Dr. Silvia B. Birklein

PhD, MA, LCAT, BC-DMT, NCC, CMA, KMP

Silvia B. Birklein, PhD, MA, BC-DMT, NCC, LCAT, CMA, KMP

is a Clinical Psychologist, Psychoanalyst, Dance Movement Therapist, and Movement Analyst in Private Practice in New York. She’s the founder and director of SYNC Psychological Services™, PLLC, SYNC Somatics ™, and the Institute for Movement Informed Psychotherapy (IMIPSY). She’s a clinical supervisor at Pace University, The New School University, the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP), where she is also faculty. Her interests and research are in the intergenerational transmission of affect, and about the body and movement in psychoanalytic contexts, e.g. trauma in the body, PTSD, attachment patterns in the body, and movement.

Silvia received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, an MA in General Psychology from the New School for Social Research in NYC (Graduate Faculty). In addition, she holds an  MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling Psychology from Antioch University (1997), a BA in Psychology/Philosophy from the Freie University in Berlin (1990), and a  BSW in Social Work/ Pedagogics from the Alice Solomon University in Berlin, Germany. She further holds a Degree in Dance/Performance Arts/Dance Pedagogics from Berlin, Germany,

Dr. Birklein is a licensed psychologist (NY), a licensed creative arts therapist (NY), a certified psychoanalyst (NYU Postdoctoral Program for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy);  she holds certificates in Laban Movement Analysis (LMA; CMA) and in Kestenberg Movement Analysis (KMP) for which she is also a certified KMP analyst/trainer. Further, she received training in Integrative Gestalt Therapy (Fritz-Perls Institute, Germany), and in Body-Mind Centering (BMC).

Her interests and research (intergenerational transmission of affect) are about the body and movement in psychoanalysis, and in her practice she’s working with clients integrating verbal and nonverbal modalities, using Laban and Kestenberg approaches.
She continues to teach and present nationally and internationally (Europe, China) on psychoanalysis and psychotherapy theory and technique, and on linking nonverbal behavior and psychoanalysis, currently as faculty in the Sino-American Movement Analysis Center, Bejing, China: Maternal and Infant Interactive Observational Learning Program (Supervisor of Faculty and Professor for Non-verbal interaction in parent/child dyads and interpersonal- and attachment theories). She continues to teach and dance, especially improvisation and authentic movement.

Education:

  • Graduate: Postdoctoral Program for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy at NYU
  • Postdoctoral Training at William Alanson White Institute
  • PhD. in Clinical Psychology (New School for Social Research)
  • MA in General Psychology (New School for Social Research)
  • MA in Counseling Psychology and Dance/Movement Therapy (Antioch New England Graduate School)
  • National Certified Counselor (NCC)
  • Psychology/Philosophy (Institute for Critical Psychology; Freie Universität Berlin, Germany)
  • Social Work and Social Pedagogics (Berlin, Germany)
  • Dance and Performance Arts (Berlin, Germany)
  • Certificate in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis (CMA)
  • Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP), Master Trainer, Board Member
  • Training in Integrative Gestalt Therapy (Fritz Perls Institute, Germany)
  • Body/Mind Centering (BMC)
  • Somatic Approaches (Authentic Movement, Feldenkrais, Gindler, Bartenieff, Alexander Technique)

Current Activities:

  • Faculty: Sino-American Center, Bejing, China: Maternal and Infant Interactive Observational Learning Program (Professor for non-verbal interaction, attachment and interpersonal/relational theories). Parent/Child Video Analysis and Psychodynamic Consultation.
  • Founder and Clinical Director of SYNC Psychological Services, PLLC a group ractice and training facility for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
  • Founder and Clinical Director: SYNC Psychological Services™, PLLC  & SYNC SOMATICS™ (SyncPsych-Integrative and Embodied Psychotherapy/Body/Mind
  • Founder: SYNC Somatics ™ (Movement Informed Psychotherapy)
  • Faculty and Supervisor: Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP)”
  • Faculty and Supervisor: Pace University: Doctoral Program for Clinical and School Psychology; New School University/ Adjunct Assistant Professor;
  • Faculty and Supervisor: New School for Social Research
  • Psychological Evaluations for TV Reality Shows
  • Certified Master Teacher for Kestenberg Movement Profile Certification Program (KMP)
  • Researcher on nonverbal behavior and intergenerational affect transmission

Selected Publications:

  • Birklein, SB (2020). Embodiment and intergenerational transmission of stress in: Tantia, J. Ed. (2020). https://www.amazon.com/Art-Science-Embodied-Research-Design-dp-1138367087/dp/1138367087/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=
  • Birklein, S. B. (2018).  Contours of Vitality in Movement. In Kestenberg, Loman,  Sossin (Eds): “The Meaning of Movement”: Embodied, Developmental, Clinical and Cultural Perspectives of the Kestenberg Movement Profile. 2nd Edition. Taylor & Frances”: New York
  • Birklein, S. B> (2016). “Forms of vitality in Movement”. The Arts of Time. Relational Psychoanalysis and forms of Vitality in Movement and Clinical Processes. IARPP conference proceedings. Rome. Italy. 2016.
  • Birklein, S.B. (2007). Moving from Within. Conference Proceedings. Abstract obtained from the International Movement Analysis conference. Munich, Germany. 2007.
  • Birklein, S.B. (2006). Keynote address. Psychoanalyse und Bewegungsanalyse. “From the couch to dance”. (Psychoanalytically based Movement Analysis). Lindauer Psychotherapie Wochen. Lindau, Germany.
  • Sossin, K.M. & Birklein, S. (2006). Nonverbal transmission of stress between parent
  • and young child: Considerations and psychotherapeutic implications of a study of affective
  • movement patterns. Journal of Infant, Child, & Adolescent Psychotherapy, 5, 46-69.
  • Birklein, S. B., & Sossin, K. M., (2006). Nonverbal Indices of Stress in Parent-
  • Child Dyads: Implications for Individual and Interpersonal Affect Regulation and
  • Intergenerational Transmission. In: Koch, S., & Bräuninger, I. (Eds.), Advances in
  • Research. Berlin: Logos.
  • Birklein, S. B. (2005). Nonverbal indices of stress in parent-child interaction.
  • Dissertation Abstracts International, 66 (01), 542 B. (UMI No AAT 3161860).
  • Birklein, S.B. (2005). In Koch, S. & Bräuninger, I. (Eds.) International
  • Dance/Movement Therapy Research: Theory, Methods, and Empirical Findings. American Journal of
  • Dance Therapy, Volume 27, Number 1, March 2005, pp. 37-46(10).
  • Birklein, S. B. (2004). Nonverbal indices of high stress. [Abstract]. Moving On. Journal
  • of the Dance Therapy Association of Australia. 3 (2).
  • Birklein, S. B. (2003). Nonverbal indices of stress. The Arts in Psychotherapy: 31 (3).
  • Abstract obtained from the International Research Colloquium in Dance Therapy, 2003.

Selected Professional Presentations:

  • Sino-American Movement Analysis Center, Bejing, China: Maternal and Infant Interactive Observational Learning Program (Supervisor of Faculty and Professor for Non-verbal interaction and Attachment Theory)
  • Forthcoming: Apollo Training Institute, Bejing, China: Psychoanalysis and Body, Mindfulness and Meditation, Movement Analysis in Psychoanalytic Interventions
  • Training series 2019 Beijing: Interventions in Individual Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis; Case Supervision, and Authentic Movement.
  • Workshop series 2018: Apollo Training Institute, Bejing, China: Family Constellations, Genogram, Personality Disorders, Psychoses and Psychoanalysis and Body in Analysis.
  • Apollo Education Institute, Bejing, China (2017). Mindful Meditation, Psychoanalysis, and Case conceptualization & formulation; Body and Movement in Psychoanalysis. Embodied Supervision
  • “Moving from within”: Conference on Movement and psychotherapy. Munich 6/2017. Supervision workshop on Relational Psychoanalysis and the Body.
  • Panel:  “Forms of Vitality in Movement”. The Arts of Time. Relational Psychoanalysis and forms of Vitality in Movement and Clinical Processes. Rome. Italy. 2016.
  • Panel: New School University, New York. 2010. Talk and presentation on private practice management.
  • Panel: ADTA conference 9/2010. New York City. “Relational psychoanalytic and hermeneutic concepts in the Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP).
  • Keynote Panel: Antioch New England Graduate School: Panel, and supervisory workshop;2009.
  • Panel: Presentation at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute New York City. Round Table.November 2008.
  • Workshop: Workshop on the Kestenberg Movement Profile’s affective patterns of nonverbal behavior. ADTA International conference. New York City. 9/2007.
  • German Public Radio: “Impressions to 9/11–Why can’t the US stop talking about 9/11?”.
  • Presentation: Affect Transmission in Parent-Child Dyads. Moving from Within. München, Germany. 7/2007.
  • Workshop: International Relational Psychoanalysis Conference. Athens, Greece, 7/2007.
  • Workshop: NYU Postdoc weekend on movement processes (2007).
  • Workshop: Psychoanalytically oriented dance therapy process group for clinicians. Lindauer Psychotherapie – Wochen. Lindau, Germany 04/07.
  • Presentation: Panel presentation on nonverbal behavior, affect regulation, and intergenerational transmission of stress. Div 39. APA conference. New Orleans, August 2006.
  • Keynote Address: From the Couch to Dance:  Nonverbal Behavior and Movement Analysis. Lindauer Psychotherapie – Wochen. Lindau, Germany 04/06.
  • Workshop: Week-long movement psychotherapy workshop for MD’s and Psychoanalysts. Lindauer Psychotherapie – Wochen. Lindau, Germany 04/06.
  • Workshop: Workshop in the Kestenberg Movement Profile. Dance/Movement Therapy Training Institute. Kinetics. Rochester, NY.03/06.
  • Presentation: Panel Presentation on nonverbal behavior and stress. ADTA Conference. Long Beach, CA. Oct. 2006.

Professional Affiliations:

  • Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association
  • Hudson Valley Psychological Association
  • International Association of Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (IARPP)
  • New York University’s Postdoctoral Program for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
  • Board Member: Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP) Committee
  • Child Development Research (CDR)

 

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Certified Psychoanalyst
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist
Certified Movement Analyst (Laban and Kestenberg)

Contact Info:

Speaking Engagements:
Email: sbirklein@syncpsych.com

Address:

SYNC Psychological Services, PLLC & SYNC Somatics™
928 Broadway, Suite # 1105
(b/w 21th & 22nd St.)
New York, NY 10010