1. New Therapist
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist September/October 2012
The Body Edition
81

2. Features EDITOR
John Söderlund
MANAGING EDITORS
Lee-ann Domoney
Sue Spencer
6 Body of Evidence:
The head-to-toe CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Dylan Evans
history of body use in Graham Lindegger
Jacqui de Mare
psychotherapy Julie Manegold
Tim Barry
Tom Strong
Kelly Quayle
Robert Langs
Simone Descoins
14 Every body needs some
body
Robert Waska
CONTRIBUTIONS
Submissions for inclusion in New Therapist are welcomed.
Jack Lee Rosenburg, Lisa New Therapist reserves the right to edit or exclude any
submission. Names and identifying information of all
Loustaunau and Frederic individuals mentioned in case material have been changed to
Lowen on body-based protect their identities. The views expressed herein do not
necessarily represent those of New Therapist, its publishers or
psychotherapy distributors.
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Drug watch distributed to psychotherapists around the world.
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32 From the therapist's chair A publication of New Therapist Trust.

3. Drug watch
Creatine boosts effectiveness of
antidepressants for women
C
linically depressed women appear to respond
better to antidepressants when they are taken
in conjunction with creatine, according to
researchers at the University of Utah. The findings
were published online in American Journal of
Psychiatry in July, 2012.
The authors of the study note that creatine is a
naturally occurring amino acid typically associated
with providing fuel for intense bursts of energy
during high-intensity, short-duration exercises.
The mechanism by which creatine works against
Negative suggestion can induce depression is not precisely known, but the authors
symptoms of illness of the study suggest that the pro-energetic effect of
creatine supplementation, including the making of
U
ndesired effects of drugs can sometimes more phosphocreatine, may contribute to the earlier
be attributed to nocebo effects, according and greater response to antidepressants.
to researchers at the Technical University The eight-week study comprised 52 South Korean
of Munich. The findings appeared in the journal women with major depressive disorder between
Deutsches Ärzteblatt International in July, 2012. the ages of 19 and 65. All the women took the
Nocebo effects are the adverse events that occur antidepressant Lexapro (escitalopram) during the
during sham treatment and/or as a result of negative trial.
expectations. Twenty-five of the women received creatine with
Nocebo responses can, for instance, be brought the Lexapro and 27 were given a placebo. Neither
about by unintended negative suggestion on the the study participants nor the researchers knew who
part of doctors or nurses, e.g., when informing received creatine or placebo.
the patient about the possible complications of a The study showed that depressed participants who
proposed treatment. augmented their daily antidepressant with 5 grams
The mechanisms behind this phenomenon of creatine responded twice as fast and experienced
are—as with placebo effects—learning by Pavlovian remission of the illness at twice the rate of women
conditioning and reaction to induced expectations. who took the antidepressant alone. There were
While the positive counterpart—the placebo no significant adverse side effects associated with
effect—has been intensively studied in recent years, creatine.
the scientific literature contains few studies on The researchers hold that their findings are
nocebo phenomena, the researchers note. significant because antidepressants typically don’t
The researchers say that the consequences start to work until four to six weeks. They also note
for clinical practice are that doctors may find that creatine under a doctor’s supervision could
themselves in an ethical dilemma between their provide a relatively inexpensive way for women who
obligation to tell the patient about the possible side haven’t responded well to SSRI (selective serotonin
effects of a treatment and their duty to minimize reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants to improve their
the risk of a medical intervention and thus to avoid treatment outcomes.
triggering nocebo effects. “If we can get people to feel better more quickly,
One possible strategy to solve this dilemma, they’re more likely to stay with treatment and,
suggested by the authors, is to emphasize the ultimately, have better outcomes,” said senior author
tolerability of therapeutic measures. Another of the study Perry F. Renshaw.
option, with the patient's permission, would be to The researchers say that future research efforts
desist from discussing undesired effects during the will test creatine supplements in men and women as
patient briefing. well as individuals of different nationalities.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 3

4. Research
Believing in a mind-body connection Sleep deprivation linked to hunger
linked to better health and weight gain
T S
he more individuals perceive their minds and leep habits affect body weight by influencing
bodies to be distinct entities, the less likely an individual’s caloric intake and energy
they will be to engage in behaviors that protect expenditure, according to researchers at the
their bodies, according to researchers at the University Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviour. The
of Cologne, Germany. The findings appeared in findings appeared in PsychCentral in July, 2012.
Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for The authors of the study observed the effect of
Psychological Science in July, 2012. short-term sleep deprivation on hunger as well as on
The researchers note that many people are physical activity and energy used by the body.
philosophical dualists—believing that the brain and The researchers monitored the physical
the mind are two separate entities. Their findings activity of participants by attaching acceleration
showed that people primed with dualist beliefs had detection devices to each of their wrists. They also
more reckless attitudes toward health and exercise, monitored participants’ energy levels using indirect
and also preferred (and ate) a less healthy diet than calorimetry—a method that estimates how much heat
those who were primed with physicalist beliefs. is produced by a person as they use oxygen.
Furthermore, they found that the relationship The researchers found that participants who slept
also worked in the other direction. People who were less had higher traces Ghrelin (or what they term the
primed with unhealthy behaviors—such as pictures of “hunger hormone) in their blood. Those who slept for
unhealthy food—reported a stronger dualistic belief shorter periods also moved around less.
than participants who were primed with healthy Results also showed that after staying awake for
behaviors. one complete night, the amount of energy used by the
Specifically, these findings suggest that dualistic body when resting was significantly reduced among
beliefs decrease the likelihood of engaging in healthy participants.
behavior. The researchers say that their findings suggest
Evidence of a bidirectional relationship further that when individuals are sleep-deprived they are
suggests that metaphysical beliefs, such as beliefs in likely to eat more calories because they are hungrier.
mind-body dualism, may serve as cognitive tools for This alone might cause them to gain weight over
coping with threatening or harmful situations. time. Sleep loss also means we burn off fewer
The researchers say that the fact that the simple calories, which adds to the risk of gaining weight and
priming procedures used in their studies had an developing type-II diabetes.
immediate impact on health-related attitudes The researchers conclude by saying that although
and behavior suggests that these procedures may much is still to be learned about the correct sleep dose
eventually have profound implications for real-life for obesity and diabetes, the available research results
problems. Interventions that reduce dualistic beliefs clearly supports the notion that sleep is involved
through priming could be one way to help promote in the balance between the amount of calories we
healthier—or less self-damaging—behaviors in at-risk eat and the amount we use up through activity and
populations. metabolism.
4 New Therapist September/October 2012

5. Research
Fathers’ rejection can have particularly Snacking linked to brain activity and
adverse effects on children self-control
A F
study by researchers at the University of ood consumption and BMI (Body Mass Index)
Connecticut shows that while mothers have are linked to both brain activity and self-control,
unique social and emotional bonds with their according to researchers at the Universities of
children, a father’s love contributes as much—if not Exeter, Cardiff, Bristol, and Bangor. The study appeared
more—to a child’s development. The findings appeared in the journal NeuroImage in July, 2012.
in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Review in The authors of the study found that individuals’ brain
June, 2012. 'reward centre' responses to pictures of food predicted
The researchers analysed the power of parental how much they subsequently ate. This had a greater
rejection and acceptance in shaping our personalities as effect on the amount they ate than their conscious
children and into adulthood. feelings of hunger or how much they wanted the food.
In a review of 36 international studies that involved A strong brain response was also associated with
more than 10,000 participants, the researchers increased weight (BMI), but only in individuals
discovered that parental rejection causes children to feel reporting low levels of self-control. For those reporting
more anxious and insecure, as well as more hostile and high levels of self-control a stronger brain response to
aggressive toward others. food was related to a lower BMI.
“Children and adults everywhere—regardless The researchers note that their study adds to
of differences in race, culture, and gender—tend to mounting evidence that overeating and increased weight
respond in exactly the same way when they perceived are linked, in part, to a region of the brain associated
themselves to be rejected by their caregivers and other with motivation and reward, called the nucleus
attachment figures,” said co-author of the study Ronald accumbens.
Rohner. Responses in this brain region have been shown
The authors of the study found that the pain of to predict weight gain in healthy weight and obese
rejection—especially when it occurs over a long period individuals. The current study adds to this by showing
of time in childhood—tends to linger into adulthood, that this is independent of conscious feelings of hunger,
making it more difficult for adults who were rejected as and that self-control also plays a key role.
children to form secure and trusting relationships with The study comprised 25 young healthy females with
their intimate partners. BMI’s ranging from 17-30. The researchers elected to
Rohner notes that prior studies have shown that the observe female participants as they typically exhibit
same parts of the brain are activated when people feel stronger responses to food-related cues than men. This
rejected as are activated when they experience physical is due to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle.
pain. All participants were taking the monophasic combined
“Unlike physical pain, however, people can oral contraceptive pill.
psychologically relive the emotional pain of rejection Participants had not eaten for at least six hours. They
over and over for years,” Rohner said. were given a bowl containing 150 g of potato chips to eat
The results showed that while children and adults at the end of the study.
often experience more or less the same level of The researchers used MRI scanning to detect the
acceptance or rejection from each parent, the influence participants' brain activity while they were shown
of one parent’s rejection—often the father’s—can be images of household objects, and food that varied
much greater than the other’s. in desirability and calorific content. After scanning,
Researchers at the International Father Acceptance participants rated the food images for desirability and
Rejection Project explain that children and young rated their levels of hunger and food craving.
adults are likely to pay more attention to whichever Lead author of the study Natalia Lawrence of the
parent they perceive to have higher interpersonal power University of Exeter says, "Our research suggests why
or prestige. some individuals are more likely to overeat and put
So if a child perceives her father as having higher on weight than others when confronted with frequent
prestige, he may be more influential in her life than the images of snacks and treats. Food images, such as those
child’s mother. used in advertising, cause direct increases in activity
Rohner notes that fatherly love is critical to a in brain 'reward areas' in some individuals but not in
person’s development. The importance of a father’s others. If those sensitive individuals also struggle with
love should help motivate many men to become more self-control, which may be partly innate, they are more
involved in nurturing child care. likely to be overweight."
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 5

6. Features Body of evidence
Body of Evidence: An overview
of body use in psychotherapy
By Kelly Quayle
M uch as Descartes might have
theorised that the mind and
body are separate entities in his
famous Cartesian dualism, it has
long been understood that mind
non for any interpretation offered
by psychologists of the state of
their clients. But many schools of
thought in the psychology field have
long considered the central role of
and body are not neatly distinct the body in not only expressing
from one another. To a large mental trauma or imbalance, but
extent, the focus of traditional also as a tool for therapeutic change
psychotherapy is in working with and for tracking the progress of
one’s thoughts and beliefs. The clients. This overview will cover the
old adage of psychotherapy as the work of some leading writers and
‘talking cure’ priveleges verbal psychotherapists in this evolving
communication to the sine qua area of psychotherapy.
6 New Therapist September/October 2012

7. Features Body of evidence
Understanding the body in mental Clarifying ‘body in psychotherapy’
illness: From hysteria to conversion versus other disciplines
disorders Although, by definition, most psychotherapeutic
Hysteria is an obsolete medical term that is still approaches involving the body have a holistic
used colloquially to refer to a state of extreme fear or understanding and work towards some form of
emotion and the resultant irrational behaviour. The body/mind integration, there are considerable
term was originally employed to describe women who differences in terms of technique, therapeutic
acted irrationally due to a supposed disturbance of the stance and the role of the therapeutic
uterus, and dates back as far back as Hippocrates. relationship in the process. It is important to
The notion of hysteria was revived through distinguish the various forms of body therapy
the influence of Freud’s theories about hysterical from psychotherapy that integrates body
conversions, which no doubt influenced the current work into its understanding and treatment
thinking, namely that people may have physical techniques. Body healers may, for instance, use
manifestations of psychological distress as an some form of massage or physical exercises,
unconscious way of repressing, expressing and coping work simply to improve physical well-being and
with it. see inner balance and psychological benefits
In modern psychological thought the term hysteria as indirect results. Other approaches, such as
is no longer considered a diagnostic category, although martial arts or cranio-sacral therapy, go further
physical manifestations of psychological conditions and aim to involve the client more pro-actively
can be diagnosed as somatoform and dissociative in increasing inner awareness and healing the
disorders. A somatoform disorder is characterised by body-mind split.
physical symptoms that have no identifiable physical But psychotherapy with a ‘body’ focus
causes. These symptoms usually mimic real diseases or is distinct from the above in that it always
injuries. Such disorders include conversion disorder, works from and within the client’s subjective
body dysmorphic disorder and somatization disorder. reality, which includes an awareness of the
Dissociative disorders are psychological disorders different levels of body, emotion and mind
that involve dissociation or interruption in aspects that shape this reality. The understanding and
of consciousness, including identity and memory. use of the body in psychotherapy probably
These types of disorders include dissociative fugue, stands in most stark contrast to other body
dissociative identity disorder and dissociative amnesia. therapies in its conception of the therapeutic
Routinely, the body is considered when diagnosing relationship. Although a holistic model of the
mental imbalance and psychologists are trained to client is common to all approaches involving
assess a client’s vegetative functioning, take into the body, most non-psychotherapeutic body
account their general physical functioning and observe therapies tend to rely on a quasi-medical ‘expert’
non-verbal behaviours. But many psychotherapists and relationship between patient and healer. Within
branches of psychotherapy are attempting to recognise the psychotherapeutic realm, no one specific
the body not simply as a diagnostic agent, but as a technique is considered therapeutic in itself,
living source of intelligence, information and change. but only as an integral part of a therapeutic
relationship.
Conceptualising the body in psychotherapy on a continuum
The therapeutic approaches that incorporate the body in psychotherapy may be depicted along a continuum. On
the one end, predominantly verbal therapies pay little or no attention to the body. On this extreme, the spoken
word dominates the therapeutic interaction and in the verbal interventions, there is little or no reference to body
aspects. However, even on this end of the continuum, nonverbal interactions have an important and unavoidable
impact on practice. Therapists and client are never just ‘talking’, they are always bodies interacting. Further
along the continuum, there are therapies that display increasing body-orientedness. There may still be a focus on
verbal interventions, but the body is recognised as an explicit source of information. And moving further along
the continuum, there are approaches that are sometimes called “body therapy”. Major methods here are working
with movement, nonverbal expressions and direct touch. These are the focus of this overview.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 7

8. Features Body of evidence
History of the body in psychotherapy: From the 1900’s to the present
A brief, incomplete history of the body therapies is captures both the defensive and self-protective
depicted below, followed by a fuller description of aspects of ‘repression’ which have long been a
some of the theorists that have contributed to the cornerstone of analytic theory. Reich called his
developments in this field. way of working with the body ‘vegetotherapy’,
which he considered ‘character-analysis in the
zz Freud, early 1900’s: The grandfather of modern realm of the body’. For Reich, the therapeutic
psychotherapy was clear that the ego is first and process is liable to remain bound by the linear
foremost a ‘body-ego’ (certainly a statement world of mental understanding and insight unless
integrating body and mind) and, for a while, the underlying ‘body armour’ is addressed—the
assumed that some day psychoanalysis would be body is just as effective and necessary an arena
grounded in physiology and biology. His early for change as is the mind.
conceptualisation of libido within a framework
of homeostasis is much more aligned with zz Neo-reichian theories, originating from Reich’s
biology and physics than with psychology, and work, which focus on somatic healing and
there was a strong subversive impetus to liberate consider the mind-body interrelations and
the body’s energies. From early on, Freud used a connectivity in order to heal the whole person.
wide variety of techniques, including massage. Various techniques are utilized, including
Later in his professional life he veered more breath, physical touch and movement. Known
towards seeing the body as representing the generically as ‘body psychotherapy’, contributors
dangerously dominant force of the instincts to this line of work include Georg Groddeck and
which had to be kept in check by an increasingly Sandor Ferenczi, whilst Alfred Adler and C.J.
conscious mind. Jung and others contributed to its development
through their concern with the distribution
zz Reich, from 1920: Reich was probably the of psychic energy within the body and the
first psychoanalyst to give significant impetus relationship between body and mind. Specific
to Freud’s early ideas about the body and therapies that emerged from within these
libido. He eventually became the pioneer of a developments include (cited in Eiden, 1999):
school of thought known generically as body {{ Bioenergetic Analysis developed by Alexander
psychotherapy, although he began with an Lowen, who emphasised the importance of
approach he labelled ‘vegetotherapy’. Reich ‘grounding’—being in strong contact with the
recognised that all neurotic symptoms also have ground through feet and legs.
a physiological and physical aspect and that {{ Core energetics: Developed by John Pierrakos.
the body is closely linked to the psychological It emphasised the bridge between psychology
process. His central understanding was that and spirituality.
body and mind interact dynamically with,
and mirror, each other. If the mind forms a {{ iodynamic psychology: Developed by Gerda
B
conclusion, the body has a reaction. Tension Boyesen. She theorized that the dismantling
in physical form is connected to a mental state of psychological stress is also connected with
and releasing it has a freeing effect on the mind. the digestive system.
Reich’s concept of ‘character armour’— {{ e Chiron approach was founded by Bernd
Th
habitual and chronic fixed relational Eiden and Jochen Lude in the early 1980s and
positions— emphasises an integral-relational approach to
therapeutic healing.
8
New Therapist September/October 2012
New Therapist September/October 2012

9. Features Body of evidence
Other body-therapies:
zz Rolfing: Developed by Ida Rolf in the 1930’s. It is a mode of treatment which physically manipulates the
body, creating a postural release which aims to loosen up and realign the body. It aims to release past
trauma and built-up stress as a way of enhancing mind-body health.
zz Primal therapy: Developed by Arthur Janov in the 1970’s and based on the thinking that neurosis is caused
by the repressed pain of childhood trauma, primal therapy is used to re-experience childhood pain as an
attempt to resolve these feelings.
Some more current mind-body psychotherapies:
zz Pat Ogden’s sensorimotor approach to on traditional psychotherapeutic understandings,
psychotherapy: For many years, the realm of but includes the body as central in the therapeutic
implicit nonverbal communications and bodily- field of awareness and employs a set of
based affective states was largely ignored by observational skills, theories, and interventions not
mainstream psychoanalysis. The result was a usually practiced in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
traditionally strong bias in favour of explicit, Ogden argues that therapy is the context in
verbal, cognitive mechanisms (Schore, 1994). which we work with the wisdom of the body in an
However, advances in our understanding attempt to integrate sensations, images, feelings
of the psychology and biology of bodily-based and thoughts that constitute ongoing experience.
emotional states and neuropsychoanalytic The experience of trauma is recognised as being
concepts that bypass the Cartesian error, significantly body-based. Sensorimotor approaches
along with the developmental psychoanalytic recognises and use this to allow the therapist to
discoveries of how affect regulating attachment open up the client’s non-verbal world and make it
experiences positively and negatively impact available for integration and processing. By being
evolving structure, are being incorporated aware of how a client stands, sits, walks, talks
into more complex clinical models of the or gestures, the therapist can hypothesise about
psychopathegenesis and treatment of brain/ these bodily gestures and client and therapist
mind/body disorders. can learn what these might be communicating.
Until recently, body psychotherapy The therapist also attends to the way in which
progressed independently, and somewhat bodily organisation reflects competence and well-
apart from, contemporary psychoanalysis. being. Techniques may include the inculcation of
This field has focussed more intensely on the deep and regular breathing, relaxation, physical
somatic expressions of psychobiological trauma, flexibility and physical alignment.
especially trauma and affect dysregulation that The sensorimotor therapist is concerned
occur in the histories of severe self pathologies. with “top-down” management skills, such as
But the body psychotherapists appear clarifying meaning, formulating a new narrative,
increasingly to be adopting an interdisciplinary and working with emotional experience, as well
perspective (Schore 2002). as with “bottom-up” interventions that address
Pat Ogden and her colleagues are a the repetitive, unbidden, physical sensations,
prominent source of neurobiologically, movement inhibitions, and somatosensory
psychodynamically, and developmentally intrusions of unresolved trauma (Ogden, Pain
informed clinical models in the expanding & Fisher, 2006). Such an integrative approach
world of somatically-focussed psychotherapy. attempts to help clients experience a reorganised
Dubbed the sensorimotor approach, it builds sense of self.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 9

10. Features Body of evidence
zz Mindfulness-based psychotherapies, eg. zz Post-modern contributions (Tom Andersen and Jaakko
the Hakomi Method: In the last decade Seikkula):The late Tom Andersen, a well-respected
mindfulness has become increasingly Norwegian therapist who co-developed a form of
popular within many branches therapy known as ‘collaborative therapy’ and Jaakko
of psychotherapy, based on the Seikkula, a renowned Finnish psychotherapist and
growing recognition that the ancient academic who borrowed from this approach and
mindfulness teachings can reduce stress successfully developed social network based
and contribute to the healing process practices in psychiatry, brought about an
for a wide-range of difficulties (Kabat- increasing recognition of the dialogical and
Zinn, 2005). Within mindfulness, ‘embodied’ nature of therapy.
the somatic realm is not only deeply Andersen observed the work of
tied into all our emotional and physiotherapists who worked intuitively with
mental processes, but it reflects them a person’s body to effect change and he drew
precisely, allowing the uncovering of forth many observations to apply to his therapy
fundamental issues and memories that with clients. He stated that therapy must be
give rise to them (Marlock & Weiss, like a ‘pain producing hand’ in the sense that
2006, in Weiss, 2009)). Mindfulness a therapist’s words must be unusual enough to
encourages ways of becoming more incite change in the client. He also observed
‘aware’ or more conscious of bodily that a good therapist is guided by his or her
processes. Patients are usually client’s signs, which are often very subtle
encouraged to sense, feel and observe ones, and from this his ‘slow’ way of working
their bodies at great length. evolved. Tom Anderson’s approach to therapy
Body psychotherapist Ron Kurtz highlighted the importance of a responsive and
pioneered the integration of embodied contact with an others expressions
mindfulness into psychodynamic and following these moving’ expressions
therapy in the 1970’s. In his approach, wherever they might lead (Shotter, 2007).
The Hakomi Method, the therapist Jaako Seikkula developed Open Dialogue,
constantly monitors and helps to a group therapy method in which ‘team
regulate the state of consciousness members’ bring new words that offer an
of the client. In the course of alternative language to those of symptoms
a successful Hakomi process, and problem behaviours. Network members
there is an expanding sense of are encouraged to sustain intense painful
mindfulness and the core of the emotions of sadness, helplessness, and
process usually takes place in hopelessness as a multi-voiced picture of
this state. As an experiential the event evolves. A dialogical process is a
process, the therapist is necessary condition for making this possible.
radically nondirective in To support diaological process, team members
order not to interfere with attend to how feelings are expressed by the many
mindfulness. This shifts voices of the body: tears in the eye, constriction
the focus of the therapist in the throat, changes in posture, and facial
from a ‘thinking’ expression. Team members are sensitive to how the
to an ‘observing’ body may be so emotionally strained while speaking
mode. When of extremely difficult issues as to inhibit speaking
completely in tune further, and they respond compassionately to draw
with mindfulness, the forth words at such moments. “The experiences that
therapist will manifest a had been stored in the body’s memory as symptoms
state of being that Kurtz calls are “vaporised” into words” (Seikkula & Trimble,
‘a loving presence’ (Martin, 2005, p. 468). In this approach, dialogue is not just a
2007). The mindful approach form of communication, but a way of engaging with
requires a fundamental shift in others in a way that forms minds. ‘Mind’ is not seen
attitude that is hard to fathom for as an independent element of human psychological
those schooled in traditional ways of structure, but an ongoing process from one second to
Western psychotherapy (Weiss 2007). another between living (embodied) persons.
10
New Therapist September/October 2012 2012
New Therapist September/October

11. Features Body of evidence
Towards an integration: Drawing from the The body perceived from
concepts and practices of ‘body’ psychotherapies outside
It is clear that body psychotherapies do not emanate from a A person’s facial expressions, body
common theoretical base. Support for body work is found postures, gestures, breathing, even
in different theoretical models: psychodynamic theories, voice quality, sighing and laughing,
including Reichian and non-Reichian theories, humanistic and are commonly used by the
existential psychology, transpersonal psychology, and behaviour therapist to aid insight. People also
therapy. Despite the number of specific models and therapies have a natural tendency towards
that incorporate the body into psychotherapy, Leijjsen (2006) mimicking the posture, gestures,
suggests that a psychotherapist wanting to validate the body in facial expressions of the people
psychotherapy can work with one or a combination of these aspects they are looking at, referred to as
of the body, which might include the body perceived from outside, empathic attunement. Research
the body in action in movement and other nonverbal expressions, shows that mirroring of bodily
and the body in physical contact with another body, usually by positions and an unconscious
touch. These are outlined below, with practical illustrations of how synchronisation of actions between
these techniques might be used in the therapy context. people helps to develop and
maintain rapport and relatedness
(Cooper, 2001 in Leijssen, 2006).
The nonverbal communication
The body sensed from inside may complement the client’s
narrative or even reveal something
The body as sensed from inside, the experiencing body, relies on
different from the spoken
the premises that what is most essential can be experienced in the
narrative of which client may
body. This is a visceral process, rooted in emotional experience,
not be conscious. An awareness
with cognitive activity as secondary. The inclusion of the simple
and reflection on the non-verbal
invitation to pay attention to the body as sensed from inside can
communication of the client can
enhance each method of therapy without changing it very much
bring greater awareness and insight
(Gendlin, 2003 in Leijjsen, 2006). The therapist may ask: “Wait
to the issue being discussed. For
a moment, can you check inside, in your body, what you are
instance, a client may verbally
feeling there?” If this bodily source is not too alien for the client,
express that they are no longer
the symbols arrived at from that place will deepen the therapy by
affected by an experience from
accessing the emotional material on more than just the cognitive
their past, but the therapist may
level.
observe the client holding her
In the interaction with the client, the therapist can also rely on
hands across her abdomen and this
his or her body orienting sense, which some might call ‘somatic
might cue the therapist to note
countertransference’. In their research on therapists’ experiences
that she is trying to protect herself
of empathy, Greenberh and Rushanskiu-Rosenberg (2002)
from something that she is not
investigated therapists’ internal process while being empathic.
verbally expressing.
Therapists reported often using their own bodily responses as tools
However, sometimes clients
to finding the most accurate connection with the client’s experience
may be confused when the
and as feedback for the accuracy of the interaction. A therapist
therapist draws attention to
might notice that they have a physical sensation mirroring the
physical components of their
client’s experience. This might be felt as a shiver down the spine or
communication or feel intruded
a feeling of excitement; or as a body resonance that recognises the
upon and thus therapists would
pain of the client. The therapist can even verbalise their own bodily
ideally move the client along such
experience with comments, such as “I notice that my heart beats
observations or interpretations only
faster when you talk about that.”
at a pace that does not disrupt the
There are also many benefits to experiencing the body from
therapeutic process, particularly
the inside, such as increased self-awareness, a capacity for less
when dealing with the results of
impulsive or automatic behavioural responses to feelings and
trauma (Rothschild, 2002).
delaying automatic behaviour, and the attendant calming, relaxing
and grounding effects that follow from these.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 11

12. Features Body of evidence
The body perceived in action: The body in physical contact: Touch
Movement
How touch is experienced is often subjective. The same
In this step of validating the body, sensory stimulus, like a tap on the shoulder, might be
the therapist pays more explicit seen as an encouragement by one person and a reprimand
attention to kinaesthetic, movement- by another. Touch crosses a body border and there is,
related experiences and also may also inevitably, a correspondingly heightened sensitivity and
experiment with guiding the client to intimacy involved in the act of touch. For these reasons,
new movements and body postures. it is hardly surprising that touch has been been considered
The therapist might, for instance, ask a controversial and usually undesirable practice in
the client to exaggerate a movement ethical codes that guide the practice of therapy. Where
to increase its emotional salience and it has been used in therapy, touch might extend from a
to bring the client in contact with handshake in almost exclusively verbal therapy to intensive
something that is further away from bodywork at the other end of the touch continuum.
awareness. Or the therapist might While making physical contact with clients is indeed a
introduce small steps of experiential ‘touchy’ topic amongst therapists, a survey of members of
learning and invite the client to the American Academy of Psychotherapists (Tirnauer et
experiment with active behavioural al, 1996 in Leijjsen, 2006), indicated that only 13% “never
expression. For example, a client touch” their clients. Ethical fears of touch are typically
reporting that he is “fed-up” with centred around a fear that physical contact may lead to
doing something and hunches his exploitative or sexual interactions. Therapeutically, there is
shoulders as he says it might be invited also a fear that touch may create transference issues and/
to exaggerate the moment in his body or retraumatisation when misuse of touch was part of the
posture, or alternatively he might be client’s original trauma. Leijssen (2006) suggests that
encouraged to explore the opposite acknowledging these concerns doesn’t imply that touch has
body position. to be problematic in therapy.
The therapist may also modulate One way of framing touch in therapy is that, when
body posture or movement that are used appropriately, it is a genuine expression of person-
unusual for a client in order to help the to-person relating, and a strategic means of providing
client achieve a recognition of alternate nurturance and support. Touch is clearly a more intrusive
bodily experiences and explore new technique, but Leijjsen (2006) argues that touch,
possibilities. For instance, a dependent used appropriately, can provide a physical holding or
person who ‘holds on’ to others and containment of the client in trouble. Take the example
has difficulty standing on her own of a trauma therapist, working with survivors of political
legs might be encouraged to plant her torture, who used kind and gentle touch to help them
feet firmly on the ground. Movement ‘come back into their bodies’ (Bingham Hull, 1997, p.6 in
exercises and experiements can also Leijjsen, 2006). Touch in these instances would appear to
activate muscle functioning and assist the traumatised individual to move beyond a layer
create bodily flexibility, creating the of fear that ‘freezes’ their ability to benefit from other
possibility of new awareness and new interventions. As a guide, therapists are encouraged to ask
experiences. However, Leijjsen (2006) permission and state the intention behind touch before
cautions against the pitfalls of working making contact. Touch should also only be employed once
with the body in action in the sense the therapeutic relationship is well established and should
that the therapist may take too much always be congruent for the therapist and feel comfortable
control, or see himself or herself as the and appropriate to the client. Neither the therapist nor
agent of change. patient should experience the touch as a demand, nor as
an expression of intimacy beyond that felt on an emotional
level (Kertay & Reviere, 1993).
12 New Therapist September/October 2012

13. Features Body of evidence
Women's Sexual Satisfaction. Baltimore:
The Johns Hopkins University Press.
ISBN 0-8018-6646-4.
Martin, D. (2007). Tracking and contact.
In H. Weiss, G. Johanson, & L. Monda
(Eds.), The Hakomi Method. Boulder,
CO: The Hakomi Institute.
McNeely, D.E. (1987). Touching. Body
therapy and depth psychology. Toronto:
Inner City Books.
Ogden, P., Pain, C. & Fisher, J.
(2006). A sensorimotor approach to the
treatment of trauma and dissociation.
Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 29:
263-279.
Rothschild, B. (2002). Body
psychotherapy without touch: applications
for trauma therapy. In T. Staunton (Ed.),
Body Psychotherapy (pp. 101-115). New
York: Brunner- Routledge.
The body in action:
References
Seikkula, J (2008). Inner and outer
Nonverbal forms of self Andersen, T. (1997) Researching client- voices in the present moment of family
expression therapist relationships: a collaborative and network therapy. Journal of Family
study for informing therapy. Journal of Therapy. 30: 478-491.
This way of validating Systemic Therapies, 16(2), pp 125-133.
Seikkula, J. and Trimble, D. (2005).
the body is an extension Eiden, B. 1999. The History of Body Healing elements of therapeutic
of movements in more Psychotherapy—An Overview. This conversation: Dialogue as an
nonverbal actions. The article was written in January 1999 embodiment of love. Family Process. 44:
therapist may introduce for 'Counselling news—the voice of 461-475.
expressive arts (dance, counselling training'—a magazine
published by CSCT. Schore, A.N. (2002). The right brain as
drawing, painting, sculpting, the neurobiological substratum of Freud's
music, sound) as an alternate Greenberg, L.S., Rushanski-Rosenberg, dynamic unconscious. In D. Scharff (Ed.),
path for exploration and R. (2002). Therapist’s Experience The psychoanalytic century: Freud’s legacy
communication. In the of Empathy. In J.C. Watson, R.N. for the future. (pp. 61- 88). New York:
Goldman, & M.S. Warner (Eds.), Other Press.
consulting rooms of Carl
Client-Centered and Experiential
Jung for example, people Psychotherapy in the 21st Century: Shotter, J. (2007). Not to forget Tom
danced, sang, acted, mimed, Advances in theory, research and practice Andersen’s way of being Tom Anderson:
played musical instruments, (pp. 168- 181). Ross-on Wye: PCCS the importance of what ‘just happens’ to
painted, modelled with Books. us. Draft of paper delivered at The 12th
clay (McNeely, 1987, p.39). International Meeting on the Treatment of
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2005). Coming to Psychosis, Lithuania, September, 2007.
In this way of validating our senses: Healing ourselves and the
the body, it is important world through mindfulness. New York: Weiss, J. (2009). The use of mindfulness
to remind the client that Hyperion. in psychodynamic and body oriented
performing visibly is not psychotherapy. Body, Movement and
Kertay, L., & Reviere, S. L. (1993). Dance in Psychotherapy, Vol. 4, No.
essential—these methods are
The use of touch in psychotherapy: 1, April 2009, 5-16.
used to increase self-insight. Theoretical and ethical considerations.
Nonverbal expressions can Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and
also replace or supplement Practice, 30(1), 32-40.
words when talk fails to
produce results. What is
Leijssen, M (2006). Validation of the About the author
Body in Psychotherapy. Journal of
creative is often therapeutic Humanistic Psychology. 46, 2, 126-146. Kelly Quayle is a psychologist in private
(Adzema, 1985; Kahn, 1985 practice in Pietermaritzburg, South
in Leijssen, 2006). Maines, Rachel P. (1998). The Technology Africa, and a contributing editor to New
of Orgasm: "Hysteria", the Vibrator, and Therapist.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 13

14. Features Every body needs some body
Every
body
needs
some
body
An interview featuring Jack
Lee Rosenburg,
Lisa Loustaunau and
Frederic Lowen
14 New Therapist September/October 2012

15. Features Every body needs some body
“Everybody needs
somebody to love” Frederic Lowen
Frederic Lowen, son of
- Song by Bert Berns, Alexander Lowen, M.D., is
Solomon Burke and Executive Director of The
Alexander Lowen Foundation.
Jerry Wexler, which first With long term and extensive
charted in 1964. experience in Bioenergetics,
Bioenergetic therapy, workshop
L
and training attendance since
et’s face it: Our 1966, Fred seeks to expand the
most archetypal visiblity, appreciation, and use
of Bioenergetics.
attachment scripts Fred lives in Vermont, USA with
are predicated upon a his wife and daughter.
fundamental urge to fulfil
the longing of every body
for some body to love.
Our bodies are, Lisa Loustaunau
whether we like it or not, Lisa Loustaunau, MFA, CCEP,
the vehicle of expression OSC is Director of Education
for a great deal of what and Assistant Director of the
Institute of Core Energetics in
we feel, think and NY. Lisa teaches and supervises
confront in our daily body psychotherapists around
the world in the Core Energetics
psychic life. So maybe we approach developed by the late
psychotherapists should John Pierrakos MD, whom she
just get over ourselves frequently assisted. Her private
practice is in Norwalk, CT.
and our obsession with www.LisaLoustaunau.com
the talking cure. Could
we contemplate that
the bodily cure might
be just as powerful and Jack Lee Rosenberg
important a route to
Dr. Jack Lee Rosenberg is
healing? internationally recognized
We asked three as a pioneer for his
innovative approach to
prominent body therapy body psychotherapy, human
practitioners and writers sexuality, and couples
to back us up on this counseling. He is founder of the
Integrative Body Psychotherapy
body check for overly Institutes. He has conducted
talkative shrinks. This is workshops at the Esalen
what Frederic Lowen, Lisa Institute for more than twenty-
eight years. The author of Total
Loustnaunau and Jack Orgasm, Body, Self and Soul,
Lee Rosenberg had to say. and The Intimate Couple, he is in
private practice in Los Angeles.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 15

16. Features Every body needs some body
New Therapist: Mainstream psychology relies principally on verbal communication. In what
ways does your working with the body supplement or extend this?
Jack Lee Rosenburg:
The body and the mind cannot be separated. They must be worked with simultaneously to help the client
release somatic holding patterns, awaken, integrate and clarify the body and mind. In IBP (Integrative Body
Psychotherapy) we use breath, movement and awareness work to open and release holding patterns that are both
physical and psychological. We are psychotherapists working with the body with limited touch. Breath work
can bring deep-rooted psychological material to the surface and intensifies it so that it is available to talk about.
We work with the energy of the body to increase aliveness and release holding patterns to create flow.
We use two intertwined approaches for working with the client. To begin with, we have the client sitting up
while we take a history on a large white board. We use breath, movement, presence, contact, boundaries, and
awareness of history, defensive styles and many tools to bring awareness of the source of holding patterns. We
also look for thought, belief and behavior patterns that support unwanted results. At the same time we track
somatic energy and provide experiences that lead to energetic release.
Once trust has been established, we have the client lie down on a table. First, we track how they breathe. We
want to know if they can breathe and stay present and be in contact. Can they tolerate the increased aliveness?
Then, while they breathe fully to build a charge, we use several different weighted balls to help the movement of
energy and for grounding.
We usually have the client start lying on their back with their feet balanced on a 6-pound rubber ball. We
have a number of varying weighted balls depending on the client’s size and strength that can be held between
client’s knees to tire out the adductor muscles.
This begins the process of tiring the muscles of the pelvis as a method to release fixed muscular holding
patterns of the legs and pelvis. In this position the client must sustain core to balance and at the same time talk
to the therapist and remain present.
As the client fatigues from this position, we exchange holding the ball between their legs for a stretchable
strap that fits around their legs. The client now is stretching against the strap held just above and around their
knees. This tires the abductor muscles. The instruction is to push out against the strap. Remember the client is
lying on their back still balancing their feet upon a ball.
The final result is that this process releases specific muscles often held in the pelvis that are important for
body psychotherapy and at the same time it opens and releases holding patterns of the body without touching
the body, or going past the clients boundaries.
The nice thing about this is that the process works very profoundly and effectively without the many
problems that can arise when working with the pelvis.
16 New Therapist September/October 2012

17. Features Every body needs some body
Lisa Loustaunau: Frederic Lowen:
Working with the body opens an entirely The client’s conscious mind is an unreliable source of usable
new dimension in the treatment room, information. Irrational behaviors, emotions, thoughts,
providing a wealth of material that could beliefs, and attitudes are justified, defended, rationalized,
take months or years to access through and/or denied by the conscious “rational” mind. So, the
verbal therapy alone. Words just as easily value and usability of verbal communication is limited. A
hide or alter the truth as reveal it and, as we client’s “truth” must be discerned from the motivations of a
know, most communication is non-verbal. client’s words, not from the words themselves. Talk therapy
I am always struck by the depth of feelings is like a mental chess game in which, too often, the patient
and experience that my work with the body is better than the therapist. Driven by a desperate need to
elicits which the client could not verbally maintain “control,” present an image, or to perpetuate a
or consciously communicate previously. relatively comfortable, seemingly safe homeostasis despite
This is much more than body language, the complaint/symptom, patients present all manner of
which reveals the truth of the moment. resistances; some hardened to the point that talk therapy is
The practice of body psychotherapy goes virtually impotent.
far beyond body language in that the body In Bioenergetic Analysis, the body is the focus of the
communicates the story of a lifetime and therapeutic work. Like the annual rings of a tree, the
offers a direct channel to experience past and traumatic experiences of the individual are recorded in the
present. body.
When I look at a client's body I see Originating in psychoanalysis, and developed from
the story of a life journey. It is a moving the work of Freud’s student Wilhelm Reich, Bioenergetic
and vulnerable experience to receive the Analysis examines character and personality in terms
uniqueness of a human being in this way. of the energetic processes of the body. An individual’s
The body speaks to me about their history, energy is expressed psychologically in thoughts, beliefs,
their patterns of relating, their gifts and and (motivations for) behavior, and physically and
strengths and innate potential, as well as physiologically in form, structure, and movement. The self
of their primary defenses and repetitive comprises both, as well as the psychological unconscious
limiting life-patterns, which will be and the autonomous physiology. Like two faces of a coin,
important to challenge in therapy. The body each face may be radically different, and neither face is the
gives me the direction of the work. Working whole coin.
physically opens deeply held or denied To an experienced Bioenergeticist, the body is
feelings which, when integrated, expand an expression of a person’s self. Unlike the mind’s
the individuals awareness of who they really rational verbal exchange, the body does not lie to the
are. The body tells the truth without all the knowledgeable, aware therapist. All of us in the developed
embellishments and smoke screens that the world, to varying degrees, have been restricted in fully
ego mind at times constructs. expressing our feelings and our selves. To a point, this is
Body work offers me a way to open necessary for social cohesion. But when our feelings and
the door to new or different energetic and the expression of those feelings are rejected, suppressed,
emotional experiences. They happen right humiliated, threatened or denied, especially in childhood,
there in session. We aren’t figuring out what the energy of those feelings becomes “frozen” into
they feel or what they should do about this structure, subsequently restricting the motility of our
or that. The feelings emerge from within bodies.
the body and are felt right there. It is very This frozen structure and the quality of expression: the
immediate and very powerful when clients inability to express, or inappropriateness of expression, are
experience themselves having feelings the elements used in Bioenergetic Analysis diagnostically
they didn’t know they had or were able to and directly in treatment, hugely leveraging the value of
tolerate and having them freely and honestly. verbal communications in uncovering and integrating
I engage the person physically to effect a trauma, and relieving the conflict between conscious and
transformation that occurs on every level unconscious energies.
of being—psychologically, energetically, In addition to improving integration of conscious and
emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It is a unconscious, and mind and body, body work enhances
powerfully healing expansion. physical and physiological health.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 17

18. Features Every body needs some body
NT: What, in your opinion, can we not access through verbal communication?
Frederic Lowen:
In Bioenergetic Analysis, or body-psychotherapy, direct body work improves the effectiveness of time in
therapy. Theoretically, all traumatic material is available verbally. Practically, for reasons discussed above, direct
body work is a reliable means to by-pass the “monkey mind” of consciousness, and access the unconscious and
autonomic systems directly.
Motivated by unconscious desires to maintain homeostasis, with effects of transference and counter-
transference, willful verbal exchange often thwarts the therapeutic process. Even in seemingly successful cases,
the patient’s conscious mind can feint progress, or offer false leads to protect the fearful self from painful
realities and truths associated with the trauma the therapist is attempting to uncover or evoke. In contrast, the
body does not lie.
Bioenergetic Analysis normally begins with simple exercises and stress positions designed to increase a
client’s energy level, and highlight the distortions and blockages of energy flow, evidenced by chronic tension
and muscular tightness. Most usually, these tensions have been held so long, they are outside of conscious
awareness; that is, they are unfelt.
The exercise and stress positions make the areas of chronic tension apparent to both therapist and, more
importantly, to the client. Restricted or disturbed breathing patterns, lack of alignment or balance, collapsed or
inflated chests, weak legs and feet, poor ground contact, skin tone, muscle tonicity, facial masking, eye contact,
voice expression, arms and hands, rigidity of pelvic movements, tightness of belly, are some of the common
indicators of unresolved trauma, and the fears and constraints the individual lives with.
Together with the verbal history and the client’s perceptions and awareness of his issues (to the extent he
can articulate them), the body evaluation guides and confirms or refutes the therapist’s lines of inquiry. For the
client, the bodywork enhances energy by improved breathing, and re-connecting to the natural energy flow in
the body as tensions are perceived in a new way.
Increasing energy to the client’s homeostatic state brings emotional material and related memories in the
unconscious up towards, and into consciousness. For the therapist who is unaware of this dynamic, the client
may engage in increased “acting-out,” or other patterned behavior with renewed energy and vigor. However,
for a Bioenergetics therapist, it is an opportunity to focus the client’s higher energetic state on these issues, and
accelerate the appearance of repressed or suppressed traumatic material.
Upon release of the tension and trauma, integration is necessary. Verbally, and consciously, the client
gains intellectual understanding of his story. The client’s ability to relate his traumatic experiences, feelings,
and memories to how his body felt and responded to the trauma allows integration into the body and the
unconscious, thereby eliminating the associated psychic conflict and enabling better alignment of 1) unconscious
motivations with conscious desires; 2) the client’s self-image with the reality of his body/self.
18 New Therapist September/October 2012

19. Features Every body needs some body
Jack Lee Rosenburg: Lisa Loustaunau:
We cannot access the deeper holding We cannot access verbally what the unconscious intends to
patterns of the body/mind. IBP breath disown.
work is used to change the balance In body psychotherapy we see the unconscious not as
between the sympathetic and the a vague psychological sphere but as located in areas of the
parasympathetic nervous systems, body where energy is being managed or blocked. In Core
allowing a sense of wellbeing to unfold Energetics we see energy and consciousness as unified, so if
in the client's body/mind. There are you repress energy you repress consciousness.
certain emotions that cannot be known If you block pain, you block pleasure.
by the mind alone: such as love, trust, How this happens in the body is through the formation of
erotic sexuality. what is known as armoring, set patterns of muscular holding.
We cannot access holding patterns A tight jaw prevents us from crying or expressing our anger,
stored in the body without some form vacant eyes caused by chronic tension in the intra-ocular
of manipulation of the body. Therefore muscles protects us from the intimacy of contact. These are
we must use a number of techniques for some examples of how our unique pattern of armor serves
working using minimal physical contact to protect us from particular feelings or experience. Armor
and yet still opening or releasing fixed (often called blocks) develops as a process over time as a
muscular patterns held throughout the result of repetitive significant experiences during critical
clients’ body. formational periods in early life that the psyche was not able
Verbal communication alone does to handle. Better said, the armor in the body is the way the
not access early, emotional, relational psyche handled the developmental frustrations.
limbic memory upon which our What is significant is that the same armoring which
foundation is built. And yet, it is vital to originally served an adaptive purpose—protecting us from
get to the roots of holding patterns for knowing and feeling what would have been too painful to
healing. Also, when the body is tight, fully experience at the time—keeps us living and acting as
particularly in the chest, it shuts down if those early realities continue, and thus we find ourselves
access to the energetic feeling of love, repeating certain patterns over and over. These patterns
causing love to remain a less satisfying contain what in Core Energetics we call an “image,” a fixed
mental construct or idea. This is a belief.
particular problem between parents and Let me give you an example of an “image.” Someone
their children. who was deeply frustrated around needs may develop an
Simply talking doesn’t reopen the image that goes “if I allow myself to need then I will be
body to core self agency functions. disappointed, if I don’t need then I can’t be disappointed.”
Without this opening clients remain In this case closing off consciousness of real needs would
disassociated from core experience become the solution to the frustration. This may never have
and just learn more effective coping been formulated as a distinct thought, the wound having
strategies rather than accessing their been experienced before this thinking was possible. It would
authenticity. Most profoundly, the however be revealed in the body. You can see it in a sunken
awakening of the body allows the chest that takes in little breath, (refusing the energy and
emotional heart to feel and connect with sustenance), and in de-energized arms that have difficulty
others. It also allows access to deeper reaching out toward what is wanted or needed. The body
wisdom. If we remain in our heads having formed itself in such a way as to literally close itself
talking, life remains flat. Awakening the off from needing too much by a contraction of the receptive
energy of the body brings deeper, truer centers in the front of the body.
emotions, essence of being and meaning. The experience of embodiment, the way a person feels
Emotions available without grounding and breathes and inhabits their body, needs to be changed
in the body are usually re-enactments in order to really transform a life issue. It is impossible to
of old archaic emotional injuries and are challenge the physical component of the defense with words
impervious to change. alone.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 19

20. Features Every body needs some body
NT: To what extent to you use touch in your work with clients and how do you implement it?
Frederic Lowen:
Touch is not necessary for Bioenergetic work. However, the use of touch can improve effectiveness materially.
In the Bioenergetic work I do, I use touch cautiously and with consent. I most commonly apply pressure on the
client’s chest with my hands, while using the Bioenergetic Breathing Stool*. This helps a client deepen their
breathing and experience a rigidity of the chest and constriction of their breathing they were not fully aware of.
I will also manually adjust a person into specific exercises and stress positions. Occasionally, the application
of pressure with hands or fingers to the musculature of the jaw or the neck, in conjunction with vocal
expression, helps tire the muscles. It is necessary to stress and tire musculature to reduce it’s ability to retain its
tension, thereby allowing the streaming flow of energy, which is evidenced by visible tremoring, or vibration.
Many Bioenergetic therapists use these and other techniques of touch. Examples include deep tissue
massage, Rolfing, or other massage; tender contact through a timely hug can be hugely effective; providing
support through contact with the client’s back as he faces his issues (“got your back!”) can be a new experience
for those who lacked that support; and the common issues people have with boundaries can be made real using
their arms and hands to define their space and gently challenging them physically to both defend their space
and to contain and maintain their own energy within their space.
In group work, participants often pair up for various forms of physical interaction. One of the important
aspects of such activity is to encourage people to explore and recall the childhood pleasure and fun of physical
interactivity and games.
* The Bioenergetic Breathing Stool is a 24” (60 cm) high kitchen stool, with a rolled up blanket, on which the client rests his back,
keeping feet flat on the floor, allowing the stool to take the full weight of the person. This is simply a more extreme position that
one takes when stretching across the back of a chair while sitting.
Lisa Loustaunau:
I use touch every day, though not with everyone and never gratuitously. There are of course many kinds and
uses of touch. I might use touch to direct the breath, to bring awareness to a part of the body, or to support the
release of energy and feelings from a tightly defended area. Touching generally “charges,” adds energy to, the
area being touched. A client that has an area of the body that is energetically “undercharged,” lacking energy,
indicates that feelings are being avoided there. Adding energy through touch will focus the clients awareness
and make it more possible for them to make contact with feelings in that area.
A different use of touch would be adding pressure to an area of the body that is “overcharged,” meaning too
much energy is held and over-contained thereby creating a block which prevents the flow of energy into another
part of the body. This condition distorts sensation and perception in the location of the block and prevents
awareness of feelings in the area that the block is protecting. Using touch, such as squeezing or pressing, would
increase charge in that part of the body to encourage a movement of energy into another area of the body that is
being defended. In this way the client can become conscious of split-off feelings.
Some clients who were not touched enough during early development have difficulty regulating their nervous
system. Touch is very important for them until they are able to self-regulate and self-nurture. For others touch
is difficult to tolerate, painful or invasive, so it is essential to explore touch as part of session work.Touch is our
most primitive form of communication and how we receive it speaks volumes to our early holding environment.
20 New Therapist September/October 2012

21. Features Every body needs some body
Jack Lee Rosenburg: NT: Do you think that the real value of body work is in
diagnosis, in treatment, or in both?
We use limited touch.
The more the therapist
touches the client during
a body session, the
greater the possibility Lisa Loustaunau:
to set up a possible
problem, particularly The value is in both. We have already established that diagnostically the
a dysfunctional body imparts a wealth of information about our history, how primary
or misunderstood needs were handled during developmental stages, patterns of relating,
transference relationship challenges, as well as character strengths and gifts.This is all discernible
with the client. The by carefully observation or sensing of the body, not only its shape, but
client can begin to feel how it moves, how energy flows, posture, where energy is blocked etc.
dependent on the therapist All these blocks affect our vitality, our emotional and physical well-
for functions the client being and our ability to love.
needs to develop such as The same blocks that were created as an attempt to avoid pain also
wellbeing and problem diminish our pleasure and our life force. Every block is essentially a NO
solving. The client can feel to life.
inundated and/or touched For me the goal of treatment is to support the client to reconnect
inappropriately, especially with the fullness of their energy so they can walk in the world as they
if the client has been really are. Working through the blocks that keep us limited or stuck
abused. requires energy—at least as much as it took to create them. I believe the
Yet, touch is very best way to mobilize and harness energy for this transformative process
important for the is by working with the body. Clients that have done a lot of work on
wellbeing of human themselves are often struck by the power and directness of this work. It
beings. Sometimes we takes more than just thought, or observation, or mindfulness to change
hold a patient’s hand to the way we inhabit ourselves and walk in the world. Core Energetics
help the client not feel is a very powerful process, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Dr.
alone. If touch feels like John Pierrakos, founder of Core Energetics, who is now deceased,
too much for the client we always said that all our blocks and defenses were blocks to the heart.
may use a strap or rope For me the real value of body work is that it opens our hearts.
held both by the therapist
and client. This can also
be helpful to help a client
make contact and remain
present. We teach self-
release techniques rather Jack Lee Rosenburg:
than touch so clients will
feel self empowered. You must have an accurate diagnosis in order to have a competent
We often hold the treatment plan. Both are needed.
clients wrist pulse. This When a clients sits and talks with us, they tend to talk about rather
is a very sensitive process. superficial issues, such as “he said . . or she did . . .” And they have little
It places the therapist in deep insight. If we awaken and open the body, whatever memories,
contact with the very soul thoughts, sensations, emotions, images that are most relevant to work
of the client and the client on inevitably come to the surface. The depth of insight that becomes
feels equally touched, available along with the corrective experience of the therapist/witness
known and connected. leads to both a more genuine diagnosis that can be understood and
worked with. With this opened awakening the results of treatment
become embodied more reliably than with talk therapy alone.
Indispensable survival guide for the thinking psychotherapist 21

22. Features Every body needs some body
NT: Do you think that the real value of body work is in diagnosis, in treatment, or in both?
Frederic Lowen:
In Bioenergetics, the value of body work is not only in diagnosis and treatment, but also as proof of therapeutic
progress.
In childhood, we are all subjected to the feelings, behaviors and words of our parents, both rational and
irrational. As discussed above, when children’s feelings and expressions of feelings are suppressed, humiliated,
threatened or denied, the energy of those feelings becomes “frozen” into the body structure in the form of
contracted musculature. Just as an experienced woodsman can tell much of a tree’s history from the annual rings,
an experienced Bioenergeticist can sense, see, hear, and feel a client’s energy “economy;” that is, their energy level
and how they manage their energy: whether it is held, out-of control, totally controlled, split, or scattered.
Additionally, the structure and form of the body is always telling. The alignment, posture and shape of one’s
body speak volumes. A mis-alignment in legs, torso or neck and head, where one part of the body does not
appear to match the rest of the body, may indicate a psychic conflict or a split in personality.
The posture tells much of the quality of an individual’s contact with the ground, which mirrors one’s contact
and connection with their environment, social and natural. It can also indicate the burden one carries, or the
lack of maternal fulfillment, or the quality of one’s relationship with one’s father. In conjunction with the shape
of the body, an attitude of superiority may be discerned, as the body exhibits a person who is “stuck” up, cutting
themselves off from the fullness of life.
Similarly, the facial mask many wear, a mask and pose adopted to protect the child from the anger or
humiliation by a parent, becomes structured into the face as the automatic smile; or an irrational situation may
create the knitted brow and angry countenance of a confused individual; or the jaw is thrust forward and rigidly
held in defiance and determination; etc, etc, etc.
Most basically, breathing is one of life’s most important functions. It is the autonomic function we have the
most conscious control over, so it is a common starting point for both diagnosis and treatment. The fear and
anger we have all experienced growing up, and the socialization of individuals within developed countries, has
created widespread breathing disorders. Commonly these are not problematic, or even recognized until advanced
age. However, they can be seen by a Bioenergeticist. Whether standing at ease, or in a Bioenergetic stress
position, the quality and freedom of chest and abdominal movement in breathing tells us something of the fears,
the energy, the spontaneity and the history of the person.
Just as the inability to express feelings has been structured in the body, so too can those feelings be accessed
by direct body work in treatment. Of course these feelings and memories need to be subsequently integrated
into the personality. Body work focused on grounding, boundaries, and energy/feeling containment, enables
deep integration in mind and body, thus completing the therapeutic process more effectively than verbal therapy
alone.
Finally, positive therapeutic progress can be visibly seen in a person’s body in changes in shape, form,
demeanor, and enhanced aliveness.
22 New Therapist September/October 2012