Chairwork: An Introductory Experiential Workshop (Decision-Making, Trauma, Betrayal, and Self-Compassion)

Are you a clinician who has felt stuck or stagnant in your practice? Are you curious about experiential work but have been unsure where to start?

The Chairwork Psychotherapy Initiative has created an energizing and exciting introductory workshop experience that will give all practitioners a running start to incorporating Chairwork and experiential techniques into their clinical practice. As the creators of Chairwork Psychotherapy and home of the world's first Chairwork certification program, we are excited to bring this beautiful and clinically effective healing practice to clinicians of all...Read more levels who wish to broaden their clinical skills.
This in-person, experiential workshop is a great opportunity for those seeking to level up their experiential therapy skills or those who are curious about experiential techniques.

**Note: This workshop is a standalone training experience. Attendance at the October 24 workshop is not required.


5 CEs available
Date: October 25, 2025
Time: 10am - 4pm PT (This workshop will include a one-hour lunch break. Exact time TBD on the day of the workshop.)
Location: 606 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 (BLANKSPACES)

Topics covered will include:
Introduction and Foundations
Decision-Making
Working with Trauma: Third-Person Storytelling
Dealing with Change and Interpersonal Betrayal – Vector Dialogues
Developing Self-Compassion


DETAILS:
Introduction and Foundations:
What are the roots of Chairwork? We will explore the rich traditions that inform modern-day Chairwork practice and explore the roles of Dr. Jacob Moreno and Dr. Fritz Perls. Following that, we will outline the basic foundations and framework of Chairwork and Chairwork Psychotherapy, including the Four Dialogues Model.

Decision-Making Dialogues and Polarities
Difficult decisions and inner conflict are a common struggle we all face from time to time. Managing this in clinical practice can be challenging—especially when patients wish we would tell them what we think they should do!
We will introduce the powerful practice of Decision-Making Dialogues and polarity balance exercises. This effective and powerful approach to grappling with decisions will give participants an immediately applicable way to work with patients dealing with these issues. Participants will then have the opportunity to watch a live, unrehearsed demonstration showing this in practice.
Lastly, participants will have the opportunity to practice this dialogue work with each other, with live support from the facilitators.

Working with Trauma: Third-Person Storytelling
Chairwork is a powerful tool for working with trauma. When working with traumatic memories, we can use this healing form to support integration and healing. We will share how to use Chairwork to directly work with unresolved traumatic memories. Participants will also have the opportunity to watch a live, unrehearsed demonstration showing this in practice.

Interpersonal Betrayal and Change – Using Vector Dialogues
It can be shocking to experience dramatic changes and/or betrayal in our interpersonal relationships. This is a painful and universal experience for most people. Using Chairwork, we will demonstrate how we can help patients work through these heartbreaking experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to watch a live, unrehearsed demonstration showing this in practice.

Developing Self-Compassion
Most people struggle with self-compassion, but it can be puzzling to know how to foster this within ourselves and our patients. We will outline how we can develop a self-compassionate voice and we will provide an easy to use dialogue script that will create the foundations for inner self-compassion. Participants will then have the opportunity to watch a live, unrehearsed demonstration showing this in practice.


This event is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's. Grad students and interns are also welcome. Less...

Learning Objectives

• Compare the respective roles of Dr. Jacob Moreno and Dr. Friedrich “Fritz” Perls in the creation of Chairwork Psychotherapy.
• List each of the Four Dialogues.
• Identify two Deepening Techniques.
• Demonstrate how to set up a polarity dialogue.
• Demonstrate how to work with an unintegrated traumatic or difficult memory.
• Demonstrate how to setup a dialogue for experiences of betrayal or ambiguous loss.
• Demonstrate how to setup a dialogue for developing self-compassion.

Target Audience

Saturday, October 25, 2025

10:00 AM PDT - 04:00 PM PDT