Winter Intensive 2025
The 39th annual Winter Intensive, Jan 27- Feb 14 2025
Photographs by Amy Mindell. Celebrating Arny’s Life.
Registration for the 2025 Winter Intensive
Next January the Process Work Institute will host a Winter Intensive course LIVE IN PERSON in Portland, Oregon.
The Intensive will be offered from Monday January 27th – Friday February 14th with an experienced, diverse teaching team, and including over 90 hours of immersion in Process Work teaching.
This carefully facilitated learning space provides a unique opportunity for accelerated learning in an intimate, multicultural setting. The Intensive Course will offer a comprehensive introduction to the essentials of Processwork theory, skills, and metaskills.
(Intensive 2020)
What is a Processwork Intensive?
The Intensive Course utilizes lectures, experiential exercises, demonstrations, group processes, and community building to explore Processwork and its various applications. Topics covered will include in depth structural understanding of the work, Processwork applications including dream and bodywork, relationship work, small and large group work on world and local issues, a process oriented approach to creativity, discovering your Unique Facilitator Style, and working with deep states of consciousness.
(Intensive 2020)
Small groups are created on day one and meet four times over the course of the Intensive. These provide an intimate and facilitated container for further learning, practice, and support over the 19 days.
The Schedule:
Winter Intensive Faculty 2025
Intensive Faculty are Processwork trainers and Diplomates, certified Process-oriented therapists, group facilitators, and teachers, who conduct seminars and training workshops throughout the world. Trainers hold academic degrees in fields such as psychology, medicine, theology, art, physics and other disciplines.
Bill Say, MA,. Dipl PW
Bill brings over twenty years of experience to the intersection of diversity awareness training, conflict resolution, and leadership/team/community building, including work in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. His organizational consulting experience is with health, mental health, and educational organizations in the US and abroad including with the Cities of Berkeley, Richmond and San Rafael; Alameda County Human Resources; the Highlander Research and Education Center; UN refugee health organizations in the Middle East (UNRWA); New Energy in China; and Independent Thought and Social Action in India. He is an adjunct faculty member of the California Institute of Integral Studies, the Wright Institute and JFK University. Bill is a Mindell Process Work Diplomate. He is Japanese Korean American, cis and male and straight identified, middle-class-ish, spiritually oriented, socially introverted, married to Linda and parent to son Gabe.
Dawn Menken, Ph.D., Dipl PW.
Dawn Menken has been working in the field of psychology and facilitator development for 40 years. She is an internationally respected educator, facilitator, therapist, leadership coach, and conflict resolution specialist. She is a co-founder of the Process Work Institute, where she co-created its master’s programs and served as academic dean for more than a decade. Her most recent award-winning book, Facilitating A More Perfect Union: A Guide for Politicians and Leaders, introduces new ideas to support leaders, particularly those in the public sphere. In all of her endeavors she is moved to improve social discourse and inspire more meaningful civic engagement.
Dawn is a thought leader and change agent who brings her gifts to a variety of sectors. Her parenting book, Raising Parents Raising Kids: Hands-on Wisdom for the Next Generation, offers a groundbreaking approach to parenting and has been described as “… a must read for everybody who cares about the state of our relationships and our world.” She is the creator of Teens Rise Up (TRU), a cutting-edge program that empowers and educates young people to step into their leadership, engage in honest dialogue and co-create more welcoming school communities. She is a passionate teacher and facilitator with a special devotion to relationship and building sustainable community. She is based in Portland, Oregon.
Susan Kocen, MA., Dipl PW.
Susan (She/Her) graduated from the Process Work Institute in 2005, and joined the Faculty in 2012. In addition to her Processwork journey, Susan has a background in Art and design, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and she received her MA in Gerontology – the study of aging – with her Thesis focused on the Altered and Extreme states of Alzheimer’s disease. She has worked as a counselor for Portlands’ unhoused, mentally diverse community, has been a Community Program Facilitator and has a private practice working with individuals, couples, groups and families.
Processwork has informed her worlds for 30 years. She loves the practice of this work, as well as the teaching and learning of it. It has given her a framework and language for life and living that deepens and gives meaning to everything.
Aleksandr Peikrishvili, L.C.S.W., M.S.W., Dipl PW.
Aleksandr feels lucky to have met the PW paradigm in his early twenties at NYC’s open center, when searching to answer the question “why am I here?”. Hard to believe, it is over 20 years later, and he continues to deepen the answer to this question 🙂 as he continues to feel deeply moved by the depth of human experience awareness, and dreaming that the PW paradigm cultivates. He is excited to share his love for the work as an international trainer, teacher, supervisor, process and conflict facilitator; working with individuals, couples and groups across a breadth of contexts internationally and locally. Additionally, Aleksandr has served the local Portland community as a licensed clinical social worker in the non-profit sector, working with long term HIV survivors; houseless folks in extreme states and addiction; eastern european refugees experiencing mental health crisis and young adults from multi stressed backgrounds in the process of pursuing trade training, and more. In private practice Aleksandr works with leaders, creatives, couples and teams on issues of use of power, major life changes, burnout using PW, coaching and social work lenses and drawing on his experience as a Queer Armenian/Georgian Immigrant with a family history of genocide. To his own surprise, Aleksandr has recently discovered himself as an avid hiker, hiking the breathtaking 22 mile NaPali Coast trail with his partner Connor. Aleksandr, Connor and their dog Harvey reside in north Portland, Oregon.
Emetchi, M.A., Dipl PW.
Emetchi is a longtime Diplomate living in Pdx, a teacher, therapist, facilitator, supervisor and mentor who works in the US and internationally. She has experience working in private and government settings with marginalised groups and mainstream establishments, and is comfortable working in private practice, with small communities and organisations as well as doing street work. Many years ago in Sydney, Australia Emetchi was part of the first HIV prevention streetworking team and earlier co-created the first Child Sexual assault and Incest recovery center. For some years now she has considered the Tao That Cannot Be Spoken to be her first employer and tries to balance allegiance to this with paying her bills. She travels less these days as body symptoms, aging, creative pulls and the environmental downside of travel gain traction.
Her passion for the PW paradigm deepens as Life continually creates opportunities to tweak her edges and grow her comprehension of Deep Democracy in action and the blessed gift of living dreaming while awake.
Amy Mindell. PhD., Dipl PW.
Amy Mindell is in private therapeutic practice in Oregon and teaches in many countries in the world. Together with her partner and husband, Arny Mindell, she has researched and taught Process Work for 40 years and helped develop Process Work in the areas of coma, creativity, dance, and facilitator styles.
She holds a M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology and is a diplomate of the Process Oriented Psychology Center of Zurich. She has written many books such as , Metaskills: The Spiritual Art of Therapy, The Dreaming Source of Creativity, Alternative to Therapy and her newest book, Your Unique Facilitator Style, as well as papers in professional journals. (Her studies of the feeling skills in therapy, or “metaskills”, are at the core of much of her work.). Amy is also an artist, puppet-maker, singer-songwriter, and dancer. Her most recent musical CD is called, First Bloom.
Rhea. MA., Dipl PW.
Elva Redwood, MAPW., Dipl PW.
Elva Wolf Redwood is a Processwork Diplomate practicing with individuals, couples and groups in Portland, Oregon, USA. They further their education and practice by studying different approaches to trauma healing and prevention, as well as ways to help dismantle oppression. They facilitate sustainable activism, using Processwork to address conflicts and support relationships at a Climate Justice organization. Elva is a writer and a lover of dogs and knitting, and they live with the challenges of chronic illness.
Lolo Haha, MAPF., Dipl PW.
Lolo Haha (he/him) is a counselor, conflict facilitator, and social justice theatre director based in Portland, Oregon. He works with individuals, couples, organizations, and communities to grow in their relationship toward conflict and paradox and to evolve toward a greater collective freedom.
Venetia Bouronikou, MA., Dipl PW.
Venetia (she/her) is a psychologist and a Processwork Diplomate. She met processwork
in 2000 while working for an organization supporting disenfranchised youth in Greece
and has been studying and practicing processwork in her personal and professional life
ever since. Venetia works as a therapist with individuals and couples and as a group
facilitator and trainer locally and internationally. Her work is based on the deep trust in
the unique expression of the individual, relationship or group life, the wisdom that
emerges through following the process, and the transformative and healing power of
awareness. Venetia has a long experience working with organizations that support
refugees in Europe; LGBTQI+ folks and their families as well as in training therapists
and counselors in LGBTQI+ awareness and affirming practices; addictions and more.
One of her most exciting and creative works has been co-authoring a Graphic Novel on
group facilitation and conflict resolution, based on the Worldwork seminar held in
Greece in 2017. The Graphic Novel is titled “Dreaming Into Community. A Guidebook to
Worldwork”. Venetia is very interested in bringing awareness in the social context and
she is passionate about the interconnectedness of personal and social change. She is a
recent immigrant in the US and her processwork practice has been once again her ally
in making a home for all her experiences during this major life transition.
Nature is her powerful teacher. Venetia loves swimming in the sea, walking in the forest
and staring at the universe.
James Boutin, MAPOF.
James Boutin is an educator, facilitator, and trainer for social change. He began his Processwork journey at the 2020 winter intensive. He completed his master’s in June of 2023, and he is currently a phase two student working toward his diploma. Prior to studying Processwork, James worked as a public school teacher and union organizer. His passion for teaching, community organizing, and social justice work inform his study of Processwork. James currently supports mission-driven individuals and organizations working in the direction of their highest dreams. James loves playing needlessly complex strategy-based video games, enjoying coffeeshops, doodling flowers, and talking about grand philosophical ideas
“Wonder” and “Plat Du Jour”, Flower creations by Amy Mindell
How to register
REGISTRATION For 2025
Applications will open September 1, 2024.
You will need to include a brief statement about why you want to attend, some personal and contact information, and specify your payment preferences.
After we receive your application form, we will email payment information so you can complete your registration.
Note: Your information privacy is very important to us and your personal identifying information will be kept private and confidential and used only to register and support your participation in the Intensive.
What does it cost?
Winter Intensive Registration Fees: $2500
($500 deposit due on registration)
Installment Payment Plan Available.
Early Registration By November 20th, 2024: $1950
($500 deposit due on registration)
Registration fees include access to 100 training hours, plus lunch time and social events. Participants also receive a 10% discount on Processwork books sold at the Institute.
Registration fees for the Summer Intensive DO NOT include accommodation or meals. Participants need to make their own arrangements for lodging and food. See below for a list of accommodation options.
Refund Policy
Please make sure the Intensive is right for you before applying. However we understand that unexpected emergencies can impact your plans. Registration fees paid are fully refundable (less $50 administrative fee) until January 6, 2025. After January 6, 50% refund is available.
Workstudy Scholarships
PWI acknowledges that systemic injustices contribute to a person’s economic status. We recognize social differences and economic disparities between different regions, countries and also within countries themselves.
PWI offers a limited number of workstudy opportunities in exchange for a partial discount on registration fees. Please be aware that we receive more workstudy applications than we can accommodate. We recommend you apply early and share evidence of need to support your application.
Workstudy opportunities include:
- Audio/Visual support
- Room set up for classes and celebrations
- Room clean up for classes and celebrations
- Kitchen duties
- Key holder (opening and closing of the building)
- Classroom helper
Diversity Equity and Inclusion: Partial Scholarships Available
Systemic oppression based on race has devastating impacts on people of color globally. In recognition of the unfair, historical and present day context of systemic disadvantage, we offer partial scholarships (50% tuition discount) to increase equity and participation for people impacted by systemic injustices based on race.
Logistics
The intensive is held at the Process Work Institute, located at 2049 N.W. Hoyt, Portland, Oregon 97209.
Meals
There is a small kitchen at the Process Work Institute where participants can prepare lunch. We will provide a list of restaurants in the vicinity of the institute for participants who wish to dine out.
English Language Proficiency
Expect a multilingual group with very diverse experiences in English, and a process that focuses on understanding one another in large and small group environments. It is up to the participant to ensure a comfortable level of understanding within English conversation and instruction.
Accommodation Options
There are many accommodation options near PWI, and below is a list of some locations where students and Intensive participants have stayed in previous years. Please contact the location for current rates.
NW Portland Hostel
Offers discounts for Intensive participants!
Located at 425 NW 18th Ave. (corner of 18th & NW Glisan St.), Portland, OR 97209.
Very close to PWI.
To reserve your discounted room, please contact Tracy by email info@nwportlandhostel.com or by phone at 503 241 2783.
The Portland International Guesthouse
The Portland International Guesthouse at 2185 NW Flanders Street, (a few blocks from the center), offers European-style accommodations for the budget minded traveler. Facilities include six clean, private guestrooms that share three baths. We also offer a fully furnished, private, one-bedroom garden level apartment. Call (503)-224-0500.
Hotel DeLuxe
Located at 729 SW 15th Avenue, Portland, OR 07205; a short walk to PWI.
The Inn at Northrup Station
Located at 2025 NW Northrup, Portland, OR 97209, a short walk to PWI
The Park Lane Suites
Located at 809 S.W. King Ave, Portland, OR 97205, a short walk to PWI
Got questions? Ask them Here!
(artwork by Susan Kocen)