A level 2 course under the methodology developed within Relational Trauma therapy

The original online course has ended. 

A special edition available to purchase, only for paticipants in the upcoming level 2 course:  'Sitting on the edge of an abyss together' starting  September 13th, 2023. If interested, write to us at [email protected]

What do you gain from this course?

Hyper- and hypo-states are interwoven. Our hypothesis is that stress-patterns and trauma-patterns are held by a combination of a hyper- and a hypo-strategy. One can be stronger than the other – but they work together in each their way to establish a pattern.

  • Hyper- and hypo-states

    Hyper- and hypo-states can be found in many aspects of the body – our focus lies on hyper- and hypo-states in muscles, connective tissue and the autonomic nervous-system. Patterns can be held by a combination between hyper- and hypo in all of these 3 aspects

  • This course focus

    In this course focus lies on how to explore and work with hyper-states and in the same time keep an awareness of hypo-states. How to relate to both strategies in a way where they don’t polarise to each other? How to optimise safety while doing this work? How to hold an ethical boundary when working with hyper-response, so acting out doesn’t happen? The process of dosing is key in this – building up adaptability in being able to shift between different dosages – coming back and forth between dosing high and low

  • Hypo- and Hyper-processes

    In hypo-processes focus lies on differentiation – awakening under-activated neurological systems – sensory stimulation. In hyper-processes focus lies on integration and ownership – processing – collaboration between neurological systems – sensory integration.

  • From the base expressing ourselves safely

    To build presence and inner strength we benefit from working with both processes. Knowing how to release energy in hyper-responsive areas – and how to build and keep energy in hypo-responsive areas can support us in gaining fullness and adaptablility in the body – and from that base we can step forward into expressing ourselves safely.

  • Hyper- and hypo-patterns impact

    We will look at how hyper- and hypo-patterns impact our presence inwards and outwards and how we negotiate with the patterns

  • 3 principles for negotiating

    We will go through 3 principles for negotiating with hyper- and hypo-response: Shifting between dosing high and low Releasing energy versus building energy Matching energy versus holding energy

  • Difference between hyper-response and hyper-arousal

    We will touch into the difference between hyper-response and hyper-arousal – and look at how we can support ownership of hyper-arousal through including and awakening hypo-response in muscles.

  • The goal of the course

    The goal of the course is to - support access to and coping with a heightened complexity in the inner landscape - support integration of hyper and hypo-strategies and minimise polarisation between them - support capacity to shift between addressing hyper- and hypo-strategies

Relational Trauma therapy

Relational Trauma therapy has specialised in including and normalising hypo-states and developing practical methods for working with these and how to bring this inclusion into work with hyper-states.

Psychomotor exercises and neurologically informed training are used to increase empowerment – and reduce the impact of trauma-patterns. Skills and resources held in the muscles, bones and senses are awakened and with that our capacity for regulating emotions and arousal-states can grow.


Two traditions are represented in the thinking behind the practical methodology:

Psychomotor skill-training including micro-activations of both muscles and connective tissue – and neurologically informed training focusing on awakening sensation and activating joints. The "dosing" principle: Through the process of “dosing”, the body exercises are adapted by each participant, building an inner authority. The bodily skill training is based in knowledge of tension and low energy (hyper- and hypo-response) in the muscles and connective tissue. High and low energy behaviours are valued equally. This supports a group-dynamic and an inner dynamic in each of us, that can hold the polarity between hyper- and hypo-patterns - instead of letting them polarise to each other
Read more about our methology in the RTT Resource Library

What to expect in this course

  • Session 1, February 1st

    Shifting between dosing high and low - Hyper- and hypo-interwoven. How do we sense and experience hyper-response compared to hypo-response? How do we open curiosity to both of them, make space for both of them without them polarising to each other? And how does that impact our relationship to ourselves?

  • 2 Session , February 15th

    Releasing versus building energy Releasing energy modifies hyper-response – given that in hyper-response energy is held back and controlled. Building up energy modifies hypo-response – given that in hypo- response the container for energy in the body is low energized. What happens, what emerges, what becomes available

  • Session 3, March 1st

    Matching versus holding In hyper-responsive areas change can happen through matching the intensity in the held back energy. This can happen physically and in tone of voice. In hypo-responsive areas impulses and expressions benefit from being held and supported – so they can go from invisible to visible. What happens when we work with these two principles?

  • Session 4, March 22nd

    Integration time

  • Session 5, April 12th

    Expression/display versus containment – opening up to hyperarousal We can build up energy and let go slowly – or let go fast. Letting go slowly is functional when working with hypo-response – it supports us in keeping the energy that has been generated. Letting go fast is functional with hyper-response – supports us in getting energy into circulation and expression. Building up energy first and then shift to letting go fast supports a process where we start opening up to hyperarousal states safely. Differentiation between hyper-response and hyper-arousal

  • Session 6, April 26th

    Hyperarousal and hypo-response. How does hypo-response impact our access to and our way of coping with hyperarousal? Hypo-response in some of the muscles is often found in combination with being in hyperarousal-reactions like flight, fight, protectionreflex etc. This means that we lose access to some of our presence and coping skills when we are reacting to stress with hyperarousal. Paying attention to hypo-response and modifying it can open up to a fuller and safer ownership of the life-energy in hyperarousal-states

  • Session 7, May 10th

    Integration time

  • Between the sessions

    Participants can choose to form training/support-groups. Organizing of these groups are in the hands of the participants. An initiative for starting an email-list for those who are interested will be taken prior to the 4th session of the course

Practical information

  • The online-course

    This online-course offers 7 x 3 hour live sessions that each time will include - presentation of one out of 5 elements in working with hyper- and hypo interwoven - practical training in body-awareness and specific muscle-and joint-activations - time for sharing in smaller groups - exchange-time in the whole group with questions and answers – and sharing in subgroups - session 4 and 7 focus on integration in the learning process

  • Dates

    7 live online-sessions of 3 hrs on 7 Wednesdays – all in 2023: February 1st February 15th, March 1st, March 22nd, April 12th, April 26th, May 10th

  • Times

    Teaching hrs are on 5-8 pm CET all 7 times. - 4-7 pm UTC (Coordinated Universal time, Greenwich mean time) 5-8 pm CET UTC + 1 6-9 pm EET (Eastern European time) UTC + 2 11 am – 2 pm EST (Eastern North America) UTC – 5 8-11 am PST (Pacific Standard Time) UTC -8 11.30pm -2.30 am ACST (Australian Central Standard Time) UTC + 9.30

  • Who is this workshop for?

    Previous experience with teaching that includes and awakens hypo-response is requested. This request can be fulfilled by having participated in the online course “Including and awakening hypo-response” – or having participated in training in Relational Trauma Therapy with Merete Holm Brantbjerg or Kolbjørn Vårdal. Prior experience with other psychotherapeutic and/or trauma-therapeutic modalities is required. If you are uncertain if you fulfill the criteria, please write to [email protected] Organizer has the right to take action to secure that participants fulfill the criteria

  • Fee

    Early bird registration - with sign up and payment prior to 15th of January 2023: 680 US$. Later sign up and payment: 720 US$ For sign up and payment go to rtt.thinkific.com

  • Time zone

    If you are in a different time-zone than the above mentioned – please look up what time will be yours. Please be aware that Daylight savings time shifts in CET on March 26 – and in Northamerica on March 12 – so on March 22 the time-difference will differ with one hour compared to the normal difference if you live in Northamerica. Please check your local shift to see if this fits for where you are in the world as well

  • Live-session and Online platfom

    We use Zoom, a cloud-based video communications app for our Live virtual sessions. Zoom – link will be made available over email and on the thinkific-platform prior to each session All workshop-material will be made available on rtt.thinkific.com

  • Recordings and videoes

    Recordings of each of the 7 sessions will be made available. Short videos presenting some of the thinking behind aspects of the methodology will be part of the workshop material. The material will for the participants be accessible 3 month after the course has ended.

  • Size of course-group

    There is a maximum participating number in this online-course of 100 students

  • Scholarship payment

    10 participants can upon request pay scholarship-price: 600 US$. Please send your request to [email protected]

  • Please note

    The course 'Hyper- and hypo interwoven' will start 1st of February and will end 10th of May 2023. Please note: No new enrollment is possible after start of the course. Further more: this course might not be repeated, so if you are interested in 'Hyper- and hypo interwoven' and like to participate, we suggest you join us on February 1st 2023

RTT ONLINE TEAM

CEO and Senior trainer Merete Holm Brantbjerg

Merete Holm Brantbjerg, body-psychotherapist, member of the Danish Psychotherapist Organisation and of EABP, founder of Relational Trauma Therapy – international trainer – specialised in working with low dosed activation of muscles and connective tissue as an aspect of trauma-therapeutic methodology. Merete is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Trainer Kolbjørn Vårdal

Kolbjørn Vårdal, body-psychotherapist, Masters degree in trauma work, member of EABP, co-founder of Relational Trauma therapy, international trainer, specialised in including neurologically informed training as a trauma-therapeutic methodology. Kolbjørn is situated in Oslo, Norway, - where he lives with his family

Course Manager Ayuna Pedersen

Ayuna Pedersen - bodyoriented psychotherapist, Relational Trauma Therapist, SEP - specialised in working with trauma with children in all ages. Member of the Danish Psychotherapist Organisation. The role of the course manager is to support the group technically, be part of the containment during sessions, be in charge of the course-platform (on Thinkific). Ayuna is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark, - where she lives with her family

Hyper- and hypo interwoven (HHI) is one of our up to now 3 courses offered within Relational Trauma Therapy online

Hyper and hypo interwoven is a level 2 online-course. - And it is the first time the course HHI is offered

This course might not be repeated, so if you are interested in 'Hyper- and hypo interwoven' and like to participate in a future possible course, we suggest you join us by creating a profile on our platform. You will then receive news about upcoming courses
Our main hompage

Future courses

  • Autumn 2023

    Sitting on the edge of an abyss together. Working with hypoarousal. A level 2 course

  • Spring 2024

    Disgust and inner authority. A level 2 course

  • Autumn 2024

    Including and awakening hypo-response. A level 1 course

Free material from RTT online

You can access our FREE material in RTT Resource Library and gain more information about our work, many articles, podcast and more