When I first joined James work, it was a level 1 deep living workshop, I was curious and skeptical. A good friend had told me James work might be interesting and the adequate remedy for me. I am a medical doctor and also trained in Gestalt therapy, but also an alcoholic, smoker and over the last years several times hit by major depression.

So, the level 1 deep living workshop was just challenging for me, full of new experience; James created an atmosphere where all my old mechanisms to hide myself were challenged. And I could get from his speeches that he was familiar with all the modern theories about neurobiological phenomena, he knew about Antonio Damasio, Wilhelm Reich, Jean Liedloff, Gerda Boyesen, Alexander Lowen, Frederik Alexander, Moshe Feldenkrais, and many others, he was familiar with all the actual knowledge base on how old unconscious neuronal patterns might be influenced and even changed.

So, I decided to attend the intense training group in Berlin that started in early 2008. It became even more of a challenge, personally, because the way, James instructed and accompanied each individual in the group and the group process, it became obvious, that personal secrets are an obstacle to what we all wanted: clarity, honesty, our personal truth.

He drove us to processes I did not like because he forced me to look at places and aspects of my personality I would have preferred to bury forever or not to touch at all; just ignore those! But he created this incredible atmosphere where it came just to a “Yes” or “No”;   Do I want to continue the way I have gone for decades which made me unfulfilled and unhappy, or am I eager enough to just be honest and accept what comes up ?

My primary goal for the training was just to learn more and become more skilled as a psychotherapist. By attending and living through his training sessions I gained much more than that: I went through a lot of my old stuff that hindered me from living my own life -  I had no idea about before - I could let go many of my old ideas, I started to feel myself and other people, my mirror neurons were consciously activated; I became more honest. And, this is a personal communication, not a doctor’s advice, I could stop my antidepressant medication I have been on for more than 4 years.

Although I do not feel skilled enough with all the techniques one might need in professional psychotherapy - all the scales and scores etc.  (for the German chamber of medical doctors) -  I feel enriched and directed to the honest area of my life to start my own business of assisting people in finding their truth, in changing their dysfunctional behavior and inbecoming more happy than they had been before.

So, I am grateful to James and his innovative way of playing with what I did not want to be played with, because before I did want to hide it; I am grateful that James and Sarah created an atmosphere where all these “secrets” could be revealed in “public” (the group), could be looked at and without any shame or guilt, be resolved.

So, I am looking forward to the announced training block III.

Dr. med. Thomas Norpoth

    Arzt für Allgmeinmedizin

    Gestalttherapeut

I am deeply touched and excited by James’ work with people. There hasn’t been an dark place, into which James wasn’t ready to accompany me. I have learned to look at one shadow side after another and to feel my dark places. My experience is, the darker the abyss, the brighter the light in me.

My life has become so much lighter and more fulfilled, since I am going to James’ seminars. I am accepting life more and more the way it is. Life is just so much more fun like this!

Professionally I profited from the work with James very much. As a civil judge I was able to apply many techniques from the training group. The more openly I was encountering the parties or their lawyers, the more space I could grant for their feelings (often disappointment, anger or hurt), the more the parties were ready to collaborate and to come to an agreement. The parties often felt seen and perceived.

As a court appointed lawyer I have to visit many old, sick and disabled people. The special way of James to build a relationship, to find the right place in the room and the right distance to the other, facilitated me coming into a very beautiful contact with people.

I can recommend working with James from all my heart! It just needs a little bit of courage to try something new, really wanting to experience one self and wanting to look inside…and so much is possible! Thank you James for your courage and your love!

Clivia von Dewitz

Yes, this man can really help me!

These were my first thoughts after the first Open Evening with James one and a half years ago. Until then I hadn't met anybody with whom I felt I could really show myself, with all the really dirty things, that are happening in me underneath the surface. After I had started to share at the Open Evening and he came to me, I could not help but open up.

When I sit across from James I know that he is ready to look at anything with me, to go very deep with me - with no ifs, ands or buts, and without the least bit of judgement. For me he is the anchor and the consciousness that helps me to recognise my fears and needs behind my abyss.

James has developed a challenging and at the same time enormously fun way that makes it possilble to transform fears and needs in group games. He calls it 'the game of honesty, courage and consciousness'.

For the last one and a half years I've been on a journey with James and it continues.What helps me at the moment is, that James doesn't just accompany me into the abyss, but explores with me, what my true, fearless life expression is. How he always says so beautifully, first we clear up our old, fear and anger based behaviour patterns, and then playing with 'the game of honesty, courage and consciousness' becomes really fun. This is exactly true.

What do I want to say to finish up? Thanks James and: It's great!

Axel Eichel

In a unique way, James feels the potential of every single one in the group and requests clearly and without compromise, to lead the focus on that. Playfully he supports to experience old patterns, that they can be detected and let go. And still everything happens in deep love and understanding for everybody. I also want to mention the sensitive and clear female support through the processes by Sarah.

Tina Fleck

The greatest thing about the Deep Living Process for me is how through working on the core issues REAL human contact happens.To experience being close to oneself, and to share this with people, who are living out of their authentic core as well is a gift and a huge joy!

Martin Böttcher

I'm impressed and deeply touched to experience, how James is leading me with love, clarity and presence to those points in my system, where I'm behaving rigid and hard. There, where old pains are preventing me from being alive. James keeps encouraging me, to express my inner power and beauty and to enjoy my femaleness. With humor, fun and a remarkable perseverance, James supports me on my way.

In his seminars, James is there for every single one, for everyone in the group as well as for everything that happens in the group, as if we were all one organism. James has the wonderful gift to accompany people into their fears and he encourages self-responsibility, to trust one's intuition and to act on it.

Barbara Malachewski

What I appreciate the most about James is the depth that he offers and also expects. The consistent pursuit of self-responsibility, as well as his availability and patience to lead and accompany me on my path wherever I go and whatever fears I confront. In class, when I am ready to take my next step, he is completely there for me. There is nothing too weird or nothing forbidden if it helps me to go deeper or come closer to my self.

After working with James for one year, I can best describe my experience with a quote from 'Matrix': " But if you take the red pill you wake up and I will lead you into the deepest depths of the rabbit hole."

It has changed me, brought me in contact with my self, and I cannot deny anymore who/what I am. Of course there are also moments where I am scared of change and I ask myself "Why didn't I take the blue pill?". But every time I understand more what James offers me. Nothing more and nothing less than my Self. My original being. Free of shame and fright. Free of all conditioning. This is what he offers. What he expects is - honesty, courage and consciousness. After every step there is a little more.

Whoever wants to go to a self-discovery weekend to calm oneself down, should not choose James.

Thomas Fecker

James is working with sensitivity and knowing, and he treats every participant individually. When I talk to him, I can connect very well with his clear presence and through that I get in touch with the essence within myself. I am not in my head. He supports everyone in the group optimally in their personal process. I feel supported and encouraged by him, to be more and more myself and to live my truth. Sarah's energy is innocent like a newborn baby, light, playful, female, loving, supportive, clear. I enjoyed every contact with her.

Barbara Tron

James is creating a new world. I think, to follow James on this path is one of the greatest adventures.

Esther Cornils

In the 10 day Group with James I have experienced what aliveness, honesty and attention is possible. I have discovered for myself in which direction I can develop. In being together with the group I got suggestions to follow my dreams and my intuition more courageously and to show myself more openly and with my feelings. These where great gifts for me. Thanks to the group and to Sarah and James.

Jörg Jungwirth

I am captivated by James' down-to-earth enthusiasm while teaching and sharing his vast - vast! - experience. I have no memory of ever having felt as encouraged and supported as by him to live my deepest gifts. His knowledge slides into my being through unknown doors ... and hardly seems to touch my mind. James invites every individual in his classes to look at their fears lovingly, clearly and I trust his challenges in working with each other. It is pure joy to work with James and I am looking forward to my next class with him!

Marianne Kurschner

James class was a deep and powerful experience. Also frightening like hell to be seen and deeply touched and at the same time I didn't want to leave because it felt so much like home. For everyone whose experienced trauma in life, the class provides a safe and gentle space through and out of it. I gained back a wonderful tool in my life to reconnect with myself and also as a bodyworker to deeply touch people.

Karin Edwards

I participated in a 5 day group led by James on the Healing Relationship. I am most impressed by James ability to be in unconditional love for each and every participant. He is a gifted therapist in his capacity to resonate with his client, to free himself from any conditioning around what he says or does or around what the client says or does and to lovingly challenge each person to stretch into new ways of being. I've participated in many training groups including many hours of group leadership training and community building. This group has been exceptional due to James skill, presence and leadership. I found a new freedom from my mind's need to control my experience and a greater ease in simply dropping into experience. In my individual work with James, I've been able to go deeper in a relatively short period of time than I have in a lifetime of seeing a variety of experiential therapists. I feel totally supported to be who I truly am in each moment. He constantly challenges me to feel everything and anything fully and to go beyond my limitations!

Anya Scarborough

I felt the most paticipatory that I ever felt in a workshop. It was from me saying "yes", and from James' way of leading, following, pushing, pulling back, and asking for 100 percent. He embodies the Taoist philosophy: "If you want to lead people you must follow them." And more than that; I felt I were part of a symphony where we were all being played individually and in a group.

Inika Sati

James creates an environment of heightened sensitivity, intimacy and presence in his workshops. I found it easy to get a deeper understanding of how healing, communication - "life" - works. James' teaching always feels in tune with the group, allowing a direct experience of what is explained for all participants.

Rafael Ebner