Un-workshop Explorations

IEC Conference: 2025-pending

Our nervous systems are being triggered by the challenges of our time, leading to conditioned responses that prioritize escape or distraction. We might look for environments that numb or soothe us and conclude we are not living our best selves . Are we failing, lacking, unprepared for the task?

In this workshop, we will explore how the body can become a resource for resilience and self-awareness. By using our physical boundaries as sources of information, we can compassionately examine our experiences in a safe and supportive way. Let’s challenge paradigms that leave us feeling stuck and navigate challenges with an embodied approach—like a canoeist who learns to lean into the rocks in fast waters to regain stability.

This workshop invites us to discover together how your physiology can become the teacher and your cognition the student.

DU BUF, Paul

United Kingdom / Netherlands

Paul graduated as a registered nurse in 1994. He became a specialist addiction nurse in prevention, treatment, aftercare, dual diagnosis, training and innovation in addiction treatment services in the Netherlands and the UK. For his innovative NHS online recovery project, he received a clinical excellence award in 2011. He coordinated an NHS alcohol outreach pilot project in London, became an independent nurse prescriber and somatic practitioner with a specific interest in trauma to support his clients better. Paul is focused on transitioning addiction services become trauma-integrated which will benefit clients, staff and culture. He was awarded certification as a global nurse consultant by the international council of nurses and was an expert reviewer for the first universal nurses addiction curriculum. He published his first book in 2023 with the title “Shadow Dancing; embodied recovery for trauma and addictions”. He founded the ERA-Institute which stands for Embodied – Radical – Attunement and its mission is to create and support a cultural infrastructure that is trauma integrated. He currently lives and works in London as a nurse in a drug and alcohol community service.