Description: Portrayals have been described by Diana Fosha as “the pinnacle of experiential dynamic-affect work.’ Using the power of the imagination, they can help the client access, heighten and deepen the visceral experience of core affect and then process it to a satisfying completion. Portrayals are real or imagined scenes and/or conversations from the past, present or future in which the patient is invited to have a reparative, feared or longed-for experience. Simply put, they help clients get unstuck.

In this course, participants will deepen their understanding of how to use portrayals to promote healing and transformation.  Ben will emphasize practical application, techniques, and tools for introducing portrayals into participants’ clinical work, including an exploration of the different kinds of portrayals, when to use them, and how to use them to maximum effect.

Extensive video of clinical work with portrayals will be reviewed and discussed. Experiential exercises for skill-building with portrayal work are available for Level 2 AEDP practitioners.