Foundations of Inner-Directed Therapy
A 14 week online training program designed for therapists and other practitioners who wish to integrate an inner-directed approach into their work.
Suitable for practitioners wishing to enter the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy or deepen their ability to hold clients when facilitating non-ordinary states with other modalities.
With a focus on practical skill development and experiential learning, students will develop an understanding of how to integrate an inner-directed approach into their work, and what it feels like to receive this way of working themselves. Designed for practitioners who wish to enter the psychedelic field, or integrate inner-directed therapeutic skills with other modalities that catalyse non-ordinary states of consciousness.
The program is built on the understanding that while developing a theoretical understanding of IDT is relatively straightforward, developing mastery is a life-long endeavour involving one’s own personal growth, alongside the development of technical skills.
The theoretical underpinnings of IDT will be introduced in the beginning and from there, the course will shift gear into a practical format so that students can immediately translate theory into practice. The practical component of this course will be carried out in pods (groups of three), as well as demonstrations by faculty members, whole group discussion and fishbowl exercises.
This format supports students to develop an embodied understanding of the therapeutic approach not just an intellectual one. The group container influenced by the theory of interpersonal feedback processes, that recognises that blindspots can only be brought into light in the presence of another.
Given the depth and demands of this type of work, participants will be carefully screened to ensure suitability and the group will be limited to 12 spots.
Foundations of Inner-Directed Therapy is a pre-requisite for joining an IDT Intensive.
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Pre-reading
IDT Handbook: prior to commencing, all students are required to read the IDT Handbook which you will receive with your welcome pack in the post. The handbook introduces the principles of IDT and provides guidelines and structure for new practitioners.
Program Outline
Week 1: Introduction to IDT & the Group Container
Introduction to Inner-Directed Therapy and the foundations of the group process. Establishing safety, confidentiality, and the relational container.
Week 2: The Felt Sense & Inner-Healing Intelligence
Exploring the felt sense and the body’s implicit knowing. Understanding inner-healing intelligence and the psyche’s natural movement toward integration and wholeness.
Week 3: Being With
Therapist presence as a core therapeutic process. Cultivating attunement, mindful awareness, and the capacity to deeply accompany another’s experience.
Week 4: Being With and For the Other
Tracking, contacting, and reflecting the client’s experience. Developing relational attunement and learning to support the unfolding process without directing it.
Week 5: Being With and For the Other (Continued)
The use of mindful awareness in therapy. Exploring compassion versus empathy, and understanding the distinction between process and content.
Week 6: Amplifying the Client’s Inner Experience
Mirroring and deepening the client’s connection to their inner world. Supporting self-awareness and helping implicit experience move toward greater clarity and integration.
Week 7: The Space Between
Exploring the relational field and the dynamics of transference and countertransference within the therapeutic relationship.
Week 8: The Space Between (Continued)
Deepening understanding of relational dynamics, projection, and resonance within the therapeutic encounter.
Week 9: Unconditional Positive Regard & Loving-Kindness
Cultivating a non-judgemental therapeutic stance. Understanding defences as protective adaptations rather than pathology.
Week 10: Authenticity
Exploring congruence and authenticity in both therapist and client.
Week 11: The Multiplicity of the Psyche
Working with parts. Exploring the psyche as a multiplicity and supporting dialogue between different aspects of self.
Week 12: Transpersonal, Existential & Meaning-Making Processes
Exploring existential themes, spirituality, transpersonal experiences, and the search for meaning, purpose, and connection.
Week 13: Integration & Closing the Group Container
Reflecting on learning and integration across the program. Bringing awareness to endings, transitions, and the closing of the group process.
Class Structure:
Each 2 hour class focuses on a particular theme and follows the same simple, 4-part flow.
Part 1 (30 min): Discussion and demo on theme of the module
Part 2 (30 min): Practice in pods with feedback (each pod is made up of 3 students, and stays consistent from week to week to create a sense of safety)
Part 3 (30 min): Student demo in front of whole group with feedback Part 4 (30 min): Group discussion and feedback
By the end of the 13 modules, students will have each spent multiple hours giving, receiving and observing IDT, with space created for carefully delivered feedback throughout. They will leave with a solid grounding in this therapeutic approach, and the ability to integrate many useful skills into their existing therapeutic work.
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By the end of the program, students will be able to:
Understand the origins, principles, values and underpinning philosophy of inner-directed therapy.
Facilitate therapeutic processes that support the client to look inward and be curious about their inner-landscapes.
Utilise mindfulness and somatic interventions to direct a client’s awareness towards their experience in the the present moment.
Support client’s to make meaning from their inner-exploration.
Track a clients state of emotional and physiological arousal to ensure therapy unfolds in a way that is always safe and trauma-informed
Support the integration of material that emerges from a client’s subconscious, across a wide variety of areas, including psychological, somatic, emotional, symbolic, spiritual and relational.
Engage in the art of giving and receiving feedback. An essential skill in modalities that require clinicians to work in dyads or teams.
Integrate Inner-Directed Therapy skills into therapeutic contexts that involve non-ordinary states of consciousness, including but not limited to psychedelic-assisted therapy.
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The course is open to a variety of therapists, healthcare professionals and facilitators who wish to integrate the philosophy and skillset of IDT into their work.
This includes:
Practitioners who wish to develop ‘bottom-up’, somatic or inner-directed therapeutic skills.
Any practitioners who are working in or wish to enter the psychedelic space, or other fields that integrate expanded states of consciousness.
Therapists who are used to working in more cognitive and/or goal-oriented therapeutic approaches and feel there is a gap in their skillset.
Regardless of professional background, it is important to note that this course is for people who are open to challenging themselves in order to grow and better serve their clients. It is designed to support learning through lived experience.
Those who are not prepared to be challenged in a therapeutic container are encouraged to seek other trainings.
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The program takes place over 14 weeks:
13 × 2-hour classes - Mondays, 6:30pm-8:30pm AEST/9:30pm-11:30am BST
6 x 1 hour pod sessions - scheduled within your pod group
7 hours of reflective exercises and practice
15 hours of readings and pre-recorded content
Hard copy welcome pack, that includes pre-reading and a practice manual.
Reflective exercises, readings, and pre-recorded content are completed independently between sessions.
Total time commitment: 54 hours
Participants who complete the course requirements receive a Certificate of Completion.
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The full program fee is $2800.
There is a non-refundable deposit of $400 required to secure your place in the program.
Flexible payment options are available upon request.
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Inaugural program begins Monday 11th January 2027 6:30-8:30pm (AEST)