Barbara Kent

Friendly Internal Communication
 
F.M. Alexander understood that "trying to be right" tends to make us "go wrong". Internal dialogue or self talk can put us into a state of open curiosity or one of fear based self reprisal. Alexander's work gives us a chance to choose. It interests me to explore the quality of our internal reactions, our habits of mind and emotion, and how they either promote or interfere with our skill as teachers.

As we train to teach and become teachers there is often a stronger stimulus to be good at this work. We work with our language in communication with our students, knowing that negative feedback or pressure to learn or change creates more tension. To strive for the level of skill we want as teachers and develope a friendly , empathic acceptance of OURSELVES is our task. Coming from the world of professional music where perfection is demanded and stress is high, I find this task both satisfying and challenging. I invite you to join me in spending a few friendly hours exploring this together. We will work in our own individual teaching styles, at our own skill level, accepting that it"s OK to be the perfectly imperfect beings that we are.

Barbara Kent earned her BA in music from California State University, San Jose, in 1959, studied voice at The Juilliard School of Music, and received her MA in music from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York in 1972. Singing lead her to the Alexander Technique in the early 1960's, and she was certified by ACAT in 1971. Barbara has been a faculty member of ACAT since 1972, and served as it's Teacher Certification Program Director from 1982-87 and 1996-2001. Barbara studied with Carl Stough and integrates the principles of Breathing Coordination into her work. She enjoys her study of Non-Violent Communication and Buddhist teachings, and recently completed the first level training in Internal Family Systems Therapy. Barbara is also a certified Rubenfeld Synergy Method practitioner, and maintains private practices in both NYC and Sag Harbor, NY.