Teachers at the
18th Swiss Educational Festival

Gerald Hüther, Doctor of Natural Sciences, MD, neurobiologist. Member of the Executive Board of the Akademie für Potentialentfaltung (Academy for the Unfolding of Human Potential). Gerald Hüther is one of the best known brain researchers in Germany. In practical terms, his main focus is on research related to neurobiological prevention research in the context of various initiatives and projects. The author of several non-fiction books, he gives lectures, organizes conferences, works as an advisor to politicians and entrepreneurs and is is a frequent guest on radio and TV shows.

This way, he is a knowledge mediator and implementer in one person. Dr. Gerald Hüther completed his studies and research in Leipzig and Jena, followed by research at the Max-Planck-Institute for experimental Medicine in Göttingen since 1979. He was awarded a Heisenberg scholarship of the German Research Foundation and held a position as a Professor for Neurobiology at the University of Göttingen from 2004 to 2016. From 1994 to 2006, he headed a research department at the Psychiatric Hospital in Göttingen which had been established by himself. Between 2006 and 2016, his focus was on the dissemination of research results related to neurobiological prevention research. In 2015, he founded and began to manage the Akademie für Potentialentfaltung. His public relations work aims at disseminating and implementing scientific findings from modern brain research. He views himself as someone helping to bridge the gap between scientific findings on one hand and their practical implications for the everyday life of our society and of its individual citizens on the other. All his activities strive to help create more favorable conditions for the unfolding of human potential.

Dr. Aline LaPierre is the creator of NeuroAffective Touch®. A practicing clinician, author, and educator, she is President of the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy and Editor-in-Chief of the International Body Psychotherapy Journal. She co-authored the bestselling book Healing Developmental Trauma: How Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship, translated into 14 languages. She is a contributing author in the groundbreaking Somatic-Oriented Therapies: Embodiment, Trauma, and Polyvagal Perspectives (Norton, 2025).

Dr. LaPierre is a former faculty member in the somatic doctoral program at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California. In addition to serving as the director of the NeuroAffective Touch Institute, she maintains a private practice in Brentwood-Los Angeles.  In the field of psychotherapy, Dr. LaPierre holds a degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute, which provided her with a profound connection to Jungian and archetypal psychologies. She furthered her expertise at The New Center for Psychoanalysis, where her focus was on the evolution of psychoanalysis, transitioning from object relations to relational and intersubjective approaches. In addition to her psychotherapy training, Dr. LaPierre has pursued extensive training in body-centered methodologies, including Postural Integration, Somatic Experiencing®, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Reichian Therapies, Bodynamics Analysis, EMDR, Continuum, and BodyMind Centering.

In her capacity as the founder and director of the NeuroAffective Touch Institute, Dr. LaPierre focuses on the therapeutic application of touch as a vital connection to body-mind integration. Developmental research indicates that early experiences of touch establish the foundation for our relational lives. Attuned and compassionate touch is of utmost importance to our brain’s growth as well as to our emotional and cognitive development. Under her direction, the NeuroAffective Touch Institute conducts international training programs for mental health and body-centered practitioners, focusing on the therapeutic application of touch to address trauma-based, unconscious emotional responses that are often inaccessible through talk therapy or bodywork alone.

Website: www.neuroaffectivetouch.com
Email: alineghnN5AwvU2UaDomneuroaffectivetouch.com

Peter A. Levine, Ph.D. (USA) is the originator and developer of Somatic Experiencing® and the President of the Foundation for Human Enrichment. He holds doctorate degrees in both Medical Biophysics and Psychology. During his forty plus year study of stress and trauma, Dr. Levine has contributed to a variety of scientific, medical, and popular publications.

His best selling book, Waking the Tiger; Healing Trauma, is available in 24 languages. He is author of "It Won't Hurt Forever", a guide to the prevention and healing of trauma with children. Together with Maggie Kline he published: "Trauma-Proofing your Kids", a parents' guide to instilling confidence, joy and resillience. The culmination of his life's work you find in "In An Unspoken Language", where he explains the nature and transformation of trauma in the body, brain and psyche. His newest book "Trauma and Memory" has just been released. There Peter Levine tackles the most difficult and controversial question whether we can trust our memories or not. Peter was a consultant for NASA during the development of the Space Shuttle, and has taught at hospitals and pain clinics in both Europe and the U.S., as well as at the Hopi Guidance Center in Arizona.

Paki E. Heisserer was born in Germany and is living in Zürich since 1980. She is self employed in her own practice as a Bodypsychotherapist since 1985. She works as a Traumatherapist with Somatic Experiencing (and is also teaching SE since 2019). Her backgroung is the Process-Oriented Psychology of Arni Mindel (POP), Polarity Therapy, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Chinese Medicine, and Prenatal and Birthtraumawork of Ray Castellino.

She is practising and teaching Qi Gong, Tai Qi and Tao Yoga since 35 years.Her wish is to go along the human process on all levels which will be shown. According to the term "Healing Arts“ she sees the process-oriented body-mind-and emotions work as a form of Art which brings the healing. She works with adults, adolescents, babys, pregnant women and couples. She is living with her husband Urs Honauer in Zürich. They have two adult daughters.

Dr. phil. Urs Honauer Urs (CH) is the director of the Polarity Center and the Center for Inner Ecology in Zürich, Switzerland. He is also the founder of the Learning Festival in Weggis and the originator of the communication model AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATION (AK) which he also teaches himself. He has long been involved in adult education and has taught among others in trainings like Somatic Experiencing (SE), Polarity, and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

In his private practice he works with people of all ages (from infants to senior citizens). He holds a Master’s degree in psychology, education and journalism and a doctorate in the field of social education at the University of Zurich; Masters in Psychosocial Trauma at the Psychiatric Polyclinic of the University of Zurich. Studies in Polarity Therapy and Craniosacral Balancing with Dr. John Beaulieu in New York, Prenatal- and Birth Therapy with Dr. Ray Castellino, Process-Oriented psychology with Dr. Arnold Mindell, and Somatic Experiencing with Dr. Peter A. Levine.