & enrich mindfulness practice by adding movement expression to this unique awareness of body and mind. Connect with your authentic self and with others. Deep listening to the body yield improvisational movements - creating mindfulness in motion. No dance experience needed.


Portland, OR, USA - April 14, 2018: Embodying Mindfulness, Interpersonal Mindfulness

Date: April 14th, 2018

One day intensive at Portland Community College, Community Education at the CLIMB Center.


Israel, Be'er Shevah - February 2018:


China - January 2018: MB-DMT Workshops


2017


China - December 2017: Introduction to MB-DMT


China - August 2017: Workshops in Zibo and Beijing


Portland, OR, USA - May 2017: Interpersonal Mindfulness

Date/Time: Saturday, May 20th, 9:00am - 4:50pm
Cost: $55 tuition
Location: PCC CLIMB Center, room 305, 1626 SE Water Ave, Portland, 97214

Interpersonal Mindfulness focuses on Mindful speaking and listening, and staying centered in the midst of relationships. By learning six guidelines for speaking with awareness and for deep listening you learn to transform reactivity with mindfulness and calm and be more relaxed and accepting of yourself and others.


Portland, OR, USA - May 2017: Embody mindfulness - Mindfulness in motion (The Dance of Mindfulness)

Date/Time: Saturday, May 13th, 9:00am-4:50pm
Cost: $55 tuition
Location: PCC CLIMB Center, room 305, 1626 SE Water Ave, Portland, 97214

Expand & enrich mindfulness practice by adding movement expression to this unique awareness of body and mind. Connect with your authentic self and with others. Deep listening to the body yield improvisational movements creating mindfulness in motion. No dance experience needed.


China - Spring 2017: Workshops in Beijing


2016


Cape Town, South Africa - October 2016: Embodying Mindfulness

Date: October 22nd, 2016
Location: Capetown, South Africa
A Mindfulness in motion workshop with Yael Schweitzer and Yasmin Lambat

Conducted a workshop with Yasmin Labat were we invited participants to explore emerging approaches of Mindfulness based movement practices that we created through our journey with mindfulness and movement.

We placed the body at the heart of Mindfulness and invited participants to sense the wisdom of their body in stillness and in motion. We called this embodied mindfulness.

Yasmin who developed body sensing invited participants to listen and observe felt sensations with curiosity as they arise in the moment, enriching, enlivening, expanding and deepening awareness of the relationship with one's self, body and the space around. I introduced mindfulness in motion through movement explorations that connected participants with their authentic self and with others and taught the practice of Loving-Kindness in stillness and movement.


Israel - January 2016:

Provided three short workshops:

  1. Ben Gurion University of the Negev
    Provided 2 workshops for undergraduate and graduate students of Social-work
    Mindfulness in Therapy - applications for the therapist and the client
  2. David Yellin college of Education in Jerusalem: A three hour workshop for Dance therapy Students on MB-DMT - Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy.
  3. Sdot Negev Center Basic Mindfulness workshop for therapists who work with a population in Conflict-Zone.

China - July 2016: MB-DMT for Single Mother

Beijing: July 22-24
A 3 days MB-DMT workshop for single mothers. Please see the video for promotional description of the workshop.
Watch a video about this workshop


China - July 2016: BMT - Body/Mind Training

Beijing: July 9-12 & Hangzhou: July 15-19
A 10 month new training program for therapist, teachers, healthcare provider, managers for soft skills & DMT integration with their work. To be taught by 6 teachers from Holland and the US. My workshop opened the training program.

The 4 day body awareness module focuses on body awareness, mindfulness and movement embedded in the MB-DMT approach (Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy). It aims at enhancing participants' self-awareness and connection with their body/mind and in training them to apply the learned material in their professional work.


China - April 2016: MB-DMT Workshops

Four Day MB-DMT Workshops in China


2015


Portland, OR, USA - Cultivating Mindfulness and Compassion with Movement Improvisation

When: Six Mondays, October 26 - November 30, 2015 7-9 pm
Where: Opening to Life, 407 NE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97232 (second floor).

Through mindfulness meditations and movement explorations you will connect with your authentic self and with others. Deep listening to the body yields improvisational movements - the dance of mindfulness.


Beijing, China - August 20-23, 2015: Cultivating Compassion, Acceptance and presence

4 day workshop, August 20-23

Compassion, acceptance and presence are integral parts of the mindfulness approach and practice. In this workshop we focused on these aspects while strengthening mindfulness in all other aspects as well.


Beijing, China - August 17, 2015: MB-DMT Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy - One day post-conference workshop for therapists

One day post-conference workshop for therapists, August 17, 2015

At the 1-day workshops participants were presented with the basic theory and practice of MB-DMT and got to experience through exercises and experiential explorations in movement how to listen to the body, be present and express their inner movement impulses, and how to relax the body and the mind. The discussion included explanation on the use of the approach in therapy both for the therapist and the clients.

One day post-conference workshop for therapists, August 17, 2015


Beijing, China - August 15, 2015: Third Academic Conference of Chinese Association for Psychological Intervention

Peking University Health Science Center, August 15, 2015

Presented MB-DMT - theory, integration and implementation in therapy, including a short experiential.

2015 Third Academic Conference of Chinese Association for Psychological Intervention

Peking University Health Science Center, August 15, 2015


Beijing, China - August 13-16, 2015: MB-DMT: Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy

4-day workshop, August 13-16

At the 4-day workshops participants were presented with theory and practice of MB-DMT. Sessions included explanations, meditation, exercises/movement/dance, interpersonal mindfulness and sharing that included psychological insights and discussion on relevance to everyday life.

MB-DMT: Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy. 4 day workshop, August 13-16.


Portland, OR, USA - Spring 2015: The Dance of Mindfulness

May 5-June 9, 7:00pm - 8:50pm
Location: PCC Cascade Campus, 705 N Killingsworth St, Portland, 97217, CH 304

Cultivate Mindfulness with movement improvisation and non-verbal communication. Through mindfulness meditations and movement explorations participants connected with their authentic self and with the participants of the class. The deep listening to the body and to others yielded improvisational movements, creating the dance of mindfulness.

Click to download a printable flyer about this course.


2014


Portland, OR, USA - Winter 2014: Interpersonal Mindfulness

PCC Community Ed - Work and Life Balance

Date & Time: Mondays, Nov 3-Dec 15, 7pm-8:50pm and Saturday, Dec 6, 10am-3:50pm
Location: PCC CLIMB Center, room 102 1626 SE Water Ave, Portland OR 97214

Understand and ease causes of interpersonal stress, modify limiting habits and practice skillful interaction. Interpersonal mindfulness is based on insight dialogue and fundamentals of mindfulness meditation.

Professionals learn how to use mindfulness in interactions with clients/students and how to remain calm, present, compassionate, and attentive during the challenges that arise in those interactions.


China - October 2014: MB-DMT: Mindfulness-Based Dance/Movement Therapy – basic program


2013


Portland, OR, USA - November 2013: Mindfulness in Movement

Connecting to the Authentic Self, Connecting to Others

Saturday, November 16th, 2013, 9am - 12pm. Lewis & Clark College, South Chapel, Graduate Campus – a short program for therapists (3 CEUs)


Israel, Be'er Shevah - October 2013: Mindfulness as a Therapeutic Approach

A 3 day workshop in Beer Sheva, Israel, at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Date & Time: October 13th, 15th, & 17th, 2013, 5pm - 9pm each day
Location: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

The workshop was intended for therapists and healthcare professionals to learn about mindfulness and its therapeutic benefits, gain skills and tools to be applied in therapy and get introduced to the elements of Interpersonal Mindfulness and their contribution to the therapeutic interaction.

For more information visit http://in.bgu.ac.il/acadsec/external_studies/Pages/mindfulnes.aspx


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