My Background

Linda Hartley - Therapist, trainer, writer

I first studied Dance, Theatre and Creative Writing at Dartington College of Arts, then taught and practised as a dancer and choreographer (from 1977), inspired by my studies with Mary O’Donnell Fullkerson. After further training with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen in the USA I began to practise as a Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator (from 1982). Later training and study led me to develop an approach to personal growth and healing which integrates Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Authentic Movement and Body-Mind Centering®.

I am a certified Practitioner and Teacher of Body-Mind Centering®, an accredited Transpersonal Psychotherapist, and have studied the Discipline of Authentic Movement with Janet Adler for many years. My MA is in Somatic Psychology. The study of Process-oriented Psychology with Arnold Mindell and colleagues also deeply influenced my work.

Drawing on all of these practices, I developed an approach which engages body, mind, soul and spirit to support the unfolding of process through the body, and the cultivation of embodied presence, clarity and compassion in the therapeutic and educational relationship. For thirty years I practised as a somatic and transpersonal psychotherapist, though I have now stepped back from this thread of my work.

Two women perform somatic practices in a studio

In 1990 I founded what became known as the Institute for Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy, running training programmes first in Germany, then England, and currently also in Lithuania and Russia.

IBMT was the first somatic movement training in Europe to be accepted as an Approved Training Program of the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA). I have now handed over the running of these programmes to a wonderful team of IBMT Teachers and Programme Directors.

Institute for Integrative Bodywork & Movement Therapy

Writing has been, and continues to be an essential part of my work. I have published several books, articles and chapters – view publications.

My work has been supported and inspired by the practice of T’ai Chi Ch’uan and Buddhist meditation, and deeply influenced by my studies with Janet Adler.
I have been a faculty member of Circles of Four, a path of preparation to teach the Discipline of Authentic Movement, initiated by Adler.

Linda Hartley MA, BMCA, ISMETA MSMT, CTP Dip Psych, Teacher of the Discipline of Authentic Movement

(* Body-Mind Centering® and BMC™ are registered service marks of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, used with permission)