Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Financial Aid

SPI’s Training Scholarship Program is currently under revision.
While this work is underway, we have created this simple holding page as an interim resource.

This page highlights our legacy scholarship offerings while updates to the program and application process are in development.
Thank you for your patience as we complete this revision.

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)

The BIPOC Scholarship is a partial tuition award for SP Trauma Themes (Level 1) and SP for Developmental Injury (Level 2) training participants in financial need who identify as BIPOC and provide mental health services to diverse populations.

Purpose
SPI acknowledges the complex and institutional barriers that have historically impeded BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) therapists from joining and contributing to SPI and larger trauma-informed educational spaces. In response, we created a scholarship specifically for BIPOC clinicians.

This BIPOC Scholarship aims to address a financial barrier that BIPOC may face when seeking to study SP. This is not the only barrier we seek to remove. As an organization, we prioritize growing our collective community in a way centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA). SPI is committed to creating additional DEIA initiatives that will provide accessibility to BIPOC professionals from an individual, inter-group, and institutional level. SPI aims to ensure we cultivate and sustain an environment where BIPOC can feel supported, seen, and heard – and carry that forward in serving BIPOC client populations.

Scholarship Amount
Everyone’s needs and situations are different. Please let us know how much scholarship assistance you need and why.
The possibilities are 30% and 50%.

Preconditions to Eligibility
Candidates must meet the following preconditions to be eligible for consideration for the scholarship:
•Applied and accepted into an upcoming SP for Trauma Themes or SP for Developmental Injury course
•Identify as BIPOC and provide mental health services to diverse populations
•Provide proof of licensure (or proof of work being done to obtain licensure)

Download Scholarship Application

Medically Underserved Populations/Nonprofit Employee

The Medically Underserved Populations/Nonprofit Employee Scholarship is a partial tuition award for Level 1 and Level 2 Training participants in financial need who are employed by nonprofit, charity, or state/local government organizations that provide mental health services to diverse populations.

Purpose
The purpose of the Medically Underserved Populations/Nonprofit Employee Scholarship is:
1. To provide learning opportunities to licensed mental health professionals (or those on track for licensure) who may otherwise be unable to afford tuition for an SPI Training and are gainfully employed by a nonprofit, charity, or state/local government organization providing mental health services to diverse populations in need.
2. To provide opportunities for licensed professionals to apply their learned skills to better service Medically Underserved Areas, Medically Underserved Populations, or Health Professional Shortage Areas as designated by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Workforce (https://bhw.hrsa.gov/shortage-designation/muap).

Scholarship Amount
Qualified candidates who successfully complete the scholarship and Training application process are eligible to receive a scholarship award in the amount of 25% for a Level I or Level II Training.

Preconditions to Eligibility
Candidates must work (on average) no less than 32-hours per week for a non-profit, 501(c)(3), charity, or state/local government agency.

How to Apply
To be considered, candidates for the scholarship must complete this application and submit it with the following requisite documents constituting proof of eligibility to studentservices@sensorimotor.org:
• proof that employer serves Medically Underserved Areas, Medically Underserved Populations, or Health Professional Shortage Areas (https://bhw.hrsa.gov/shortage-designation/muap)
• if applicable, provide copies of an official document confirming tax exempt, 501(c)(3), or charity number for employer organization
• a copy of applicant’s most recent pay-stub
• a signed letter from employer confirming employment status
• proof of licensure (or proof of work being done to obtain licensure)

Download Scholarship Application

Travel Scholarship

Purpose
The Travel Scholarship serves to provide Level 1 and 2 participants, who would otherwise be unable to afford the cost of tuition due to travel and lodging expenses, with a more financially viable way to attend the nearest SPI Training.

Scholarship Amount
Qualified candidates who successfully complete the Travel Scholarship Application and the application to attend (and are accepted) are eligible to receive an award equal to 25% of total tuition for a Level 1 or Level 2 Training. Scholarship is awarded as a discount off total tuition.

Preconditions
Eligible candidates must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements for each scheduled Training module:
•Proven need to incur lodging expenses
•Proven need to incur air travel expenses

How to Apply
To be considered, candidates for the Travel Scholarship must complete this application and submit it along with the following documents constituting proof of eligibility to studentservices@sensorimotor.org:
•Proof of residence address
•Copy of current photo identification
•Copy of recent utility bill identifying name and physical address

Download Scholarship Application

Work Study Awards

Work Study Awards
Limited partial tuition awards may be available to candidates who are willing to undertake certain logistics duties and responsibilities that help support the Training* in which they are enrolled. Award amounts are dependent on availability and necessity.
*Work study positions are only available for in-person trainings.

Purpose
Participants in a Work Study role serve to:
•   Enhance the classroom experience for all Training participants
•   Support SPI faculty members facilitating the Training
•   Support local SPI Organizers
•   Liaise between Training and SPI administrative office

In return, Work Study participants receive compensation for their efforts in the form of a 25% tuition reduction.

Typical Work Study Duties/Responsibilities:
Assigned Work Study responsibilities will not interfere with participant’s ability to experience the Training, however additional time may be required from participant immediately prior to or after each Training day, or during daily rest and lunch breaks.

Catering Support
Provide modest catering support for the duration of the Training.

Onsite Support
Provide miscellaneous support at the Training venue, for the duration of the Training. Work Study participant will work in concert with Work Study participant responsible for catering support.

How to Apply
Contact to studentservices@sensorimotor.org for information on work study award openings.

Ron Kurtz Scholarship

The Ron Kurtz Scholarship is a partial tuition award available to Level I and Level II candidates who are graduates of the two-year Hakomi training.

Purpose
The Ron Kurtz Scholarship exists in memoriam of Ron Kurtz, original developer of the Hakomi Method, and serves to honor his contributions to body-centered psychotherapy.

Scholarship Amount
Qualified candidates are eligible to receive an award towards total tuition for a Level I or Level II Training. Scholarship is awarded as a percentage discount off total tuition; award amount varies depending on Training Level candidate is applying for:

Level 1: 10%
Level 2: 20%

Precondition
Eligible candidates must have graduated from the two-year Hakomi Training prior to enrollment in an SPI Training.

Restriction
Can be combined with discount incentives, but cannot be combined with other scholarships.

Disclaimer
Receipt of scholarship does not guarantee acceptance into any SPI course, nor does it reserve a seat in course. Each course has its own registration/application process, which is separate from the application process to secure any discounts or financial aid. Candidates who qualify for the scholarship will receive award only after they are accepted to the course in question.

It is the sole responsibility of candidates to request a scholarship, and all requests must be made prior to the scheduled start date indicated for the course on the SPI website. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively (after the course begins).

How to Apply
Candidates must provide proof of graduation from the two–year Hakomi Training to studentservices@sensorimotor.org.

How to Apply to an SP Training

1. Create Your Account

Get started by creating an account →

HERE

Already have an account?

2. Submit Your Application
Go to your preferred training's details page.
Click "Apply for Training."

Application Review & Billing
Applications are typically reviewed within a few days. You will receive an automated email once your application has been processed.

If you don’t hear from us within two weeks, please contact: StudentServices@sensorimotor.org

Enrollment & Application Overview

1. Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $25 is required with your completed application and résumé/CV to formally apply. Paid by debit or credit card.

⚡ The payment method used for your application fee will also be used for any transactions upon acceptance.

2. Tuition, Deposits & Payment Plans

Step 1 — Choose Your Deposit Option

During your application, select your preferred deposit option:

Pay upon acceptance
Pay later (processed 30 days before the training begins)
- The $500 deposit counts toward your total tuition.

Step 2 — Choose Your Tuition Balance Option

Select how you want to pay your tuition balance:

Pay balance in full upon acceptance
Pay balance in full later (processed on the training start date)
Pay via a monthly payment plan

3. Payment Plan Details

Available in 3-month increments up to 24 months
Equal monthly payments after deposit, discounts, and financial aid are applied
Includes a one-time, non-refundable admin fee of $100
Monthly payments will run on the first day of your training

💡 Important: If applying for a scholarship, do not select “balance in full upon acceptance,” as this will process the full tuition balance before any awards can be allocated.

Looking for financial support?
Scholarships and discounts are available to help make training more accessible.
Discover opportunities here.

Once accepted, you can review your payment schedule and billing information anytime:

Log in to the [user portal] and click Account in the upper right corner.
Scroll down and select your training invoice to view details.

*All amounts are listed in the currency of the training (USD, EUR, or GBP) and will be processed accordingly.
⚠️ In order to fill our limited trainings, we reserve the right to remove students from the roster who have not paid a deposit.