When we sit with someone, there are always two layers of communication happening. One is in the words, the story being told, the narrative that makes sense of what is happening. The other happens underneath: a flicker in the eyes, a tightening of the voice, a shift in posture, the rhythm of the breath.

Often it is this second layer that carries the real weight. Research into communication (Mehrabian, 1971) shows that when words and non-verbal signals do not match, we tend to believe the body more than the words. Practitioners know this instinctively, presence often communicates more than content. This workshop invites us to explore that unspoken layer of practice. It is here, in the subtleties of tone, gesture, and embodied response, that deeper understanding becomes possible.

These processes unfold not just in language, but in the physiology, memory, and resonance of two nervous systems meeting in relationship (Schore, 2022; Siegel, 2012). Over two in-person days, you will have the chance to slow down, tune in, and work with these subtleties in a small group setting. Through live demonstrations, experiential exercises, and reflective dialogue, we will practise how to notice and navigate body language, gesture, tone, and presence as powerful therapeutic tools. The training draws on attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and Gestalt therapy.

It emphasises the moments between words, where posture, breath, and shared emotional states can reveal more than the story being told. The workshop is facilitated by experienced and specialist group therapists, with strong attention to emotional safety and embodied pacing. Alongside theory, you will be invited into practical and personal explorations that support you to show up more fully, responsively, and intuitively in your work.