H.E.A.R.T. Relationship Training

Hakomi Embodied and Aware Relationships Training

A mindfulness-centred approach to interpersonal intelligence and seeing from the heart

There is no place in the world where we are challenged as much to step out of our personal limitations and to grow than in relationships that are deeply meaningful to us. This is where we laugh, suffer, make war and reconcile, and it is also where we can find the highest forms of surrender, transcendence of character, and the most profound happiness. Yet, despite our longing for deeper connection and healing within our relationships, many people find themselves stuck in familiar patterns and lost as to how to overcome these difficulties. This can happen not only in our romantic relationships, but also in other relationships that are important to us, such as with friends, parents, children, co-workers, and neighbours.

The H.E.A.R.T. model provides a blueprint for navigating the challenges and opportunities that relationships of all kinds offer us, in ways that can open the door to deeper understanding of both self and other, and ultimately deeper connection. The training provides a safe, supportive environment in which participants can attend to the important questions about human relationships that many individuals and therapists have asked themselves over and over again.

The H.E.A.R.T. model is a mindfulness-centred approach to cultivating conscious relationships. It focuses on the human relationship in a way that allows both people to participate in the expansion of consciousness and in the healing that this can promote. H.E.A.R.T. is an integrative, unique, non-eclectic approach that fits well with postmodern thinking. It allows freedom to conceive and live one’s own values and rules and emphasises personal responsibility and consciousness. The H.E.A.R.T. model arises from and is consistent with principles and methods of Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy. Halko Weiss developed the training as a way to fill the gap between the Hakomi model that focused on the client’s internal process (the intrapersonal) and the complexity that arises when considering the processes that arise between two people (the interpersonal), whether that be client and therapist or simply any two individuals. Therapists also learn how to help their clients (individuals and couples) with their relationships, learning how to see the relationship clearly even with only one person’s perspective.

In Australia, H.E.A.R.T. is led by Dr Halko Weiss, founding Hakomi Trainer and Director of Hakomi Institute of Europe, and Dr Karen Baikie, Certified Hakomi Trainer. The next training will be held in Sydney and commences in February 2023.

For more information, including dates, curriculum, venue, and costs, please download the H.E.A.R.T. Training Brochure.

To read reflections by previous graduates, please download the HAA News H.E.A.R.T. Article.

To apply for the H.E.A.R.T. training, please download the H.E.A.R.T. Application Form.

For enquiries, please contact Karen Baikie.

Course Content

The training incorporates a blend of theory, interpersonal skills training, mindfulness-based experiential learning, discussion, reflection, group process and optional study groups. There will be a balance between didactic teaching, exercises in small and larger groups, group sharing, and individual reflection. There will be three in-person modules (7 days in February 2023, 3 days in August 2023 and 7 days in February 2024) and two online modules (2 days in May 2023 and 2 days in November 2023).

In practical terms, participants may choose to use their relationships within the training group explore their own personal relationship styles and to practice the skills taught in the training, as well as having time to explore their own personal relationships outside of the training group, both personal and professional.

1. The Large Picture: A General Model of Relationship
During the course of the training, we will study and explore methods and techniques that emanate from a model of healing in which relationship has a key role. Therapists and other participants will acquire a comprehensive framework of knowledge, self-management and skills.

2. Worlds Apart: The Art Of Dialogue
Communication has a central role in all living systems. Without it, any self-organised entity would die. Therefore, it is of great value to understand what communication is designed to do and how to build it in healing ways.

3. I Would Really Like To, But…: Self Competence And The Internal Parts
If good relationships fail to grow, it is because of our own limitations. Self-management, as well as courage and awareness, are needed to slowly expand towards relationship mastery. Here, we pay much attention to personal growth within the relational web of the training group, and we work with interpersonal issues that come up as we learn.

4. From Intra To Inter: One-On-One Therapy
There are times when the real relationship between therapist and client becomes part of the therapeutic process in one-on-one therapy. In long-term therapy, the relationship might even change – it can possibly become a bit more equal, as the client might try to explore the reality of the therapeutic relationship. Therapists need to know if, when and why to shift to a more interpersonal approach, and how to do that.

5. The Trap of One-Sidedness: Helping Your Client or Friend with their Relationship
When someone is seeking help, questions often arise around their close or intimate relationships. It might not help at all if you only know your client’s perspective and you meet them mostly with compassion. Just as advice hardly ever succeeds. Such interventions might even make things worse. As we go through this training, we will study reflective and explorative methods to do justice to the interactive sources of stuck relationships, such as the RIL (Reciprocal Interaction Loop).

6. Levels of Complexity: The Group Process
As the training group progresses and has more experiences together, we may apply the H.E.A.R.T. concepts of communication and transformation to the group as a whole. We will explore group dynamics in a Hakomi way if problematic relationship issues in the group arise spontaneously and limit the learning process. Our intent is to take the situation as an opportunity to learn from the emerging processes.

7. So Close To God And Yet In Hell: Love Relationships As A Path For Healing And The Transpersonal
Naturally, the deeply personal experience of encountering another is at the core of understanding relationship. Therefore, we expect that many participants will join this training so that they can also profit from it in their own personal life – and in love particularly. By the end of the training it will be apparent that this encounter is at the core of what it means to be human, and that through it we can deepen relationships beyond the limits of character, needs, and problem solving. There is the potential to discover how conscious loving relationships have a transpersonal dimension that can help us transcend who we are right now.

The H.E.A.R.T. training is a rare and precious opportunity to study relationships. Halko creates a loving and compassionate space that allows us to feel safe and welcomes us to study all the uncomfortable edges of our worlds of relationships. I have learnt many things about myself and these insights have had a profound affect on all the relationships in my life. I feel much closer to family, friends, work colleagues, clients and even people in the street I don't know! Thank you Halko for bringing this unique training to Australia.

—Dr Louise Carroll, MBBS, FRACGP, Hakomi Graduate.

I found the H.E.A.R.T. course to be a profound and insightful experience – not only did I learn an enormous amount that I can apply in both my work and my personal journey - it was a privilege to work with Halko Weiss and Karen Baikie and the experienced support team.

—Jenny Morawska, CEO and President, The Morawska Group.

I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the simplicity and elegance of this model for relationship both personally and professionally. The richness of both the relationship intervention skills taught and the group experience will stay with me long into the future. While this training was focused around couple work I have integrated much of it into individual psychotherapy with much success and found it invaluable in my role as a group facilitator.

—Jules Morgaine, Certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer.

The H.E.A.R.T. ‘coming in to relationship’ training is a transformative experience both at the professional level, giving me simple and effective tools to use for the infinitely complex issues of singles and couples counselling, and at the personal level, where I was supported in exploring my own intrapsychic process. Everything has changed, or should I say the lenses through which I view my world are forever altered. It seems like I have a wider, more positive experience of myself and others. This has made me a better human being and I am indebted to those who made this journey possible. I wholeheartedly and without reservation recommend this training experience to those who are looking for new inspiration and ways of being in relationship with yourself, others and indeed the rest of life.

—Linda McClure, Somatic Psychotherapist, Structural Bodyworker