APPLICATIONS OF BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY
Body Psychotherapy is a psychological and scientific approach from the outset of which lie the findings of Wilhelm Reich, psychiatrist and student of Freud. In Reich’s theories, which he stated and applied in the beginning of the previous century, among other things a special emphasis is put on the prevention of the psychic disorder through an intervention in the groups of people being close to the infant, child and adolescent.
The preventive intervention is also very useful for other population categories which are in vulnerable position, such as women, the unemployed, “traumatized” populations, etc.
Body Psychotherapy approach is more than ever opportune and useful in today’s difficult situations.
Having as basic prerequisite that our body reflects the whole individual and that there is a functional unity and connection between the mind and the body, the psychotherapeutic work that combines both mind and body forms a big complementary unit of immediate help to individuals and couples; also to parents, pregnant women, adolescents, elderly people, family and generally to the most vulnerable social groups.
Individual Body Psychotherapy
Individual psychotherapy constitutes the most basic form of psychotherapy.
In individual psychotherapy it is required to look into the past, the different psychic traumas and inner psychic clashes and make all these emerge so that on one hand the inhibitions and forbidden emotions can be released and on the other all the power and abilities that were blocked can be utilized.
During the individual psychotherapy procedure, individuals learn to come closer to themselves, to become aware of and understand their needs, their most original feelings and their deepest thoughts.
The role and personality of the psychotherapist-counselor are exceptionally important and determining factors, so that a better therapeutic relation is created with the client. Important elements and prerequisites for a good therapeutic relationship between the two parts are confidentiality, safety, protection and warmth on the part of the therapist and also trust, good intentions and acceptance on the part of the client. In this way, the best possible cooperation and alliance is ensured so that basic requests of the client can be fulfilled.
In individual psychotherapy of the body approach, the body with all its qualities, characteristics, memories and reactions, forms an exceptional additional tool-means (with its many and different techniques and exercises) for a more complete progress and maturing of the individual.
Some of the requests that make the individuals turn to the individual psychotherapy procedure are the following:
- Emotional symptoms- anxiety, fear, sadness, despair
- A negative perception of the self- lack of confidence/self-esteem
- Body disorders in every system- respiratory, circulatory, skin, intestines, etc.
- Relation with the environment- phobias, panic attacks, difficulties in communication and in interpersonal relations etc.
Group Body Psychotherapy
Nowadays group psychotherapy constitutes one of the most widespread and effective forms of psychotherapy.
The fatherhood of group psychotherapy is claimed by a lot of approaches but none owns it.
The group does a great therapeutic and social work since it helps the participants to communicate and connect with others in a special and deep way.
The aims of the group are:
- the training of individuals in new forms of communication that are more human and functional
- the acquisition of knowledge and new information and ideas through the sharing of stories and experiences between the group members
- the creation of a proper atmosphere of confidentiality, safety and protection without judgment and interventions, forbidding orders or instructions so that emotions and thoughts can be freely expressed
- the exploration of abilities, skills and characteristics of the personality’ in order to achieve a better utilization of them in everyday life and acquire new positions and roles in the family and society
- the recovery of values such as collectivity, altruism and solidarity that have been set aside
In Body Psychotherapy the body is considered to be interconnected with the emotional life and so every approach to our body state is an approach to the whole of our being.
Through the many and different techniques and specialized exercises that energize the body, people taking part in a Body Psychotherapy group are helped to express and develop their emotional world within a framework that reinforces the communication and their connectedness with others.
Couples
Communication in couples is one of the most important factors for the building, functioning and evolution of the relationship.
Body communication takes a big part of the total communication between individuals, especially couples.
Therefore, by introducing the body in the couple therapy, we increase the depth of the experience, adding one more factor-tool in the work on the mental and emotional field.
Body exercises and various relevant techniques (breathing, grounding, relaxation, body contact, eye contact, expression through sounds, etc.) in the therapeutic framework and in the course of time, help the couple change a lot of factors in their relationship, such as:
- to loosen psychosomatic character defenses
- to gradually find out the way in which each partner seeks or avoids contact with the other
- to notice each other’s body movements (slight, small or big), body posture and the asymmetries
- to allow their body to “recite”’ the story of their life in a direct way and with no mental “censorship”
- to have a more authentic relationship with their partner
- to express their creative abilities and their imagination more effectively
- to release the energy that has been held back by orders, instructions, prohibitions, guilt, shame, fears, which immobilized their bodies,
- to acquire the ability and strength to share their needs and desires aiming at alliance, calmness and joy in their relationship and life
Parent groups
The role of the parent is one of the most important, functional roles as concerns the healthy evolution and development of the family and by extension, the whole society.
The parents’ character, personality, knowledge, histories and experience define the balance and maturity of the family system to a great extent.
In parent groups, our aim is to create a context of education, wider knowledge, exchange of experience and emotions between the members.
These groups are experiential in nature.
They include activation and relaxation through body ‘’exercises‘’, guided visions, creative expression, etc. In this way, parents can allow themselves (through imagination) to release thoughts, pictures and memories of their inner child in the group, so that they can achieve a wider and better communication with their actual child.
The elderly
This is an evolutionary phase of a man’s life during which, basic needs and existential matters form its constituent elements.
Issues like loneliness, loss of beloved people, loss of their role in the family, physical state, illnesses (senility, depression, psychosexual disorder, death anxiety etc.) are just some of the issues that worry the elderly.
There are many different approaches that deal with these issues.
Body Psychotherapy approach helps in many ways, especially with “exercises” of relaxation, contemplation, strengthening of the Ego and expression through movement, dance or creative expression.
Delivery preparation groups
The positive contact of a mother with her baby creates the conditions for a healthy and happy personality.
The groups of pregnant women from the 3rd month of pregnancy until delivery include:
- Information and sharing about pregnancy, delivery and confinement issues, information It is worth noting that, apart from body exercises, the tools used in Body Psychotherapy groups (psychodrama, painting, verbal or non-verbal expression, etc.) normally stimulate the emotion and spirit while at the same time mobilizing the body. about natural delivery
- Information about natural delivery
- Elaboration of special pregnancy issues: anxieties, identification with the role of the mother, sexuality, body image, ambivalence about the baby, etc.
- Body “exercises” suitable for a good pregnancy and delivery: breath dilation, relaxation, preparation of the perineum, tone restoration of the parts that have to do with delivery (pelvis, neck, mouth, eyes, legs)
- Their partners’ participation and informing about delivery and confinement
Groups of pre-adolescents and adolescents
Pre-adolescence along with adolescence, as evolutionary phases of a person’s life, constitute a passage from childhood to a mature phase of life that is, adult life.
Pre-adolescence/adolescence is a period characterized by big changes and separations both on a physical and psycho-spiritual level. The way the pre-adolescent/adolescent perceives, accepts and deals with these changes is very related to the attention and care they had in the early evolutionary stages of their life together with the stimuli and conditions that followed.
Some of the main issues of this age are:
- Body changes
- The relationship with the parents
- The relationship with the other sex
- The relationship with friends and social groups
- The fear of being different along with the need to be unique
- The need for support and guidance together with the need for freedom (both insecurity and wish)
At this stage of life, difficulties can be expressed in various ways such as:
- behavior disorders (being excessively reserved or outgoing with underlying anger)
- substance addiction (drugs, alcohol, etc.)
- fanatic attachment to ideologies- groups
Body Psychotherapy groups give young individuals the opportunity to:
- Come into contact with their hidden emotions through body exercises, to express and recognize the energy of their emotions so that they can use it in a creative rather than a destructive way
- See and accept their body through its history and uniqueness
- Share their fears and anxieties with peers, within a framework that mirrors them and -depending on the situation- is either reassuring or puzzling
It is worth noting that, apart from body exercises, the tools used in Body Psychotherapy groups (psychodrama, painting, verbal or non-verbal expression, etc.) normally stimulate the emotion and spirit while at the same time mobilizing the body.