Leslie Ellis – Introduction to Focusing and Dreams: Finding, Embodying and Anchoring ‘the Help’

March 16, 2026

We had an inspiring and illuminating time with Dr. Leslie Ellis presenting, Introduction to Focusing and Dreams: Finding, Embodying and Anchoring ‘the Help’. Leslie shared about her roots of learning Focusing through Shirley Tutcotte (pioneer of Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy, and trauma model), along with her training in dream work.  She presented an informative PowerPoint, emphasizing three key experiential methods for working with dreams through Focusing, Gestalt, and Jung’s active imagination. After, Leslie led us in an experiential exercise where participants had time to journal and/or express their dream “help” creatively.  It was enriching and hopeful to hear the transformational experiences from the “help” in a dream, as we shared in breakout rooms and the large group– including Q + A and discussion. 

A couple highlights from participants:

"Thank you for the opportunity to learn more and share in learning about eclectic methodologies."

What did you enjoy most? "Leslie’s presence and gentle guiding brought the whole experience to like in a meaningful way"

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About Leslie Ellis:

Dr. Leslie Ellis is a leading expert in the use of experiential and somatic approaches for working with dreams, nightmares and the effects of trauma. She is the author of A Clinician’s Guide to Dream Therapy (Routledge, 2025) and offers online training in embodied, experiential dreamwork and nightmare treatment.  She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a somatic specialization, and a Masters in counselling psychology with a focus on depth/Jungian approaches. She was a psychotherapist in private practice in Vancouver, BC for more than 25 years. She is a former adjunct faculty at Adler University, and past president of The International Focusing Institute, where she is currently a Certifying Coordinator.