Trainers Page
Drs. Willem Poppeliers
Willem Poppeliers is a developmental psychologist and was born in the Netherlands in 1944. At sixteen he started his working career at the computer centre of NV Philips at Eindhoven. During that time he followed courses at an evening high school, and in 1967, began studying clinical and developmental psychology at the University of Nijmegen. After finishing in 1974, he worked shortly as a verbal behavior therapist in the open psychiatric department of the academic clinic in the same city. In 1978 he began studying the Bio-energetic Analyses of Alexander Lowen (pupil of Wilhelm Reich). Working as a Bio-energetic Analytic therapist in his own practice and also as a supervisor and learning therapist for the NIBA (the Dutch Institute for Bio-energetic Analyses), he further developed himself as a Neo-Reichian therapist, partly educated in Holland and visiting the University of Oslo for practice and personal therapy with a Reichian basis.
For 27 years he has worked as a therapist, developing an extensive background in Bio-energetic Analyses, Neo-Reichian Therapy, transference and counter-transference. For body oriented psychotherapists, he developed a training in Body transference and Body counter-transference.
He works as a freelance-trainer for different institutes in the Netherlands, Switzerland , Mexico and the U.S.A.
When Poppeliers received his multiple trainings, he noticed that sexuality was a subject that was left until the end, and even then, only treated mostly very superficially. Therefore, in the nineties, inspired by the object-relation theories he started working with sexuality and taking the human being as a whole. He restores a place of normality to a region often censored by therapeutic society. Working with an experimental group, a new therapeutic approach was born. He called it Sexual Grounding Therapy®. From that time, in addition to his other activities, Poppeliers has given lectures and workshops on Sexual Grounding Therapy® at conferences in Europe, the U.S.A. and Mexico. He is married, has no children ands maintains that relationships without the ancestral force are, on a deeper level genitally, very often experienced as isolated.
In 1999 Willem Poppeliers has formed the Foundation for Sexual Grounding Therapy® in the Netherlands , which was formalised in 2000. It is called the Stichting Foundation for Sexual Grounding Therapy® (FSGT) and it serves as a basis of agreement for formalizing this therapy. It is focused on research and on training of certified Sexual Grounding Therapists and Trainers. The professionals he has trained are joined in the Association for Sexual Grounding Therapists and Trainers (ASCTT).
Over the years Willem Poppeliers leads seminars throughout Europe and Mexico . He is recognized internationally as an innovative theorist and body psychotherapist. At this moment he contacts scientific institutes in Mexico , the U.S.A. and The Netherlands for getting research on the project of Sexual Grounding Therapy® in relation to the prevention of HIV and AIDS.
Nick Duffell
Nick Duffell was born in England in 1949. After Oxford University , he worked as a teacher and a carpenter before retraining as a psychotherapist. In the early 90's he was a trainer and supervisor in London , and in 1996 he co-founded The Centre for Gender Psychology with his wife, Helena. He then qualified as Sexual Grounding Therapist. Nick is the author of The Making of Them, Lone Arrow Press 2000, and co-author of Sex, Love & the Dangers of Intimacy , Thorsons 2002, and a frequent writer and broadcaster on matters psychological. He is father of two grown up sons, loves to play tennis, and lives somewhere in la France profonde.
Surabhi Notburga Schaubmair
Robert Fischer
Born in 1961 and 1955 respectively, Surabhi and Robert live together near Bern and have two daughters.
For five years Surabhi has worked as a training therapist at the Academy of Physiotherapy in Salzburg. Since 1989 she has run her own practice for integrative body-oriented psychotherapy, working with individuals and couples. She has also led tantra seminars on an international level for many years (Europe, Russia, USA). She has trained in IBP and works as a teaching coach for the IBP Institute CH (Integrative Body-Psychotherapy after Jack Lee Rosenberg).
As a result of her experience of working with women, she created a project for the three generations of grandmothers, mothers and daughters to reconnect with the female line and creative potential.
Robert's basic profession is medical doctor, specialized in psychiatry and psychotherapy FMH, in which he works with individuals and couples in the city of Berne, Switzerland.
His first trainings in psychotherapy were in Gestalt (FPI in Germany), NLP and medical hypnosis (Erickson), later followed by a training in IBP (Integrative Body Psychotherapy, Jack Lee Rosenberg). At present, he is a teaching therapist and supervisor for students of this institute.
For some years he was a SkyDancing Tantra Teacher (Margot Anand) and was leading Tantra seminars in different countries. At the same time he was attracted to men's work and learned with John Bellicchi. He has also has experience of leading seminars for many years. He is nowadays focused on issues of relationship with our father and forefathers, our vision and goal in life, and men's sexuality - specifically, training for men with sexual difficulties, and supported them to overcome their symptoms through psychotherapy and personal development.
In 1990 Robert and Surabhi together founded and lead "Man Woman Trainings“(www.mann-frau.com) in the field of personal development (especially issues around gender identity, relationship and sexuality), where Sexual Grounding® became a precious part of their work. They were introduced to Willem Poppeliers and his Sexual Grounding® work in 1994. This was the element they were searching for - working with people and their understanding of sexuality, relationship and gender identity. Their special working style integrates deep therapeutic work, profound theory and ritual elements.
"Working with human sexuality and relationship in such a direct and pure way, within an absolutely clear and safe framework, connected with a grounded theory - touches the essence of life“.
Helena Løvendal Sørensen
Helena was born in Denmark in 1958.
After her education she travelled extensively and spent several years living in psycho-spiritual communities. During those years she did in-depth personal work with leading teachers in the field of body psychotherapy and personal development work in Denmark , UK and USA . On settling in London , she first worked as a social worker for adults with physical disabilities and later with families and children, while training as a psychotherapist.
She has been in private practice since 1989, and was a faculty member at The Institute of Psychosynthesis in London for six years before becoming a free-lance trainer and supervisor. She is a psychotherapist, a supervisor and Sexual Grounding Therapist®.
Helena's work is influenced by the Post-Jungians, Psychoanalysis, Systems Theory, Psychosynthesis, Yoga, Indigenous teachings and Native American Shamanism - let alone being a woman and a stepmother to two grown-up sons. She encountered Willem Poppeliers and Sexual Grounding in 1996 and immediately recognised his work as the missing link she had been searching for as a professional
With her husband, Nick Duffell, she founded The Centre For Gender Psychology in 1996, offering workshops for couples and individuals with a focus on gender, identity, relationship, and sexuality. They provide trainings in these topics for professionals in England and abroad, and offer specialised, post-graduate training in couple counselling and therapy. Their book, Sex, Love and the Dangers of Intimacy , was published by HarperCollins Thorsons in 2002.
Helena has offered workshops for women since 1993 and is passionate about women reconnecting to their unique female qualities, beauty and strengths, while also learning to honour men and the masculine. When not in London or working abroad, she lives with her husband close to nature in the deep south of France , learning how to grow plants and vegetables and live a sustainable lifestyle.
