Pioneer Award, 2018

DR. STEPHEN PRORGES research intersects psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology. Through his development of the Polyvagal Theory, Porges is discovering how the autonomic nervous system controls the reactions and behaviors of individuals affected by a wide-range of traumatic experiences, including sexual assault and partner violence, bullying, and the trauma associated with diagnoses and treatment of the reproductive system. Currently, Porges is developing the Kinsey Institute Sexual Trauma Research Consortium to address the life-changing affects and treatments around trauma. He is creating a team of collaborative researchers and clinicians at the Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, and other partner institutions to document both the effects of trauma on people’s ability to form intimate relationships and the development of novel treatments to reverse its effects.

Pioneer Award, 2012

AKHTER AHSEN, PH.D. holds a seminal place in the development of Somatic Psychology. Since the early 1950’s Dr. Ahsen has published, practiced, and trained individuals to work in images rather than words. Standing apart from other theorists in psychology, he has never separated mind from body. According to Ahsen, the image holds spirit, mind, and body. Developed through biology, philosophy, mythology, and quantum science, his system is built on the structure of consciousness itself, a method of physical and spiritual consciousness. With an Image as entry point (I), the body is automatically engaged through a Somatic response to the image (S) and the Meaning (M) which emerges as a result of the flow of consciousness. This ISM structure keeps body and mind together, a living, psychosomatic system. The ability to work with the body without leaving the mind is Akhter Ahsen’s most significant contribution to the field of Body Psychotherapy.

Pioneer Award, 2012

EUGENE GENDLIN is internationally recognized as a major American philosopher and psychologist. He taught at the University of Chicago from 1963 to 1995. The applications of this “Philosophy of the Implicit” have been important in many fields. Gendlin has been honored four times by the American Psychological Association for his development of Experiential Psychotherapy. He received the first “Distinguished Professional Psychologist of the Year” award from the Clinical Division, an award from the Philosophical Psychology Division, and he and The Focusing Institute received an award from the Humanistic Division in August of 2000. Division 24 gave him (2010) their highest award for Distinguished Theoretical and Philosophical Contributions to Psychology. In 2008 he was awarded the Viktor Frankl prize by the city of Vienna and the Viktor Frankl Family Foundation. His book, Focusing is translated into 17 languages. His other books include, Let Your Body Interpret Your Dreams, and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy.

Pioneer Award, 2012

 Pioneer Award, 2012 CHARLES R. (CHUCK) KELLEY, PH.D. was a philosopher of science, an explorer and engineer of the life force, and an applied experimental psychologist.  He was a student of Wilhelm Reich, and after Reich’s death in 1957 he published THE CREATIVE PROCESS, America’s only scientific periodical devoted to furthering Reich’s work at that time. By the late sixties he developed his own system of Radix® Education in Feeling and Purpose, and he and his wife Erica ran a retreat center in California until 1987, offering residential programs and training professionals from around the world.

ARNY MINDELL, PH.D. is in private practice in Portland, Oregon. He is known for his development of the “dreambody” and “process work” (process oriented psychology). He is the author of 19 books in 21 languages, including Dreambody, The Shaman’s Body, Quantum Mind, and Quantum Mind and Healing. Arny has an M.S. from M.I.T., was a Jungian training analyst, and has a Ph.D. in psychology. He is also known in the area of conflict management for his Sitting in the Fire and for his integration of psychology and physics, work on dreams, bodywork, relationships, and for interventions in near death situations.    To listen to the March 2009 Somatic Perspective  interview click here.

Pioneer Award, 2012

JACK LEE ROSENBERG, PH.D. is internationally recognized as a pioneer for his innovative approach to body psychotherapy, human sexuality, and couples counseling, teaching his approach throughout the United States, Europe and Canada He is founder and Clinical Director of the IBP Central and International Institutes. He has doctorates in dentistry and psychology. His master’s thesis focused on group dynamics and industrial psychology, his doctorate on clinical psychology. As Director of Counseling at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, he did research on somatic medicine and taught dental psychology. He trained therapists at the Gestalt Institute in San Francisco and at the Center for the Healing Art, Los Angeles. He has conducted workshops at the Esalen Institute for more than twenty-eight years. He is in private practice in Los Angeles. He is the author of Total Orgasm, Body, Self and Soul: Sustaining Integration and co-author of The Intimate Couple.  To listen to the July 2012 Somatic Perspective Interview click here
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