Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Process Work?

An off-shoot of Jungian analytic psychotherapy, Process Work was originally developed by Jungian author and analyst Arnold Mindell as a therapeutic modality. Over the last thirty years of application and research, Process Work is now more commonly described as an “awareness practice,” as its methods are applied in a wide range of situations, as a form of inner work or self-therapy, as a facilitation method for group work, conflict situations, and large public forums, as a therapy method for individuals, couples, and families, and as a method for working with comatose and remote states of consciousness. Process Work methods have been also been applied to other mental health issues such as addictions, depression, anxiety and panic disorders, working with chronic symptoms, death and dying, grieving and loss.

2. How does Process Work therapy compare to other therapies?

Process Work therapy does not focus on a specific area of psychology or counseling, but but can be applied to any area of one’s life, whether perceived as a problem or not. It is also not limited to individuals and couples, and applies to families and groups of all sizes.

Other counseling programs lean towards a specific framework for viewing the individual or group: behavioral, cognitive, transpersonal, psychoanalytic, etc. Process Work can incorporate all of these viewpoints and many more. The premise behind Process Work is that experiencing the world or dealing with a problem is unique to each person and how his or her natural way (“dreaming”) is trying to reveal itself. This dreaming can be experienced through a body symptom, a thought, a feeling or emotion, movement, a role in a group, or through a spiritual experience. Process Work includes various theories in its teaching to cover a broad spectrum of ways of seeing the world.

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3. Do I have to be enrolled in a training program to take classes at the center?

Not typically. Most classes are open to the public.

4. Are there opportunities to study at-a-distance or on-line for your training programs?

Our programs offer a blended learning style. Our diploma programs integrate online classroom environments with residencies to give students the strengths of both styles of learning.

5. Does Process Work therapy apply to individuals only?

No, Process Work therapy can be applied to individuals, couples, families, small groups all the way up to large groups of people.

6. How does Process Work relate to conflict facilitation?

Conflict facilitation is just one aspect of Process Work. The two are not synonymous. Students of process work learn theories and skills to facilitate conflicts within individuals, among couples, families and groups as part of their training. Worldwork is an event that occurs every few years in a different part of the world and is a major compenent in learning about conflict facilitation with large groups of people.

7. How can I get in touch with a Certified Process Work Therapist?

You can contact PWI by email or phone and we will give you some referral names and telephone numbers of Certfied Process Work Therapists (also known as Diplomates) who are in your area. All of our therapists are independent from PWI and make their own appointments, set their own schedules and fee structures. Feel free to also browse our Contact Diplomates page.

8. Do any of the classes offer CE’s (Continuing Education)?

We offer CE credits through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Please see our Continuing Education page for more information.

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9. Along with taking classes and/or being in a formal program of study how else can I be connected to Process Work and the Institute?

You can find many options to stay connected through our Staying in Touch page.