What is Body Psychotherapy
Body Psychotherapy is a distinct
branch of Psychotherapy, well within the main
body of Psychotherapy, which has a long history and a
large body of literature and knowledge based upon a sound
theoretical position.
It involves a different and explicit theory
of mind-body functioning which takes into
account the complexity of the intersections and interactions
between the body and the mind. The common underlying
assumption is that the body is the whole person and
there is a functional unity between mind and body.
The body does not merely mean the “soma” or
that this is separate from the mind, the “psyche.” Many
other approaches in Psychotherapy touch on this area.
Body psychotherapy considers this fundamental.
It involves a developmental model, a theory of personality,
hypotheses as to the origins of disturbances and alterations,
as well as a rich variety of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques
used within the framework of the therapeutic relationship. There
are many different and sometimes quite separate approaches within
Body Psychotherapy, as indeed there are in the other branches of
Psychotherapy.
Body Psychotherapy is also a science, having developed
over the last seventy years from the results of research in biology
anthropology, proxemics, ethology, neuro-physiology, developmental
psychology, neonatology, perinatal studies and many more.
It exists as a specific therapeutic approach with a rich
scientific basis with an explicit theory. There is also
a wide variety of techniques used within Body Psychotherapy and some
of these are techniques used on the body involving touch, movement
and breathing. There is therefore a link with some Body Therapies,
somatic techniques, and some complementary medical disciplines, but
while these may also involve touch and movement, they are very distinct
from Body Psychotherapy.
It recognizes the continuity and the deep connections in
which all psycho-corporal processes contribute, in equal fashion,
to the organization of the person. There is not a hierarchical relationship
between mind and body, between psyche and soma. They are both functioning
and interactive aspects of the whole.
adapted from the European Association
of Body psychotherapy‘s
definition of Body Psychotherapy
— United States Association of Body Psychotherapy |
Body Therapy - CranioSacral
There are many approaches to body
therapy or body work. Common to these methods
such as yoga, acupressure, breath work, sensory awareness,
deep tissue body work, dance and movement, postural alignment,
and energy balancing is the belief that change is possible
by working through the body; we can have freer, more flexible
and balanced lives.
CranioSacral Therapy is a form of
body work. The following is a description of craniosacral
therapy adapted from information provided by the Upledger
Institute.
CranioSacral Therapy is performed
on a person fully clothed. Using a light touch
- generally no more than the weight of a nickel- the practitioner
monitors the rhythm of the craniosacral system to detect
potential restrictions and imbalances. The therapist then
uses delicate manual techniques to release those problem
areas and relieve undue pressure on the brain and spinal
cord.
A CranioSacral Therapy session can last from
about 15 minutes to more than an hour, and the
initial evaluation alone is often enough to correct a
problem. The result? A central nervous system free of
restrictions. And a body that's able to return to its
greatest levels of performance.
CranioSacral Therapy strengthens your body's ability to take
better care of you. It helps alleviate a range of illness,
pain and dysfunction, including:
Migraines and Headaches
Chronic Neck and Back Pain
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Stress and Tension-Related Problems
Infantile Disorders
Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Chronic Fatigue
Scoliosis Central
Nervous System Disorders
Emotional Difficulties
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Learning Disabilities
Post - Traumatic Stress Disorder
Orthopedic Problems
And Many Other Conditions
While the validity of the cardiovascular
and respiratory rhythms is undisputed today, for
eons the very existence of these systems sparked debates
in medical communities around the globe. Now for nearly
25 years, osteopathic physician and researcher John E.
Upledger, D.O, O.M.M., has been a proponent of using the
rhythm of another body system -craniosacral system - to
enhance body functioning, and help alleviate pain and discomfort.
The craniosacral system consists of the membranes
and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect
the rain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of
the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium,
down to the sacrum, or tailbone area.
Since this vital system influences the development and performance of
the brain and spinal cord, an imbalance or restriction in it could potentially
cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological disabilities. These
problems could include chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination
impairments, learning disabilities and their health challenges.
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle method of detection
and correction that encourages your own natural healing
these mechanisms to dissipate these negative effects of stress
on your central nervous system. You also benefit from better
overall health and resistance to disease. |
