A Sample of Body Psychotherapy Methods for Overcoming Relationship Problems

Can body psychotherapy solve sexual and relationship problems?

Body psychotherapy uses somatic experiences, metaphors and body image work, empathic listening and feedback, touch, mind/body/spirit awareness and connection, mental health skills, and a wide variety of the best teaching, psychology and body therapy techniques. eastern and western. and transpersonal revelations and insights. Can body psychotherapy solve sexual and relationship problems? You be the judge!

Rubenfeld Synergy Method – developed by Ilana Rubenfeld

RSM helps us learn to listen to the body, become aware of habitual patterns and tensions, and decode its messages, empowering us to make concrete improvements in our daily lives and relationships. The uniqueness of Rubenfeld Synergy lies in the use of speaking and playing together. Touch heightens awareness, both emotionally and physically, and allows us to explore levels that are difficult to access just by talking.

Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP) – founded by Dr. Jack Lee Rosenberg, further developed with Diana Asay, a Jungian analyst, and Dr. Marjorie Rand.

IBP offers therapist and client a unique way to trace mind-body disruptions to the central somatic sense of self, life’s most basic guidance system. Psychological disruptions include emotional patterns and beliefs developed in early childhood that often distort present experiences (primary setting), our protective defenses (character style), and how we abandon our core self for love and approval (agency). Without knowing the difference between psychological interruptions and the core self, we cannot trust our intuition, our inner voice.

Your inner voice is essential to exploring an equally important aspect of life’s journey, the human existential dilemma: the problems of existence. We all must face life’s unanswered questions: loneliness, death, life, impermanence, aging, authenticity, creativity, wholeness, infinity, and more. In other words, all kinds of things happen in life. It is not what happens to you, but how you internally deal with what happens that determines your well-being and quality of life. IBP teaches you how to come out of your core wisdom with greater aliveness in all aspects of your life.

Core Energetics, created by John Pierrakos, MD

John Pierrakos, MD, founder and creator of Core Energetics® often said that the purpose of life is for each of us to reach our potential as human beings. But what prevents us from becoming what we are capable of? The simplest answer is that we learn to inhibit ourselves. Through the challenges of growing up in imperfect families and in an imperfect world, we all learn to build walls of protection. As a result, we restrict our life force and cut ourselves off from our essential nature, our spirit.

….In contrast to conventional talk therapy, Core Energetics is a deeply experiential journey toward personal healing and self-discovery. Under the supportive guidance of highly trained Core Energetics practitioners, clients will have the opportunity to reclaim disowned emotional truths and discover the core qualities that will enable them to find personal fulfillment. This is achieved by supporting clients to move their bodies in specific ways that allow for deeper self-awareness and the release of frozen emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, need, sensuality, and ultimately love. . Through the Core Energetics experience, clients learn to more fully inhabit their bodies and live more openly from their hearts.

Bioenergetic Analysis – rooted in the work of Wilhelm Reich and founded by Alexander Lowen Bioenergetic analysis helps to release chronic muscular tensions, manage affects, expand the capacity for intimacy, heal sexual difficulties, and learn new and more satisfying ways of relating to others. Tenderness, aggression, assertiveness, and their confluence in sexuality, are considered fundamental forces to save lives. The therapeutic relationship provides a place of safety where healing begins. The therapist reads the body, resonates with its energy, feels the emotions, listens, hears and responds to the words. The language of the body (posture/gesture, breathing, motility, expression) is in the spotlight, since it indicates the state on the way to the personality, from the past to the present and the future. Techniques are used that address the energetic aspect of the individual, including their self-perception, self-expression, and self-mastery. These also include working with body contact, boundaries, grounding, and understanding muscular tensions as indications of somatic and psychological defenses against past trauma. The goal of therapy is more than the absence of symptoms: it is to have vitality, to savor pleasure, joy, love: vibrant health.

Bodynamics – founded by Lisbeth Marcher

Bodynamics starts from the premise that mutual connection (when I am all of me and you are all of you, can we be in a deep connection?) is the basic engine of development and growth. Our research has shown that there are a number of basic themes around which connection, bonding, and attachment occur. Our clinical experience shows that disturbances in early childhood connections related to these issues lead to developmental distortions or, in some cases, trauma.

….The Bodynamic System combines deep cognitive psychotherapy and an emphasis on relationship with new research on the psychomotor development of children. The body is integrated into therapy through knowledge of the psychological function of each muscle.

Radix – developed by Dr. Charles Kelley

“Radix” – from the Latin work meaning “root” or “source”, referring to that force which gives rise to all movement, feeling and growth in a person and in life. It is the life force… chi… prana… that unites body, mind, emotions and spirit…. It is an approach to personal growth and healing that is:

or holistic ~ based on the principles of mind-body unity
o body centered ~ working directly with the body through movement and attention to breath, body sensation and awareness, energy flow, and other verbal and non-verbal forms.
or experiential ~ ‘here and now’ participating in its process
o Customer-centric ~ based on the unique needs of each customer

Hakomi – developed by Ron Kurtz

Hakomi… draws from the vast worlds of science, spirituality, and psychotherapy, but the practice itself remains simple.

The Hakomi Method… is based on five therapeutic principles: mindfulness, organicity, non-violence, mind-body connection and unity, which give a rich meaning and a spiritual dimension to the work.

RESEARCH

Research on body psychotherapy has been sparse and has generally focused on individuals. The following pilot study found that body psychotherapy can and does improve couple communication, decision making, and sexuality.

A pilot study used Body Psychotherapy techniques with couples in which one partner had a traumatic brain injury and the other did not. The purpose was to learn which problems common to such couples are usefully addressed by which somatic or body psychotherapy interventions. Marital satisfaction and emotional well-being were measured using quantitative tests. A 20-page self-report questionnaire was given before and after somatic therapy. Some of the topics asked about included: decision-making, sexuality, self-identity, family, finances, and grievances. The study took 12 weeks: 2 intake sessions, 9 weeks of somatic therapy, and 1 final session. Three couples participated. There was a significant increase in Marital Satisfaction. Participants noted: increased self and partner awareness/empowerment, improved communication/connection, and increased presence/embodiment.