Business Details
37 Years
experience
Advanced AEP Training for Therapists in Boulder
The Boulder Psychotherapy Institute (BPI) has been a leader in training mental health professionals in Applied Existential Psychotherapy (AEP) since 1989. Founded by Betty Cannon, Ph.D., our institute integrates existential philosophy, psychodynamic theory, and Gestalt techniques to provide a holistic approach to therapy. Our faculty, including internationally recognized experts, offers advanced certification programs, workshops, and supervision groups designed to deepen therapeutic practice. We serve as a hub for therapist community-building in Colorado, offering networking opportunities, a therapist directory, and resources for both practitioners and the public. With over three decades of experience, BPI emphasizes experiential learning, relational therapy, and trauma-informed care.Our programs are grounded in Sartrean existential phenomenology, focusing on freedom, authenticity, and meaning-making in clinical practice. We provide training modules in individual, couples, group, and body-oriented therapies, alongside dream analysis and trauma work. Our graduates include licensed professionals who integrate AEP into private practice, hospitals, and academic settings. BPIs commitment to excellence is reflected in its rigorous curriculum, peer-reviewed publications, and contributions to existential psychology literature. We prioritize ethical practice, continuing education, and fostering a supportive community for therapists at all career stages.
Services
AEP Individual Training
Relational Therapy Workshops
Group Therapy Certification
Trauma and Body Workshops
Dream Analysis Training
Supervision Groups
Couples Therapy Modules
Existential Philosophy Seminars
Details
- Year established: 1989
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of expertise in existential psychotherapy training.
- Our faculty includes internationally published AEP pioneers like Betty Cannon.
- We integrate body, mind, and existential meaning in trauma-informed care.
- Our certification program includes 400+ hours of practice and supervision.
- We foster a supportive community for therapist networking and growth.
What people say
Comprehensive training
Expert faculty
Supportive community
Existential depth
Practical interventions
Services
AEP Individual Training
Our AEP Individual Training program teaches therapists to integrate existential philosophy with psychodynamic techniques. Participants learn interventions for addressing freedom, facticity, and meaning-making in therapy. The 60-hour module includes experiential exercises and case studies.
Relational Therapy Workshops
Relational Therapy Workshops focus on applying existential principles to couples counseling. Training emphasizes navigating freedom vs. commitment and fostering mutual meaning-creation through Sartrean phenomenology and Gottman-inspired research.
Group Therapy Certification
Group Therapy Certification combines Gestalt, existential, and systems approaches. Participants practice co-leading groups in a safe environment, learning to facilitate dynamics while addressing trauma and character strategies.
Trauma and Body Workshops
Trauma and Body Workshops explore existential perspectives on trauma as meaning loss. Training includes Reichian/bioenergetic techniques for integrating body work, emotional regulation, and character strategy interventions.
Dream Analysis Training
Dream Analysis Training teaches AEP methods for interpreting dreams as existential messages. Participants practice facilitating peer dream sessions and integrating symbolic meaning into therapeutic practice through experiential exercises.
People
Betty Cannon
President and Founder
Betty Cannon, Ph.D., founded BPI in 1989 and developed Applied Existential Psychotherapy. A licensed psychologist and Gestalt therapist, she has trained therapists for 30+ years and authored Sartre and Psychoanalysis, a field classic.
Robyn Chauvin
Faculty Member
Robyn Chauvin, M.A., L.P.C., teaches AEP at BPI and Naropa University. With 21 years in hospice and private practice, she specializes in trauma, internalized oppression, and Gestalt techniques.
Questions
What is Applied Existential Psychotherapy (AEP)?
AEP combines existential philosophy, psychodynamic theory, and Gestalt techniques to explore freedom, meaning, and relational dynamics in therapy.
Do you offer certification programs?
Yes, our Advanced Certification in AEP requires 400+ hours of training, supervision, and a final project.
Are workshops open to non-therapists?
Most trainings are for licensed professionals, though select guest workshops welcome the public.
How can I join a supervision group?
Contact us at 303-494-0393 to inquire about openings in our 4–6 member supervision groups.
Do you provide continuing education credits?
Yes, our trainings fulfill Colorado's continuing professional development requirements for licensed therapists.
