Our Journey Here is a postgraduate training for practitioners wishing to extend their therapeutic practice or deepen their understanding of pre- and perinatal psychology and therapy approaches. The training will cover important developmental concepts including early pre- and perinatal memory, learning and intelligence, significant embryological events and their psychological correlates, and essential skills in identifying, being compassionately present with and resolving primal trauma.

The course is highly experiential, with somatic explorations grounded in relational, heart-centred, mindfulness and inspired by the work of pre- and perinatal pioneers Ray Castellino and William Emerson, as well as somatic practices like Body-Mind Centering (BMC) and Continuum. Participants are encouraged to investigate their own early life experience.

A major intention is to practice recognizing early trauma and being able to orient to the original potential the trauma may have occluded, both in oneself and in one’s clientele. This training is open to accredited psychotherapists, craniosacral therapists and other complementary and orthodox health professionals. The curriculum is covered in six three-day seminars offered online via Zoom.

A major premise for the curriculum is that we are most able to be present with our clients' early material when we have worked through our own. This training is designed to enhance awareness of and ability to be with pre- and perinatal issues and to support yourself and your clients in bringing mindful presence to your experience.

Cherionna Menzam-Sills, PhD, ISMETA RSMT/E, RCST, BCST

• somatic psychotherapist and prenatal and birth therapist for almost thirty years

• biodynamic craniosacral therapist and teacher, often teaching with her husband, Biodynamics pioneer Franklyn Sills

• PhD in Pre- and Perinatal Psychology

• studied and worked extensively with leaders in the field, Dr. William Emerson and Ray Castellino

•  taught graduate students in Somatic Psychology and Prenatal and Birth Psychology at Naropa University and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute

• senior tutor at Karuna Institue and Resourcing Your Life (www.resourcingyourlife.org)

• informed by M.A. in Somatic Psychotherapy and additional training and experience in BodyMind Psychotherapy, Authentic Movement, Vipassana Meditation, many forms of bodywork and massage, and trauma therapies

• authorised by founder Emilie Conrad in 2007 to teach Continuum, a mindful movement practice, which facilitates moving beyond conditioned form by accessing deeper embryological potential and fluidity

• has taught embryology through movement since the early 90s

• author of three books, The Breath of Life: An Introduction to Craniosacral Biodynamics,  Spirit into Form: Exploring Embryology and Prenatal Psychology, and the forthcoming The Prenatal Shadow: Healing the Traumas Experienced Before and at Birth (March, 2025) 

Federica Olivero

Federica came to the pre and perinatal work about 15 years ago as a client. Giving a voice to and understanding how her early experiences had shaped her life was what helped her to reconnect to her body and to life. She has been on this journey ever since and loves the potential of this work to deeply transform life at any age.

After graduating from Karuna as a biodynamic craniosacral therapist in 2012, she went on to specialise in working with prenatal and birth experiences, training with Cherionna Menzam-Sills and Franklyn Sills, as well as attending a number of workshops with Willam Emerson, Ray Castellino and other experts in the field. The depth of enquiry and verbal skills she brings to her work is also informed by her training in Relational Mindfulness and the Inner Child Journey Process.

She runs a practice in Bristol and online, with particular focus on pre and perinatal work for adults, parents and young children, and she has also been assisting Cherionna Menzam-Sills on various courses. She is originally from Italy but has lived in Bristol since 1998.

Tracy Burke

Tracy has always had a keen interest in health, the human body and process. Initially training as a registered nurse in 1988, going onto work in a wide variety of healthcare settings within the NHS and New Zealand. Returning to the UK in 1999 to train in massage, reflexology and various holistic therapies. With over 30 years of clinical experience she has been running a private practice since 2005. Tracy graduated from Karuna in craniosacral therapy in 2014 and has a practice in Glastonbury, where she sees a variety of clients, working with babies through to adults. Since graduating she has undertaken many CPD courses, assisted on CPD courses and the final training course at Karuna, ran a low cost baby clinic.

Tracy's interest in pre and perinatal work has steadily grown, working with babies, mums and early material with adults. She has regular supervision, pre and perinatal supervision, completed a pre and perinatal training and assisted on the 2022 pre and perinatal course. Tracy also has an interest in family constellation work, nature, tending her garden, singing, swimming, meditation and enjoys a light hearted approach to life.

Federica Gonzati

Federica (Fede) has worked as a body worker for more than 20 years, running a private practice in her own studio in Italy. She works with adults, children and future mother-to-be. 

She graduated as a Biodynamic Craniosacral therapist in 2012 in Italy. Since then she has attended several post-graduate seminars at Karuna Institute. She trained with Cherionna Menzam-Sills and Franklyn Sills on the “Prenatal Person” program at Karuna Institute in 2017/18.

This year she completed the Post-Qualification MA in Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapeutic Practice at Karuna Institute. She is accrediting with the UKCP as a Core Process Psychotherapy. 

Since 2014 she has been exploring her sense of embodiment and presence through Continuum having attending severals retreats with Cherionna Menzam-Sills and other authorised Continuum teachers. 

She has been practicing yoga and meditation since when she was 16 years old. She graduated as a yoga teacher about 10 years ago in India and offers courses to adults, pregnant women and children in Italy. 

Andrea Hallam Cohen

Around 2015 Andrea started to discover how core her pre and perinatal experiences were in shaping her.  She is so grateful to Cherionna for introducing her to the trio of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Continuum.

Andrea has been practicing Feldenkrais for more than thirteen years and is training to be a biodynamic craniosacral practitioner. As a psychotherapist, Andrea has been influenced most by Hakomi, IFS, Our Journey Here and Formative Embodiment, and is currently training in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy.

Andrea has been a classical musician all her life, playing violin and viola.  She most loves the intimacy of chamber music. The question “what wants to happen?” is a guiding principle in both her music-making and clinical work. Originally from the UK, she moved to Israel in 2009.

Sarah works with babies and families as well as couples and individuals. She qualified as a Biodynamic Craniosacral therapist with F.Sills  and holds a foundation in core process work.

She became a pre and perinatal therapist through the teachings of Ray Castellino, Mary Jackson, Clare Dolby and Claudia Köhler .

Sarah currently is part of a family practitioner training. She assists Cherionna in womb surounds whenever she can. She holds a big appreciation for the work of Cherionna. The polarity therapy  of Randolph Stone influences her work,  as well as her dedication to formative embodiment.. She loves continuum movement and continues to deepen in that.

Sarah lives and works in Belgium with her daughter Lila Rose , their dog Izzy  and two cats (Caramel and Ginger).

"I see our ‘bodies’ formed by the liquid of our first cradle. Our early watery environment shapes and gives us its secret. This is our first home, our ‘primordial field.’ The fluid in our cells is our birthplace, our memory of the creative matrix in which all life is summoned."

– Emilie Conrad, Founder of Continuum

Birthing Your Life

www.birthingyourlife.org

Resourcing Your Life

www.resourcingyourlife.org