Somatic Trainings for Mental Health and Medical Professionals

Christine Donohue, MFT, SEP is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. She maintains responsibility for trainings and their content. Courses that offer CE's meet qualifications for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. CE certificates are emailed within 15 days post training. Provider #82389.

Mind, Body, Spirt: Conscious Embodiment

Come deepen your connection to your inner wisdom and true self during this three-part experiential class. Our time together weaves exercises to tune into your physical body, mind, and spirit in ways that offer you palpable, empowering, and exciting new discoveries. In our time together you:

Learn five details about the wonders of your physical body’s capacity to heal
Experience the dynamic nature of your aura and how to use your consciousness to cleanse chakras
Tap into the level of intentionality within your energetic body and gain proficiency with aligning this to your highest service
Reconnect to your essential self, that unique spark of aliveness that is YOU.

Dates: Drop-in classes for 2026 ~January 10, March 7 & April 4
Time: 9:30 AM -1:00 PM EST
Location: Shamballa Healing Center, W. Falmouth
Cost: $70 per class. Invest in 2 classes for $135. Payment plans available by emailing: info@christinedonohue.com
Register: www.shamballahealingcenter.com/upcoming-event
Teaching method: Lecture, Experiential, Group Discussion

“Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.”

W.B. Yeats

Somatic Assessment I: Neo-Reichian Character Defense Structures (CDS)

During this training, you learn details of five main Character Defense Structures (CDS) and two subgroups. The content for each CDS includes the core wound, main issue, typical physical musculature, how the energetic field shifts to cope, modeling of physical/energetic expression, and therapeutic interventions to provide a reparative experience. Case studies are shared and time for question and answer is provided. Participants use worksheets to work alone or in dyads to identify aspects of your Character Defense Structures.

By the end of our time together, you are able to:

Assess 5 main Character Defense Structures (CDS) by core wound and main issue
Describe the 2 CDS sub-types and how they are unique
Describe defining body structure and how the energetic field typically shifts for each CDS
Apply one therapeutic reflection for 2 CDS in order to establish rapport and create safety.

Date: November 15, 2025 (early reg ends Nov 1), December 6, 2025 (early reg ends Nov 8), January 17, 2026 (early reg ends Dec 17)

Time: 9:30 AM – 1:45 PM PST NOTE: there is one 15-minute break during this training

Location: Zoom

Cost: $100 if register by November 1st, Novmber 8th, or December 17th, respectively, $125 thereafter. Associate cost: $60

CE’s: 4 CE. CEPA Provider #: 82389

Teaching method: PowerPoint, Case Study, Experiential, Group Discussion

For Associate payment and questions, email: info@christinedonohue.com

Testimonials:

“It’s very interesting to consider Character Defense Structures through a clinical lens. Christine is an excellent, bright, effective, and compassionate teacher.” Nora Webb, MFT, SEP
“The presentation and the material flowed smoothly, making it easy to follow and digest. I felt that the course improved my clinical understanding of character defenses, which will help me enhance my conceptualization of my clients. Christine is a warm and inviting instructor who has an innate ability to present complex material. She provided plenty of examples torelate the material to a clinical setting, helping enhance our understanding. I walked away with extra tools to utilize in sessions with my clients! Thanks, Christine” Matt Cobb, AMFT

Refund Policy: All refund requests will be honored if they are made within five business days prior to the course, less a $20 processing fee. For those who cancel less than 48 hours (during business days: M-F) there is a 50% refund. There is no refund for participants who ‘no show’ or for technical difficulties experienced on the student’s end. To cancel a training, even if it is a free offering, please email info@christinedonohue.com.

Grievance: shall be submitted by email to info@christinedonohue.com. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within 24 hours, M-F. The Program Administrator will review the grievance and respond back to the participant within 72 hours.

Unleash Spontaneous Creativity: Body as Portal

Come celebrate the Winter Solstice, embody your spontaneous creative spark, and learn ways to support your clients to do the same. This training offers a theoretical conceptualization of the creative wound, an introduction to the R.A.D.I.A.T.E process, and your own experience of unleashing spontaneous creative expression.

By the end of our time together you are able to:

Identify 3 aspects of the creative wound and how this links to shame
Apply 3 interventions to assess and treat the impacts of the creative wound
Utilize embodiment as a doorway for your client’s spontaneous expression
Apply the R.A.D.I.A.T.E. process to facilitate a deepening of self-connection and access spontaneous authentic expression.

Date: December 20, 2025 (early reg ends Nov 22nd)

Time: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM PST NOTE: there are two 15-minute breaks during this training

Location: Zoom

Cost: $100 if register by November 22nd, $125 thereafter. Associate cost: $60

CE’s: 4 CE. CEPA Provider #: 82389

Teaching method: PowerPoint, Experiential, Group Discussion

Materials: Please have writing, drawing, and/or painting materials as well as your phone for voice memo’s.

For Associate payment and questions, email: info@christinedonohue.com

Somatic Assessment II: CDS to Enhance Attunement

This training offers clinical information of the five main Character Defense Structures (CDS) specific to the intersubjective field and clinicians “body as instrument” for attunement and interventions. Learn five energetic and verbally-based healing responses to facilitate co-regulation and harmonic resonance, enhance attunement, and increase client’s regulation of their autonomic nervous system.

By the end of our time together, you are able to:

Describe 2 ways CDS’s impact interpersonal dynamics and 2 interventions to reduce reactivity of someone’s character defenses
Deepen assessment skills for 2 clinical cases by identifying primary CDS and overlay CDS
Apply understanding of transference and countertransference for 2 CDS-based clinical scenarios
Become proficient with assessing and shifting your energetic field to attune to 3 CDS.

Date: January 31, 2026 (early reg ends Dec 23)

Time: 9:30 AM – 1:45 PM PST. NOTE: there is one 15-minute break during this training

Location: Zoom

Cost: $100 if register by December 20th, $125 thereafter. Associate cost: $60

CE’s: 4, CE. CEPA Provider #: 82389

Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Somatic Assessment I

Teaching method: PowerPoint, Demonstration, Case Study, Experiential, Group Discussion

For Associate payment and questions, email: info@christinedonohue.com

Intro to Somatic Experiencing I

In our time together, you are introduced to Somatic Experiencing (SE) concepts and approaches to facilitate greater affect regulation. In-depth education of the Window of Tolerance, Dysregulation, Hyper/Hypoarousal, Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn, Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System, and description of how the brain is impacted by trauma is offered. Learn how to apply SE concepts of “stuck-on”, “stuck-off” pendulation, and titration. Christine models three SE tools for affect regulation and offers a case study to describe how these tools support SE key concepts. Participants practice SE tools in dyads.

By the end of our time together you are able to:

Define trauma using: dysregulation, hyper/hypoarousal, window of tolerance, polarization, stuck-on, and stuck-off
Identify 3 physiological cues of fight/flight, freeze, and fawn
Learn 2 SE tools to teach clients to use between sessions and gain proficiency through dyads or triads
Apply 2 SE interventions to support someone to shift out of an overwhelmed state.

Date: February 7, 2026 (early reg. ends Jan 7) or February 29, 2026 (early reg. ends Jan 29)

Time: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM PST. NOTE: there is one 30-minute break during this training.

Location: Zoom

Cost: $125 if register by January 3rd or 24th, respectively, $150 thereafter. Associate cost: $60

CE’s: 5, CE. CEPA Provider #: 82389

Teaching method: PowerPoint, Demonstration, Case Study, Experiential, Group Discussion

For Associate payment and questions, email: info@christinedonohue.com

Intro to Somatic Experiencing II

Pre-req: Intro to SE I

During this training, you deepen your understanding of the neuroscience of how SE approaches impact the limbic and brainstem, over-coupling, under-coupling, coherency, and orientation. You acquire 3 additional somatic tools to facilitate clients to use for affect regulation and learn how to engage these tools in session. You are taught how to work with clients experiencing overwhelming states, the use of sound to enhance regulation of autonomic nervous system (ANS). Christine demonstrates how to blend these tools into a session with one participant. Practice somatic approaches sessions in dyads or triads.

By the end of our time together you are able to:

Apply 3 new SE concepts (over-coupling, under-coupling, etc) to your current caseload
Describe the benefits of using sound-based interventions and how this relates to the autonomic nervous
Apply 2 SE interventions to address clients who go into “freeze” during sessions
Gain proficiency with tracking a clients ANS and combining 2 somatic tools during practice dyads or triads.

Date: March 21, 2026 (early reg. ends Feb 17)

Time: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM PST. NOTE: there is one 30-minute break during this training

Location: Zoom

Cost: $125 if register by February 17th, $150 thereafter.Associate cost: $60

CE’s: 5, CE. CEPA Provider #: 82389

Teaching method: PowerPoint, Demonstration, Case Study, Experiential, Group Discussion

For Associate payment and questions, email: info@christinedonohue.com

Somatic Experiencing III: Clinical Approaches

Pre-req: Somatic Experiencing I & II

This five-hour training supports you to incorporate SE and other somatic approaches into your clinical practice. Areas of focus are: the importance of the vagus nerve and basics of Polyvagal Theory, how to work with clients who have anger issues or buried anger, and SE-based co-regulation tools. You will have ample time to practice somatic approaches sessions in dyads or triads. Christine will demonstrate how to blend these tools into a session with one participant. There are several opportunities for group discussion.

Apply 3 neurocscience concepts of the vagus nerve to your caseload
Gain proficiency in 2 SE approaches to work with anger issues
Utilize 2 co-regulation interventions in your clinical practice.
Gain proficiency with tracking a clients ANS and combining 2 somatic tools during practice dyads or triads.

Date: April 18, 2026 (early reg. ends March 21)

Time: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM PST. NOTE: there is one 30-minute break during this training.

Location: Zoom

Cost: $125 if register by 21st, $150 thereafter. Associate cost: $60

CE’s: 5 CE. CEPA Provider #: 82389

Teaching method: PowerPoint, Demonstration, Case Study, Experiential, Group Discussion

For Associate payment and questions, email: info@christinedonohue.com

Somatic Experiencing Clinical Case Study

Pre-requisite: Somatic Experiencing I, II & III

These. two-hour classes provide you with an opportunity to apply your knowledge of
Somatic Experiencing, neuroscience of the autonomic nervous system and the brain, and
specific interventions to case studies. One case-study will be explored each week from
participants clinical practices. Note, there is approximately one hour of preparation per class.

Dates: May 2, 2026, May 30, 2026, June 13, 2026

Time: 9:30-11:30 AM PST

Location: On-line: Zoom

Cost: $195 for series or $70/class. Associates $100 for series or $40/class

CE’s: 2 CE per class. CEPA Provider #: 82389

Register: info@christinedonohue.com for Licensed and Associate payment information

Prerequisites: Somatic Experiencing I, II, & III

Teaching method:Demonstration, Case Study, Experiential, Group Discussion

For more info: info@christinedonohue.com

Refund Policy: All refund requests will be honored if they are made within five business days prior to the course, less a $20
processing fee. For those who cancel less than 48 hours (during business days: M-F) there is a 50% refund. There is no
refund for participants who ‘no show’ or for technical difficulties experienced on the student’s end. To cancel a training, even if
it is a free offering, please email info@christinedonohue.com.

Grievance: shall be submitted by email to info@christinedonohue.com. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within
24 hours, M-F. The Program Administrator will review the grievance and respond back to the participant within 72 hours.

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