Deeper in the Here-and-Now

Jacob's group was energizing and dynamic and unlike any group I've participated in. It allowed for shared intimacy with "strangers" very quickly and an expanse of space for candor and authenticity in ways uncommon in other group settings. Hearing how others perceived me and feeling what came up for me in real time was illuminating. It allowed me to better understand life long patterns of how I show up in the world and why. The group left me wanting more, because it felt deep and meaningful in ways that many interpersonal encounters don't. The group offers a deceptively simple structure, yet yields stunning revelations. I highly recommend.

—Susan Oliff, LCSW

Only attend a Deeper in the Here-and-Now workshop if you're ready to be called out on your shit and to say what you really think, no filters. It was scary, unsettling, empowering, insightful-- and somehow I walked away loving myself more through seeing myself through others' eyes.

—Simi Lichtman, LCSW

This experience was eye-opening, cathartic, and revealing. I felt exposed, raw, and naked but in the best way possible.

—Gabrielle Moskovitz, LMSW

Deeper in the here and now changed me both professionally and personally. While the first session was surprisingly scary, the second and third helped me understand what felt so scary and how to exist in that interpersonally. I felt challenged and grew in ways I did not expect, and am so excited to bring this both to my clients and to my personal relationships.

—Alyssa Ashenfarb, LCSW

I was blown away by how simply attending to the here-and-now—what is going on in this exact moment, in our bodies and minds, with this collection of strangers—illuminates intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics so quickly. It was like a mirror into each of us! The process was anxiety-provoking in the best ways. Remarkably animating and life-giving.

— Sarah Taylor, Psy.D.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the “Deeper In the Here & Now” workshop provided by Jacob Winkler, LCSW. This experience was intense, challenging, and liberating. My objective in attending was to learn tactics for when I feel stuck with clients. Jacob has a knack and natural artistry for operating in the “here-and-now” and utilizing the provocative approach. Witnessing him instantly turn frustrating and stalemate scenarios with group participants into opportunities for growth, progress, and connection was invigorating. Two days following the workshop, I found myself tuning more into my felt-sense while in session with a client. Giving voice to the felt-sense released me of a tiring and suffocating feeling that I had to continue sitting in my chair and “dealing with” the feelings I was experiencing with the client in the here-and-now. More importantly, it allowed the client to access underlying feelings in the therapy room that she had not been aware she’d been experiencing outside of therapy. Jacob, thank you again for taking us “deeper” so that our work can continue to be about taking our clients to higher levels of awareness and change.

—Blaire Franklin, LPC

I had taken other group workshops before, specifically targeted for therapists, and found this by far the most instructive. It was also the most fun. I readily admit that I steal liberally from Jacob's style, and my groups are better off for it.

—Max Bird-Ridnell, AMFT

Participating in Jacob’s process group was such a humbling experience both personally and professionally. Being a part of the group was a reminder of the courage and vulnerability our clients carry with them as they enter our space. The group experience also evoked powerful emotions that challenged me to reflect on my own inner work. These unexpected, raw, emotions encouraged me to continue the reflection outside of the group which has helped me grow personally as well as clinically. I highly encourage any therapist looking to deepen their practice to participate in this unique opportunity, it was eye opening!

—Caitlin Alleman, LCSW

I was excited to join this process group to explore how people experience me and compare it to my self-concept. The process turned out to be enlightening, frightening and fun. I’ve participated in two meetings already and plan on attending more. I learned something about myself each time and although it was not entirely new, I learned how to see it in a new way and that is what makes it transformative. For me, learning how to use the here and now moment to express thoughts and feelings towards others in the group was like learning how to play a new game. You’re not really sure of the rules or how good you will be at but you’re eager to start playing and see how well you do. Working in the here and now is a useful life skill, both on a personal and professional level. This is a powerful and effective intervention in the clinical setting and will enable both therapist and patient to go deeper. Jacob is a skilled group leader who runs the group with authenticity – a trait which I believe is the essence of all successful relationships.

—Michelle Halle, LCSW

I recently attended Jacob’s Deeper in the Here–and–Now workshop. My original intention was to broaden my expertise in group psychotherapy through immersion into the simulation of an actual group. What I experienced was far greater than I imagined, and certainly was not a simulation. Participating involved navigating rapidly shifting roles of clinician, colleague, and individual. As participants interacted, professional demeanors were swept away in a manner that broke down barriers and hidden coping strategies, and complex, often painful emotions were evoked. As clinicians, we attempted to diagnose, challenge, and treat, but ultimately we became clients ourselves. As colleagues, we came to know, understand, and care for each other. By the end of the session, we had become a group of vulnerable people, more fully aware of ourselves and each other, connected in a much deeper way than we ever expected. Thank you Jacob for this unique opportunity to gain insight into the here-and-now, to grow personally and professionally, and to better understand and serve our clients.

—Lisa Blazek Luisi, Psy.D.

It’s been several months since I attended the Here and Now group. I was going through a life-long relationship struggle where I have felt powerless, judged, and afraid to speak my mind because I didn’t want to experience the same rejection, criticism and dismissiveness over and over again from this person. I attended Jacob’s Here and Now workshop, not expecting that I would be working through this problem. I found myself speaking and standing up to my ‘problem person’ in my personal life as I confronted others in the group. From some I was viewed as aggressive, but others expressed their gratitude and alignment with my words. It was uncomfortable, empowering, and healing. It gave me courage to confront my ‘problem person’ with love and respect, without playing games. I highly recommend this group experience. Do it!

—Catherine G.

Jacob's group for psychotherapists was a perfect combination of mutual support and mutual challenge. The group was large enough to represent a wide cross-section of mental health professionals, but small enough so that no one got to hide, even unintentionally. At the end of the three sessions I felt more grounded, yet with a greater capacity for connection, vulnerability and transparency. I also have a good understanding of what it takes to run a therapy group, should I decide to do that in the future. Jacob teaches group therapy, not by lecturing, but by giving you an experience of short-term group therapy where members get to the heart of things quickly. This was a really good experience that was worth the extra cost. I highly recommend it.

—Jeffrey Zeth, LCSW

Jacob is a thoughtful, perceptive clinician and a skilled, engaging group facilitator. The Deeper-in-the-Here-and-Now workshop that I attended was exhilarating and introduced me as a clinician and individual to a powerful way of working therapeutically. The here-and-now process is remarkably effective in putting one’s defenses in relief. It invites participants to allow ourselves to be truly seen, vulnerable and to connect with others in unexpected ways. That all of the attendees were therapists elevated and accelerated the work that we were able to accomplish in a relatively short time. The readings provided by Jacob were theoretically illuminating, accessible and interesting. The supervision portion of the workshop was productive and provided an opportunity to discuss the interventions that we had read about and experienced in group. I eagerly look forward to participating in a future workshop. Even this small amount of exposure to this way of working has impacted my personal work and my clinical practice. It is nothing short of revelatory.

—Kristi Zybulewski, LCSW

Deeper in the Here and now is an excellent group and class experience. Jacob gently pokes and prods you back to the present and consistently doesn’t let the group dally away from the present for long. You get to have a group experience as well as intellectually understand how to successfully lead a group.

—Susan March, LCSW

I found our meetings refreshing, relaxed, and — since this process was new to me—easy to become part of and to find helpful.

—Lou Lipsitz, LCSW

I found the Here and Now Workshop to be a rewarding experience. The knowledge and practice application during the workshop will help my professional growth as a counselor.

—Chad Atchley, LAC

This group has not only helped me learn crucial skills to effectively deepen the meaning and impact of my own groups, but has also opened my personal and professional experience of connecting with sensations and emotions in the moment, ultimately increasing my understanding of myself, interactions and how to connect with others. —Emily Fiorelli, LMSW

I recently attended Jacob’s Deeper in the Here-and-Now seminar for the second time. As a group leader of similar groups myself, I was hoping to rejuvenate my approach both by reminding myself of what it’s like to be a group member and by learning from another group leader’s techniques in action. This is exactly what happened. Jacob skillfully facilitated an invigorating and intimate experience for all of us who left the encounter more alive, refreshed, connected and self-aware. We were dramatically reminded of the power of being intimately in the moment and became better people - and better therapists - for it.

—Craig Perl, Psy.D.

Throughout the workshop, I found myself opening up about topics that had long been nestled in the corners of my mind. The facilitator skillfully guided the group through discussions on loss, grief, and the intricate dynamics within our relationships. The emphasis on the here and now allowed me to connect with my emotions in a profound way, fostering a sense of awareness that I hadn't realized was possible.

What set this workshop apart was its ability to weave together personal introspection with group dynamics. As I shared my experiences, I discovered common threads with others in the group, creating a shared understanding that transcended words. Exploring family dynamics and the intricacies of relationships became a collective journey, and the immediacy of our interactions brought a sense of authenticity that I hadn't experienced before.

—Yasilet Ferdnandez

Jacob's groups help me keep a finger on the pulse of the group. As we become more alive, or less spontaneous, I can sense this quickly now and this gives me many more options for responding to the group's ambivalence about "getting real with each other.”

—Charlie Glazier, LICSW

Jacob’s training was excellent. Jacob was informative, provocative and engaging. The training was an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally.

–Lorraine Jacobs, LMSW

I loved the DHN workshop. It gave me a taste of what group therapy can be - exploring and getting comfortable with my discomforts, getting more comfortable with others even in the face of negative feelings and thoughts (from me towards them or them towards me). I'd love to continue this more.

–Abie Hamaoui, LSW

I enjoyed the here-and-now workshop. During the workshop, Jacob's approach allowed group members to connect in the present moment. Jacob called out moments when he noticed transference in the group and challenged members to engage in what was happening inside of us. As a therapist, I encourage clients to sit with uncomfortable feelings and sensations in their bodies in order to heal from the past in the present. I was able to experience how challenging and uncomfortable, but healing this can be to the nervous system. I truly appreciated the experience and the opportunity to deepen connection with those in the group.

–Veronica Holbrook, LMFT

Jacob's group was wonderful. It took my understanding of myself deeper than I have ever felt with an individual session.

–Christina Pallotta, LSW

Jacob provides us with an experience that is both challenging and comforting in its opportunity to do what is so necessary for clinicians: to deepen our presence and to use that to open more profound understanding of ourselves and our clients, that leads to a deeper understanding of themselves. We can never have enough of this in our training.

—Joe Armentano, LCSW

The group offers a refreshing change of pace to our cultivated and trained responses. Instead of interacting in the way we feel we are "supposed to," we are encouraged to interact more vulnerably and authentically- even if it means giving difficult or embarrassing feedback. Group members are less offended by the feedback than interested and engaged. In turn, the intimacy between members deepens quickly. I felt more alive in the process.

–Laura Zwisler, LPC

This workshop was like nothing I've ever done before. It was fascinating.

–Shira Somerstein, LCSW