#323 – Aikido, Empathy, and Neurodiversity with Sensei Nick Walker, M.A.

Nick Walker received his M.A. in Somatic Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, where he now teaches in the undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies program. He holds the rank of 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in aikido, and has taught the art of aikido to adults, teens, and children for over 30 years. He is founder and senior instructor of the Aikido Shusekai dojo in Berkeley, California. Since 1996, he has been a core member of the experimental physical theatre group Paratheatrical Research. Some of his work with Paratheatrical Research is chronicled in director Antero Alli’s documentary films Crux (1999), Orphans of Delirium (2004), and Dreambody/Earthbody (2012). He is a dedicated autism rights activist, and has been deeply involved with the Neurodiversity Movement for over a decade. He is a teacher, trainer, speaker, and consultant on a wide range of topics, including somatics, embodiment, autism, neurodiversity, conflict transformation, creativity, and transformative learning.

Check out the following Psychology CE Courses based on listening to Shrink Rap Radio interviews:
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 1 (6 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 2 (7 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 3 (7 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 4 (6 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Package of the Four Above (26 CEUs)
Wisdom of The Dream (4 CEUs)
Positive Psychology (6 CEUs)
Pros and Cons of Positive Psychology (5 CEUs)
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (32 CEUs)
Body-Mind: Goodbye to Dualism (6 CEUs)
Meditation & Psychotherapy (8 CEUs)
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A psychology podcast by David Van Nuys, Ph.D.

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1 Comment

Ariya Metteyya on October 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

not only have I thought for many years that the California Institute of Integral Studies (as opposed to Wilber’s self-created outfit) was the academic institution in the world most closely aligned with my own personal paradigm (based on my reading of some of the faculty) but the courses offered above are, shall we say, just about exactly the kind of courses I would personally offer and recommend where I a qualified Jungian analyst. I read the CW in the mid==-eighties, inspired by the loan of
‘Memories, Dreams and Reflections’ by my then Psychology Tutor, Dr (now Professor) John McLeod, now of the University of Abertay, Dundee. The strange coincidence of my receiving a recommendation to this podcast when I have also recently started Aikido (a 40 yr ambition of mine which I refrained from due to multiple shoulder dislocations doing Judo and corrective surgery) under a blind Sensei of 50+ years experience who happens to live in my home city (Norwich, England) but I have a brilliant son who since his mother took him from my care has had suggestions made that he is ‘autistic’.

While I have absolutely no prejudice against autism, I am very clear as a former acting consultant clinical psychologist that my son *was not* autistic while in my care – until 18 yrs 3 months of age – and that this was his mother’s second attempt at casting aspersions on his mental health, having initital got him diagnosed in hospital and medicated for ‘bipolar disorder’ by providing the psychiatrist with a false medical history and breaking continuity with his childhood GP records which show him to be perfectly healthy in all respects, mental, emotional and physical.

So I will enjoy your podcast, I’m sure. There’s a definite paradigmatic alignment here ~ I tended to rely on US psychology and social psychology research from Berkeley and Harvard to provide basic data for my own research in the eighties. If I end up moving to California as is looking possible, I will know who to come to for Aikido instruction!

cheers,

Ari

Ariya Metteyya on October 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

not only have I thought for many years that the California Institute of Integral Studies (as opposed to Wilber’s self-created outfit) was the academic institution in the world most closely aligned with my own personal paradigm (based on my reading of some of the faculty) but the courses offered above are, shall we say, just about exactly the kind of courses I would personally offer and recommend where I a qualified Jungian analyst. I read the CW in the mid==-eighties, inspired by the loan of
‘Memories, Dreams and Reflections’ by my then Psychology Tutor, Dr (now Professor) John McLeod, now of the University of Abertay, Dundee. The strange coincidence of my receiving a recommendation to this podcast when I have also recently started Aikido (a 40 yr ambition of mine which I refrained from due to multiple shoulder dislocations doing Judo and corrective surgery) under a blind Sensei of 50+ years experience who happens to live in my home city (Norwich, England) but I have a brilliant son who since his mother took him from my care has had suggestions made that he is ‘autistic’.

While I have absolutely no prejudice against autism, I am very clear as a former acting consultant clinical psychologist that my son *was not* autistic while in my care – until 18 yrs 3 months of age – and that this was his mother’s second attempt at casting aspersions on his mental health, having initital got him diagnosed in hospital and medicated for ‘bipolar disorder’ by providing the psychiatrist with a false medical history and breaking continuity with his childhood GP records which show him to be perfectly healthy in all respects, mental, emotional and physical.

So I will enjoy your podcast, I’m sure. There’s a definite paradigmatic alignment here ~ I tended to rely on US psychology and social psychology research from Berkeley and Harvard to provide basic data for my own research in the eighties. If I end up moving to California as is looking possible, I will know who to come to for Aikido instruction!

cheers,

Ari