PSYCHOTHERAPY

In the process of psychotherapy, the focus is on past relationships in childhood, present relationships, and the relationship between the therapist and client.

SOMATIC  psychotherapy approach addresses the link between somatic experiences, beliefs, emotions  and memory.  There are a range of techniques that can be useful for exploring these links, and creating transformative experiences. These include Biodynamic Massage, Vegetotherapy and Gestalt Body Therapy. 

This approach can be particularly useful for people that feel stuck with other therapies, or who tend to have illness, pain and/or somatic symptoms.

CHIRON HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY   The Chiron centre for Holistic Body Psychotherapy is in Ealing, London.  I spent 6 years in training there to learn their integrated humanistic approach combining various theories of psychotherapy and body psychotherapy.  Chiron in Greek Mythology is the wounded healer, hence the training acknowledges that both the therapist and the client have wounds and that the therapist needs to be aware of and willing to work on their own wounds in order to be effective for others. 

The training involves the therapist being able to be centred and aware in their own body, and to be ‘present’ for the client in a human way.  Theories that inform this approach include Object Relations, Reichian Character Structures, Winnicott, Melanie Klein, Ken Wilbur. and David Boadella. 

BODYWORK

Body Psychotherapy is based on the principle of mind-body interaction, which tells us that psychological and emotional conflicts are represented physically in the body, as well as being part of our Psyche.  When we experience stress or trauma, the energy flows in the body may become blocked through muscular & visceral tension.  Psychological work alone does not always work deeply enough to free these areas, and the result can be stress & dis-tress that takes root in the body and creates chronic tension areas.  This can ultimately lead to disease processes, and there is a corresponding feeling of unease & lack of joy/vitality that can occur for the person.

Body Psychotherapy methods are drawn from Gestalt approaches (Fritz Perls), Reichian vegetotherapy and body reading, the midwife approach of Gerda Boyesen’s Biodynamic Psychotherapy, Alexander Lowen’s  Bioenergetics, Rosenberg’s Body, Self & Soul, and Biodynamic Massage (also Gerda Boyesen).   Vegetotherapy and the midwife approach involve allowing the body to speak non-verbally through movement, which can then be brought more fully to consciousness through interaction with the therapist.   

BIODYNAMIC MASSAGE   Biodynamic Massage is a form of massage that facilitates psychotherapeutic process and body awareness.  It is very effective with many physical or psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, pain & recovery from trauma, as well as for greater self/body awareness.   It was developed by Gerda Boyesen, Psychologist & Physiotherapist, and can help to free up energy flows by working at bone, muscle, visceral, tissue or auric levels.  Depending on where the person is in the therapeutic process, the massage may be light and more energy focused, or provocative reaching deep into muscular blocks.

 The therapist uses a stethoscope to listen to the peristaltic noises of the gut that indicates how emotional material is being processed in your body.  If you wish the massage process to be part of a more in-depth psychotherapeutic process, the work will also move into more verbal work, and other forms of bodywork as appropriate.  Biodynamic Massage can also be used on it’s own, or in conjunction with psychotherapy from another therapist. 

.Some of the possible effects of Biodynamic Massage are:

• It can help you relax & harmonise your energy, relieving stress in an effective way

• Deep unconscious processes can be brought into awareness in a gentle and respectful way.  These can then be worked through and resolved at a conscious level.

•  Increasing body awareness, developing a different relationship with your body, especially subsequent to childhood or adult trauma.

• You may contact images, or memories that are connected with various parts of your body, which can be explored and integrated

• Integration of different aspects of the self, giving a sense of wholeness, oneness, healing emptiness.

• Spiritual awakening or deepening can also occur with regular bodywork.

 Biodynamic Massage may not be suitable for all people or at certain stages in the therapy process. This can be ascertained at the initial assessment session, and alternatives recommended if this should be the case. 

SOMATIC TRAUMA THERAPY  Babette Rothschild facilitates a 3 part training in this form of therapy.  It is a form of therapy for treating trauma that honours the effect on the body and the potential for somatic triggers, and overwhelm.  Hence treatment is safe from re-traumatising the client, and respects the speed and timing of the individual in processing the traumatic memory.

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