Functional Analysis
Somatic Psychotherapy
Australia
An Introduction to Functional Analysis Somatic Psychotherapy
We are offering One-Day Experiential Workshops in Presence.
1 day Introductory Workshops
Saturday 22 August 2026 — 10.00 am–6:00 pm (AEST)
Saturday 31 October 2026 — 12.00 – 8:00 pm (AEST)
A NEW Training Program is set to begin in 2027
Discover the power of integrating therapeutic touch with advanced verbal techniques in somatic psychotherapy.
These one day workshops will explore how healing extends beyond words to engage the whole body.
Touch plays a vital role in conveying care, safety, and connection. We’ll introduce “Points & Positions,” a gentle, non-invasive touch technique to help clients reconnect with their bodies and emotions.
The verbal methods focus on how communication evokes deep internal experiences. These techniques blend Reich, Rogers, Gestalt, and Focusing approaches for a unique fusion. Experience verbal sessions with Anna Comachio.
The hands on session will be with facilitators Ermanno Bergami and Maria Sangiorgi. Participants will leave with tools to enrich their practice beyond traditional talk therapy.
This workshop is an invitation to explore body-based healing ethically and effectively. A full training program will begin in 2027
The training programme adheres to PACFA’s Code of Ethics and Clinical Competencies and meets all requirements for accreditation as a Clinical Registered Psychotherapist.
This workshop counts as 7 hours of category A CPD
Training Course in Functional Analysis Somatic Psychotherapy
The course is taught both in presence in Melbourne by the Australian practitioners Ermanno Bergami & Maria Sangiorgi and online by founder Will Davis who lives in France
The experiential nature of the training will require face-to face and online presence.
This training Course meets in its entirety the PACFA’s training requirements for accreditation as Registered Clinical Psychotherapist.
NEW Full Training Program begins 2027
Foundational Level
8 modules of theory and practical experience of the verbal & physical techniques.
Advanced Level
Certificate of Functional Analysis Somatic Psychotherapist
6 more modules of theory and practice, client work and supervison.
Go here to Training Curriculum
For enquiries about the training
Contact: ermannobergami@gmail.com
To register for the new training here
download the form
Excerpts from Will Davis’s writings
In a humanistic oriented body psychotherapy such as Functional Analysis the “internal environment” of the patient is what has always been focused on; the patient’s experience of him or herself; interpretive interoception
The relevance of connective tissue’s structures and functions to body oriented psy- chotherapies is evident. Its role in all metabolic functions, in creating space, shape and contour, its ability to receive, transmit, transport and amplify energies determining the quality of subjec- tive experiences, its role in protecting us physically and psychically by re-enforcing over stressed muscles, and its plasticity all make it indispensable for in-depth body psychotherapy approaches.
I believe that this is why connective tissue is so important: its primal origins, its structure and functioning are what bind body and mind physically and energetically, somatically and psychically. To support a unified body/mind state I have utilized a connective tissue, matrix based, bottom-up model rather than a top-down, central nervous system based, cognitive, understanding of evolution, development and behavior. I have used connective tissue in its myriad forms — from liquid to various solid states on to crystals — as the medium, the means whereby, a unified state of body/mind is forged and maintained.
Reich had described the elementary process of the expansive and contractive pulsation in orgone functioning and declared it his most important discovery. Expansion was the expressive movement of the life force within the organism from the core to the periphery and beyond. This was equated with pleasure.
By mobilizing the instroke it is possible to work safely with trauma patients by going below the cortical level of cognition and emotions, below the defenses and even below the trauma itself, thereby contacting the undamaged endo self state whereby the patient can “heal” her/himself.
It is possible to treat trauma patients below defenses, working with the “undamaged” endo self that exists before the trauma.
The Points&Positions Touch Technique in Functional Analysis is specifically designed to take advantage of the plasticity of connective tissue but in a different manner than either the manual, and the movement therapies or traditional Body Psychotherapy.
Reich has taught us that character armor is based on the character, on who we are. We build our defenses on a characteristic we have. It makes no sense to defend ourselves with something we do not possess
The Home and Origins of Functional Analysis
The centre of Functional Analysis in situated in south of France in Will and Lilly Davis ‘s residential seminar facility where they host summer training workshops and week long residential, concentrated therapy programs. They also travel to other countries offering training, as guest trainers in other programs and presenting at professional congresses. They have taught extensively throughout Europe including Senigallia, Italy where Ermano Bergami and Maria Sangiorgi gained their accreditation in Functional Analysis.
Functional Analysis began its development in the early 1980’s when Will began to combine the gentle Points & Positions touch technique, his instroke methods and a specific verbal approach supporting the instroke which he found was more effective and was offering a unique methodology for the self to self relationship. Read more about Will Davis – EVOLUTION OF A REICHIAN