What is body psychotherapy?
There are numerous approaches to psychotherapy, from cognitive and behavioural, to those focused on the unconscious mind, or early childhood. The first psychotherapeutic approach ever created was psychoanalysis, and body psychotherapy grew out of that. It has been a part of a wider psychotherapeutic field from the very beginning of talk therapy, however, as it was not fully aligned with psychoanalytic teachings, it was isolated from mainstream psychotherapy. After being marginalised for years, the body returned to mainstream psychotherapy in 1990s in response to neuroscientific developments and research. Findings of the trauma focused research conducted by Levine, Rothschild, Van der Kolk, Siegel and many others, pathed the way for the body to begin returning into more mainstream psychotherapy. These neuroscientific findings confirmed the main principles of body psychotherapy such as the connection between the body and mind, or that different events in our lives can be “remembered” as much on the mental as on the physical level.
What is body psychotherapy?
Body psychotherapy is actually “an umbrella term” because it includes all approaches to psychotherapy that explore and use the body in the process. You might come across terms such as hakomi, bioenergetic or somatic therapy and numerous other methods that fall under body psychotherapy. All these methods have a few things in common:
- They are interested in the bodily processes and experience.
- They see the unity between the mind and body as a fundamental principle of their practice.
- Viewing the client’s body as a source of information.
- Appreciating that the body stores emotions and memories.
- Believing that the therapeutic change (healing) can begin in the body.
- Using body-based interventions during the process.
Body psychotherapists pay attention to their own physical experiences, as well as tracking their clients’ bodies. They encourage clients to develop their own awareness of their bodies, physical sensations, and emotions, whether it is when discussing current or past events, or when exploring thoughts, fantasies or dreams.
What are the main concepts behind body psychotherapy?
The main concept behind body psychotherapy is the interconnectedness between the body and the mind. It recognizes that the way we experience our emotions and thoughts is not solely dependent on our cognitive processes, but also on the physical sensations and bodily reactions that accompany them.
Body psychotherapy is based on the idea that our bodies store memories of our past events. Even when our minds forget those events, the energy might still stay in our nervous systems, muscles and in our cells. By working with the body through movement, touch, breath, and other techniques, we might be able to access, and release those old energies and emotions. Working with the body can help us go into places within us that are not accessible only on the cognitive level.
Furthermore, body psychotherapy aims to increase our awareness of our own bodies, increase our capacity to feel, stay present with the feelings, and learn to self-regulate our nervous system, and our emotions.
How does body psychotherapy work?
In body psychotherapy, the therapist uses a variety of techniques and every therapist might use different methods depending on their client’s unique needs. Examples of some interventions a body therapist might use include those focused on awareness, breathing, movement, or grounding.
Awareness:
- This can look like drawing the client’s attention to their physical sensations when discussing significant events in their life.
- Using body awareness exercises to gently lead the client’s attention into their body. Sometimes this may also include gentle touch.
Breathing
- Psychotherapists might guide their clients through different types of breathing exercises.
- They might also keep reminding you to notice your breath.
Here is an example of a breathing practice your therapist might guide you through:
Movement
- Body psychotherapists might use gentle exercises to regulate nervous system, and vagus nerve.
- They might also use movement to loosen up or strengthen particular muscle groups.
- Another technique that is used is inviting the client to use the body to show, or mime their internal experience.
- Some therapists limit the use of the body to encouraging natural, unrestricted movement, or inviting the client to exaggerate their gestures or posture.
Grounding
- Grounding exercises are often used and taught during body psychotherapy sessions. These involve focusing on the present moment and using the senses to bring awareness to the body. Examples of grounding exercises include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation. See an example of what this might look like in practice:
These are just a few examples of body-based psychotherapeutic interventions.
Summary
Body psychotherapy brings together somatic and cognitive approaches to therapy. In addition to talk therapy, the sessions often include body-centred techniques, and interventions. While the therapist and the client explore the client’s thoughts, feelings, any issues and challenges, their is also a focus on physical experience in the here and now. Processing, releasing, healing and integrating happens both on the level of the mind and the body.
If you have any question about body psychotherapy, feel free to drop me a message at jlangiertherapy@gmail.com.