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Upcoming Trainings:

Comprehensive Hakomi Professional Training in Mallorca, Spain starting in April 2023.

Co-Taught with other Hakomi Faculty

This will be part of a 4-year training in the Hakomi Method of Mindfulness-Centered Somatic Psychotherapy. For more info, please click here

Other Trainings:

Since 2002, I have been training therapists in agencies and organizations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The following are some trainings I have recently offered:

• Experiential Family Therapy--Developing Skills in Critical Moment Attunement, Resourcing, and Regulation

• Understanding Adolescent Development 

• Working with Dreams

• The Internal Organization of the Therapist: Applying Mindfulness to How We Sit with Clients

• Working with Trauma from a Somatic/Relational Perspective

What Previous Participants Have Said:

About Shai's Trainings on Mindfulness in Psychotherapy:

"I wish to express a special 'Thank You' to you on behalf of Marin CAMFT and the audience members, as well as on the part of myself. Your lecture was wonderful, enlightening, and beautifully delivered. It was a treat to witness your demonstration and the effectiveness of the method."

--Nerina Cecchin, committee chair for the Marin County chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, April 2015

"The gentle and nonintrusive, though deep and direct way of addressing the client's experience was impressive to witness"

--participant, lecture for the Marin County chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, April 2015

"Excellent presentation and demonstration of the method"

--participant, lecture for the Marin County chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, April 2015

"[What I liked best about the workshop] was the instructor's comprehensive mastery of material, accessibility and authenticity."

--participant at "Engaging Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method," December 2013

"[What I liked best about the workshop] was the organicity of how it unfolded. The gentle pace Shai brings to the group sets a beautiful tone & energy."

--participant at "Engaging Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method," December 2013

"Fabulous day!! Thank you so much!

--participant at "Engaging Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method," December 2013

"Shai is a great instructor. I liked the demos and the exercises."

--participant at workshop on Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method, October 2012

"[What I liked best about the workshop] was watching Shai do demonstrations of the Hakomi Method."

--participant at workshop on Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method, October 2012

"I really loved the experience!! Thank you!!"

--participant at workshop on Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method, October 2012

"[What I liked best about the workshop] was seeing Shai work so skillfully and with so much compassion."

--participant at workshop on Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method, October 2012

"[What I liked best about the workshop] was the connection created between all in the room."

--participant at workshop on Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method, October 2012

 About Shai's Trainings on Mindfulness-Based Trauma Healing:

"[What I liked most about the training was] Shai's facility and mastery."

--participant at "Mindfulness, Relationship, and the Healing of Trauma," Berkeley, CA, October 2013

"[What I liked most about the training was] the heart & skill & warmth of the instructor; the demos, the exercises in dyads and triads ."

--participant at "Mindfulness, Relationship, and the Healing of Trauma," Berkeley, CA, October 2013

"[What I liked most about the training was] Shai's presence, holding, encouragement, ease."

--participant at "Mindfulness, Relationship, and the Healing of Trauma," Berkeley, CA, October 2013

"[What I liked most about the training was] Shai--his high level of engagement. I am walking away with real knowledge, perspective and skills."

--participant at "Mindfulness, Relationship, and the Healing of Trauma," Berkeley, CA, October 2013

“We enjoyed your calm, clear, informative, relaxing, experiential, and engaging style. We appreciated your sharing some of you own personal experiences and examples when working with clients. It was a beautiful blend of didactic and experiential learning. Thank you for exploring and integrating our cases. Your theories and interventions were helpful. We like the spontaneity and interaction! It was profoundly useful to our professional development and you provided a different wonderful perspective on conducting therapy.”

-- Community Institute for Psychotherapy, Track B Interns, feedback letter for April 24 and

May 1, 2013 trainings on “Trauma Work in Psychotherapy,” San Rafael, CA

"[What I liked most about the training was] Shai's kind, gentle, and loving manner... [I liked] the safety with which Shai encouraged us to move into more depth with clients, the meditations, and the gentle guidance from the assistants and Shai during the practice."

--participant at trauma weekend of Hakomi Professional Skills Training, San Anselmo, CA, November 2012 

"Shai's grasp of neuroscience and its inclusion into this training was EXCELLENT! Thank you!"

--participant at trauma weekend of Hakomi Professional Skills Training, San Anselmo, CA, November 2012 

"Very clear presentations, good examples & easy to follow didactic presentation...appreciate the attention to individuals"

--participant at trauma weekend of Hakomi Professional Skills Training, Santa Cruz, CA, December 2012 

"Thanks for your compassionate, gentle, attentive support."

--participant at trauma weekend of Hakomi Professional Skills Training, Santa Cruz, CA, December 2012 

"Shai was wonderful. I appreciate his warmth, openness, genuine presence and knowledge."

--participant at trauma weekend of Hakomi Professional Skills Training, Santa Cruz, CA, December 2012 

"Shai Rocks!!"

--participant at trauma weekend of Hakomi Professional Skills Training, Santa Cruz, CA, December 2012 

"Thank you for sharing your personal insight and clinical expertise on 'Working with Post-Traumatic Stress and the Body in Psychotherapy.' We found this training to be very useful as we begin our journey as intern clinicians at Community Institute for Psychotherapy. We enjoyed connecting trauma to somatic bodywork to our own personal lives as well as our clients... We appreciate your deep attunement of processing the integration of our self-reflection and personal development in the work as well as connecting with clients."

--participants at Community Institute for Psychotherapy, San Rafael, CA, May 2012 

About Shai's Trainings on Working with Adolescents:

"This training was amazing! Shai and Oscar shared valuable teachings, skills and examples that came from a depth of clinical, professional, and lived-life experience. It's clear that both of them have been out there in the trenches bringing mindfulness and trauma-informed practices to our most vulnerable children and adolescents in ways fit with these kids' lives and cultures."

-- participant at 2018 "Mindfulness with Youth with Trauma" training co-led with Oscar Medina

"I was impressed with the trauma-informed Mindfulness with Youth training presented at our school district. The skills that Shai and Oscar taught linked two skill sets (working with kids in public schools and working in mindfulness) that often seem to be miles apart from one another. I learned practical and refreshing ways to approach my therapy sessions that take some of the pressure off of me as the therapist and open up the space to meet the child where they are at, allowing for more safety, acceptance and rapport in the therapeutic relationship. I also appreciated their focus on developing mindfulness practices for the therapist, so that we can regulate our own nervous systems in order to be a better anchor for the students."

-- participant at 2018 "Mindfulness with Youth with Trauma" training co-led with Oscar Medina

"This workshop confirmed my new career direction & boosted my confidence so much for doing mindfulness with youth." --participant at "Engaging Adolescents with Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy", San Rafael, CA, April 2015

"I'm grateful for the experience." --participant at "Engaging Adolescents with Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy", San Rafael, CA, April 2015

"I was in the Marin Mindfulness Institute class this past Saturday and was blown away by your presentation. It was a huge "Aha" moment with regard to how mindfulness can be used in psychotherapy from an attachment and somatic perspective."--participant at "Mindfulness-Based Therapy with Teens", Marin Mindfulness Institute, August 2014

"Thanks so much for your presentation--it was highly valued by all in the training group. We had an overall course evaluation and we included a question about your presentations and you received the highest rating from every one in the training group!" --Lesley Grant, Director of Marin Mindfulness Institute, "Mindfulness-Based Therapy with Teens", July and August 2014

"I was moved by and appreciated the heartfulness Shai brought, and the way he helped us bring our own inner teens into the room." --participant at "Engaging Adolescents with Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy", Davis, CA, April 2014

"This workshop is probably the best I have ever been to!" --participant at "Engaging Adolescents with Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy", Davis, CA, April 2014

"[What I liked most about the training was] the experiential component, the warmth and accessibility of the instructor, and the excellent hand-outs."

--participant at "Engaging Adolescents with Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy", Davis, CA, April 2014

"Shai's presentation is excellent. He brings a profoundly important perspective to the intensity and energy of adolescence--expressed and primarily feared or misunderstood in our culture. He enlightens us as to how to value, affirm, and channel teens' shadow energies while creating spaces internally and relationally for connection." --Beth Hossfeld, MFT

"A very powerful experience...It was a chance to directly experience the intensity of the inner life of adolescents... Powerfully valuable for sitting with presence for the intensity of 'shadow' for clients of any age. One of the two best trainings I've ever done... spell-binding, brilliant, wonderful."

--Deborah Brennner-Liss, Ph.D.

"Thank you for the training... I gained more out of those 2 days than I have in some entire semester long classes! I have used what you shared in my school and clinical work, as well as in my personal life. For a case presentation in my practicum class recently I facilitated an Attunement exercise for my colleagues in which everyone was highly impressed with what a deeper understanding they gained of my client as a result. I also use strategies of Internal Resourcing and Regulating regularly with clients that I see at Tam. I would love to receive more training from you in the future." --Natalie Harvey, MFT

About Shai's Trainings on Neuroscience, Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

"Excellent presentation!" --participant at April 2010 lecture sponsored by California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Marin Chapter

"Great-- new, interesting, informative, thought-provoking." --participant

"You had clear examples and allowed us to experience some of what you were explaining in the room. Your calm and control is inspiring!" --Catharina Forsythe

"I liked most the clear explanation of how mindfulness can promote neurophysiological change. The examples from cases--including specific language--was especially useful in this regard." --Bradley Rowe

"Shai is a masterful instructor--wonderful sense of calm, loving, playful energy at same time as a deep intellectual knowledge of the material."

--participant at "Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method," February 2014

"Shai was a wonderful facilitator. The day was a great combo of theory and experiential/demos." --participant at "Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and Psychotherapy: An Intro to the Hakomi Method," February 2014

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