ILLANA HALL-COLON, M.A., program director, FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN

In March 2014, Kristin Chubbuck piloted her Bioenergetics curriculum at Friends of the Children with a group of 1st and 2nd grade students who were attending the after-school program I was managing at that time.  Goal of the program was to promote early literacy through activities focused on the development of leadership, empowerment, self-expression, expression of social emotions, and community building skills.  Students attending the after-school program were previously identified as struggling academically; a majority of them were Harlem residents, Black American or African; they all came from diverse ethnic, racial and familial backgrounds, and mostly from households facing some type of adversity.  

The greatest asset children were able to acquire from the Bioenergetics curriculum was the ability to develop expressive language. Most of the children in our program had a limited registrar in expressive language, which is considered one of the main obstacles to gaining early literacy skills. Through Bioenergetics, our students were able to develop a better sense of self and to expand their vocabulary, which helped them to improve their literacy skills at a much more rapid rate.  The Bioenergetics activities also reinforced the other principles we were trying to implement, such as community building, leadership and empowerment.

Ms. Chubbuck's  Bioenergetics curriculum was truly inspiring and I hope to be able to hire her to come in and work with my current group of students in grades 6th -8th. 

KEVIN WRIGHT, M.S., associate program director, volunteers of america

Ms. Kristin Chubbuck conducted an innovative workshop with her program called “Bioenergetics for Academic Achievement & Self –Esteem” at Volunteers of America and Gema Hall, where I am the Associate Program Director.

Our population is commonly affected by chronic history of substance abuse, homelessness and mental health disorders.  Our mission is to orient them toward productive and practical focuses which promote and reinforce activities for daily living (ADLs).  Another set of challenges is caused by the ethnical, cultural, and age-related diversity of the groups served by Gema Hall. It is rare that a single approach can positively impact all of them.  Yet Ms. Chubbuck’s workshop did just that.

My staff and I set goals with our clients that involve the building of self-reliance, self-expression, empowerment and self-esteem. These qualities are essential for them to develop to lift themselves out of their struggles, and integrate within the community.

Ms. Chubbuck’s workshop gave the participants at Gema Hall a tool to develop expressive language, together with self and mutual affirmation, in a non-judgmental group environment which was the catalyst for a deeper self-awareness and understanding.  One comment I heard from a participant best expresses, in my opinion, the experience of working with Ms. Chubbuck:  “I feel less anxious and cleared my head and emotions as I worked through the exercises.”

Ms. Chubbuck has created an amazingly effective life skills building program, which I wholeheartedly endorse.

BRIELLE EDEN, L.Ac., BODY ORIENTED PSYCHOTHERPIST

Kristin Chubbuck attended three workshops on the theory and practice of Bioenergetics Psychotherapy taught by myself.  In these events she learned the core principles underlying this approach as well as the various expressing and grounding exercises we use to promote greater aliveness, emotional healing and personal growth.

Kristin also did 30 hours of one-on-one mentoring with me to sharpen her understanding and her skills in employing Bioenergetics principles to various clinical situations.

I find Kristin to be an intelligent, sensitive and caring person as well as a dedicated student who is always striving to improve her skills and understanding.