Continuous Flow Professional Course
Fundamentals of Formative Psychology®
PRESENTATION
Formative Psychology® is a contemporary body-oriented approach, created by Stanley Keleman in California in the 1970s, within the context of the emergence of the humanist movement. Formative theory is based on principles of Biology, Psychology, and Phenomenology, and its methodology works with the reorganization of somatic-emotional forms, deepening the relationship between body and brain through a specific practice of exercises. The formative exercises, structured from gestures and body postures, aim at modulating and changing emotional attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and narratives.
Starting in 2020, the Professional Course began to be taught in Continuous Flow, admitting people to any module throughout the year. All modules are theoretical and experiential, presenting in depth the fundamental principles of Formative Psychology.® and offering hands-on experience in training. For more details, see the items below.
To apply, you must send a brief letter of intent outlining your professional interests and a mini-resume so that an in-person, telephone, or internet interview can be scheduled (if you reside in another state).
OBJECTIVE
To empower professionals to think formatively and work with the theoretical-methodological model of Formative Psychology®, applicable to the fields of psychology, education, physiotherapy, body therapies, people management in organizations, coaching, and performing arts.
TARGET AUDIENCE
The course is aimed at professionals in the fields of Health, Education, Art, Humanities and Social Sciences, and admits students in their final year of their respective courses.
COURSE COMPOSITION
Those interested in the course should send an email with a letter of intent outlining their professional interests and a brief resume with personal information so that an in-person, telephone, or internet interview can be scheduled (if residing in another state).
COURSE STRUCTURE
The program consists of three consecutive annual cycles developed over a three-year period, totaling 430 hours, and is named as follows:
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES CYCLE Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of Formative Psychology®
CICLO ESTRUTURAS HERDADAS – Estruturas Constitucionais e Plasticidade Somática
CYCLE OF FORMED STRUCTURES Somatic Structures and Identity Organization
The development of these CYCLES includes a program composed of: theoretical and practical content (130 hours), supervised professional practice (176 hours), case supervision (54 hours), individual sessions (40 hours), monograph guidance (15 hours), and study group (14 hours).
4.1 Supervised Professional Practice
From the second year onwards, all students must undertake a supervised professional practice. This may occur through a bank of hours or by completing a specific project in an institutional context. Each student must bring at least two cases per year for supervision, according to a pre-established schedule.
4.2 INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS PROCESS
From the second module of the first year onwards, all students must have started individual sessions with one of the Center's professional team members. Individual sessions allow participants to personally experience how the training process works and are fundamental for learning the method and understanding the theory. The cost of individual sessions is not included in the course fee. Participants will benefit from flexible payment options, which should be agreed upon directly with the chosen professional.
4.3 Formative Practice Classes, Online Supervision, and Study Group
All participants must attend all Formative Practice classes on Fridays and the online supervision sessions. All first-year participants must participate in the Study Group that meets monthly on Fridays.
4.4 ARTICLE
Upon completion of the course, the student must submit a monograph demonstrating an understanding of the theoretical and methodological concepts of Formative Psychology®. This work must be supervised by a faculty member of the Professional Course during the 3rd year of the program. Group monograph meetings are included in the program. The cost of individual supervision is not included in the course fee, but there is a standard fee followed by all supervisors.
TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES
The program involves theoretical and experiential encounters, encompassing lectures, seminars, workshops, online group discussions, supervised professional practice, case development, presentation and discussion, personal psychotherapeutic process, and the preparation and presentation of articles. The course has a basic and a supplementary bibliography.
EVALUATION SYSTEM
The evaluation will be carried out by monitoring the participants throughout the learning process, through the quantification of attendance (85%) — provided that absences are not consecutive — cumulatively with the qualitative results of the other activities that make up the course structure, namely: participation in classes, presentation of cases, presentation of articles and completion of individual sessions.
CERTIFICATION
The course certificate will have the following qualification: Certificate of Completion of the Professional Course in Formative Psychology®.
GENERAL COORDINATION
LEILA COHN – Psychologist – CRP 05/8164, MA East-West Psychology, CIIS, SF-CA. She has worked with Stanley Keleman at the Center for Energetic Studies in Berkeley, California, since 1988. Member of the Center for Energetic Studies Professional Group since 1992 and of Keleman's Advanced Studies International Group since its founding in 2009. Founding director of the Center for Formative Psychology® of Brazil since 1995, Coordinator of the Professional Education Program in Formative Psychology at the Center since 1998, Coordinator of the "Interviews with Stanley Keleman" project initiated in partnership with Stanley Keleman in 2012. Recognized internationally by Stanley Keleman for teaching Formative Psychology®, she maintains a clinical practice as a Formative Psychotherapist and Formative Supervisor. She publishes articles nationally and internationally.
TEACHING STAFF
Artemis Marinho – Social Worker – Professor at the School of Social Work, Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Somatic therapist. PhD candidate in Social Work (UERJ) and Master in Social Work (PUC/RJ). Associate Professional Member of the Brazilian Center for Formative Psychology. Professional training with Leila Cohn at the Brazilian Center for Formative Psychology. Participation in workshops conducted by Stanley Keleman, in Brazil and at the Center for Energetic Studies, Berkeley, California. Member of the Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology. Coordinates educational-therapeutic groups with an emphasis on gender and aging issues. Also develops studies and research on these topics.
Leila Cohn – Psychologist – CRP 05/8164, MA (curriculum above).
Sônia Andrade – Psychologist – CRP 05/30010, dance artist, economist, MBA, Master's student in Philosophy, certified in Formative Psychology® by the Center for Formative Psychology® of Brazil in 2002, and a teacher at the same Center. She participated in workshops by Stanley Keleman at the Center for Energetics Studies in Berkeley, California-USA. Certified by the Fundación Río Abierto, Bs As-Arg. Studies and training in the Psychology of Enneagrams, in the light of Gestalt Therapy, SAT School. Director of the Gestalt Viva Claudio Naranjo School.
PROGRAMMING YEAR 2026
Emotional Anatomy: Somatic Structures and the Organization of Identity
It consists of three continuous modules, 15 Formative Practice classes, 10 case supervision sessions, 2 Emotional Anatomy Groups: Theory and Practice, 2 Dream Groups, and 2 Family Groups. The entire program aims to expand the theoretical and methodological knowledge of Formative Psychology® and deepen the understanding of the Formed Body through the study of Somatic Structures described in the book and DVD "Emotional Anatomy" by Stanley Keleman. For those in their 3rd year of the course, the process of writing the article also begins.
3 modules
Modules I and III: Thursday from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Module II: Thursday 10am to 1pm, Friday 10am to 1pm and Saturday 10am to 12:30pm
15 Formative Practice lessons
10 Supervision meetings
2 groups Emotional Anatomy
2 groups Dreams
2 Family groups
Module I: May 14th to 16th
Module II: August 13th to 15th
Module III: November 26-28
Module I – Genesis and Development of Form
May 14th to 16th
Thursday, May 14th, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Friday, May 15th, from 10 AM to 1 PM
May 16th, Saturday, from 10 AM to 1 PM
Course content for Module I
Organization process
The constant anxiety and stress
Formative Practice Workshop: Personalizing Your Emotional Anatomy
Module II – Somatic Structures I
August 13th to 15th
August 13th, Thursday, 10 AM to 1 PM
August 14th, Friday, 10 AM to 1 PM
August 15th, Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Course content for Module II
Development of the mobile structure
Development of the porous structure
Dreams and the body: shaping a personal future.
Formative practice and somagrams
Emotional anatomy: mobile and porous structure
Module III – Somatic Structures II
November 27, 28 and 29
November 27th, Thursday, from 3 PM to 5:30 PM
November 28th, Friday, from 10 AM to 1 PM
November 29th, Saturday, from 10 AM to 1 PM
Course content for Module III
Development of the rigid structure
Development of dense structure
Family and Body Workshop: patterns of giving and receiving formed in the family
Groups 2026
Emotional Anatomy Group
Fridays from 10:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Dates: June 19th and June 26th
Dreams Group
Fridays from 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Dates: July 17th and August 21st
Family Relations Group
Hours: 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Datas: 25/09 das 10h às 11h15 e 04/12 das 10h às 11h45
Case supervision dates 2026
Fridays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
March: 13
April: 10
May 29
June: 12
July: 10
August 28th
Setembro: 11 e 25
November: 13
December: 18
Formative Practice Classes
Thursdays from 5pm to 6pm
Fridays from 10am to 11am or from 10am to 12pm
Dates of the Formative Practice classes
March
Thursday the 19th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 13th from 10am to 11am
Friday the 27th from 10am to 12pm (long class)
April
Thursday the 9th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 10th from 10am to 11am
Friday the 17th from 10am to 12pm (long class)
May
Thursday the 7th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 29th from 10am to 11am
June
Thursday the 11th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 12th from 10am to 11am
July
Thursday the 9th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 10th from 10am to 11am
August
Thursday the 27th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 28th from 10am to 11am
September
Thursday the 10th from 5pm to 6pm
Thursday the 24th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 11th from 10am to 11am
Friday the 18th from 10am to 12pm (long class)
October
No dates scheduled.
November
Thursday the 12th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 13th from 10am to 11am
December
Thursday the 10th from 5pm to 6pm
Friday the 11th from 10am to 11am
Friday the 11th, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM – general evaluation and get-together.
Study Group in Formative Psychology®
Fridays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
April: 24
May 22
July: 3rd and 31st
August: 07
September: 04
October: 16
November: 06
December: 18 (from 10am to 11am)
Specific bibliography
Leila Cohn – Formative Psychology and Emotional Anatomy
Stanley Keleman – Somatic Reality, The Body Tells Your Mind, Embodying Experience, Emotional Anatomy, Methodology and Practice of Formative Psychology
Texts and articles from the Center for Formative Psychology of Brazil
Videos from the Formative Psychology channel on YouTube.
Complementary bibliography
Zygmunt Bauman – Liquid Modernity
Fritjof Capra – The Web of Life
Antonio Damasio – Descartes’ Error
Charles Darwin – The Origin of Species and the Descent of Man
Frans de Waal – The Age of Empathy
Gerald Edelman – The Remembered Present and Second Nature
William James – The Principles of Psychology
Roberto Lent – One Hundred Billion Neurons
Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela – The Tree of Knowledge
VALUE FOR THE YEAR 2026
Continuous Flow Value 2026:
- R$ 6,380.00 in 12 installments of R$ 531.00
- Cash price: R$ 6,061.00