The basic DFA training leads to certification as a DFA practitioner and takes place over a period of two to three years.
At the end of each phase the faculty evaluates the student's progress and determines each person's preparation to continue into the next training phase.
The curriculum of the Basic Training in DFA Somatic Pattern Recognition extends over five five-week phases, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The next training is scheduled from October 2024 through October 2026. Application for training needs to be presented before April 15, 2024.
Fee: €1900,- + VAT per phase.
Dates for the next DFA practitioner training:
Phase I: September 20 - October 20, 2024
September 20, 21, 22
27, 28, 29
October 4, 5, 6
11, 12, 13
18, 19, 20
Phase II: March 21 - April 20, 2025
March 21, 22, 23
28, 29, 30
April 4, 5, 6
11, 12, 13
18, 19, 20
Phase III: September 26 - October 26, 2025
September 26, 27, 28
October 3, 4, 5
10, 11, 12
17, 18, 19
24, 25, 26,
Phase IV: March 20, 2026 -April 19
March 20, 21 y 22
April 3, 4, 5
10, 11, 12
17, 18, 19
Certification phase: September 25 - October 25, 2026
September 25, 26, 27
October 2, 3, 4
9, 10, 11
16, 17, 18
23, 24, 25
Phases I and II
These segments of the training provide the opportunity to develop the skills needed to perceive and interact appropriately with the physical and emotional body. Students attend classes in:
Movement Theory
Concepts of Functional Analysis
Palpative Experience
Emotional Accessing
Group Process
Practical Demonstrations
Lectures on recent research in connective tissue, biological and psychological ontogenesis, development of individual and collective human consciousness, recognition of the effects of traumatic experiences on the physical and the psyche, and other subjects.
These phases strongly emphasize the student’s awareness of personal process, and also provide individual support for the next level of understanding.
5 weeks, 3 days a week
Interim Phases
In order to assimilate and integrate the information experienced in each phase, during the interim phases the students must receive weekly DFA sessions with their practitioner in preparation for the following phase. We consider the interim phases an important part of the students’ process within the basic DFA curriculum.
4-6 months approximately
Phase III
This phase of the training is designed to challenge the student through exploring and mastering a more intimate level of physical and emotional accessing. Students work on each other under close supervision.
5 weeks, 3 days a week
Interim Phase
In this phase students take a minimum of two clients through a series of sessions with emphasis on the physical access, while they continue their personal process in weekly sessions with their practitioner.
Between 4 and no more than 12 months
Phase IV
This phase requires each student to take clients through a series of sessions supervised by the DFA training staff. In approximation to the field of professional practice as a DFA practitioner, the students learn how to draw distinctions between personal process and client process.
A final interview will be held with the DFA training staff to determine the students’ preparedness to work with clients.
5 weeks, 3 days a week
Interim Phase
In this phase students take a minimum of two clients through a series of sessions with supervision by an appointed local supervisor. They continue their personal process with weekly DFA sessions in preparation for the certification phase.
4-6 months approximately
Certification Phase
This phase of the training is designed to further expand the student’s ability to draw clear distinctions between personal process and client process in the field of professional practice as a DFA practitioner. Students present a written paper and live demonstration of introducing the work to the public. Upon successful completion, students receive certification.
5 weeks, 3 days a week
Reading list