“For every person the basic reality of his being is his body. It is through his body that he experiences the world and by his body that he responds to it. If a person is out of touch with his body, he is out of touch with the reality of the world.” Depression and the Body – Alexander Lowen, M.D.
History of Body Psychotherapy
Somatic (Body) Psychology is an interdisciplinary field involving the study of the body, somatic experience, and the embodied self, including therapeutic and holistic approaches to body. The word somatic comes from the ancient Greek root σωματ- somat- (body). The word Psychology comes from the ancient Greek psyche (breath, soul hence mind) and -logia (study). Body Psychotherapy is a general branch of this subject, while Somatherapy, Eco-somatics and Dance therapy, for example, are specific branches of the subject. Somatic psychology is a field of study that bridges the Mind-body dichotomy.
Pierre Janet can perhaps be considered one of the first Somatic Psychologist due to his extensive psychotherapeutic studies and writings with significant reference to the body (some of which pre-date Freud). It is only gradually that the body entered into the realm of available techniques that could be used within a psycho-dynamic frame. Sándor Ferenczi, Otto Fenichel, and Wilhelm Reich were the pioneers in exploring the role of body in psychotherapy. Wilhelm Reich is the first who tried to develop a clear psycho-dynamic approach that included the body. He developed his own way of combining body and mind and the somatic regulators that connect these two dimensions. Reich was a significant influence in the founding the field of Body Psychotherapy - though he called his early work "Character Analysis" and "Character-Analytic Vegetotherapy". Reich's teacher and the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, also explored the role of body in neurosis.
Several types of body-oriented psychotherapies trace their origins back to Reich (notably Bioenergetic Analysis - founded by Alexander Lowen, M.D. and John Pierrakos, M.D. - students of Wilhelm Reich). Although there have been many subsequent developments and other influences, Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology are of particular interest in trauma work.
There is increasing use of body-oriented therapeutic techniques within mainstream psychology (like Somatic Experiencing, Sensory Awareness, Hakomi, EMDR, Mindfulness practice, etc) and psychoanalysis has recognized the use of somatic resonance, embodied trauma, and similar concepts, for many years.
In addition, the early history of clinical psychology points to somatic psychotherapy being practiced in Persia beginning in late 10th century. Historically, there were early practitioners, for example, the Persian physician Avicenna (980 to 1037 CE) who performed psychotherapy only by observing the movement of the patient's pulse as he listened to their anguish. This is reminiscent of both traditional Tibetan medicine and current energy therapies that employ tapping points on a meridian. The mind-body unity, posited by many disciplines within somatic psychotherapy, as well as concepts such as embodiment and consciousness, and an unconscious mind that 'speaks' through the language of body, have found support in latest research in neuroscience.
Dance therapy or (Dance Movement Psychotherapy) also reflect this approach and is considered a study and practice within the field of somatic psychology.
(Excerpts are taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic_psychology)
Somatic (Body) Psychology is an interdisciplinary field involving the study of the body, somatic experience, and the embodied self, including therapeutic and holistic approaches to body. The word somatic comes from the ancient Greek root σωματ- somat- (body). The word Psychology comes from the ancient Greek psyche (breath, soul hence mind) and -logia (study). Body Psychotherapy is a general branch of this subject, while Somatherapy, Eco-somatics and Dance therapy, for example, are specific branches of the subject. Somatic psychology is a field of study that bridges the Mind-body dichotomy.
Pierre Janet can perhaps be considered one of the first Somatic Psychologist due to his extensive psychotherapeutic studies and writings with significant reference to the body (some of which pre-date Freud). It is only gradually that the body entered into the realm of available techniques that could be used within a psycho-dynamic frame. Sándor Ferenczi, Otto Fenichel, and Wilhelm Reich were the pioneers in exploring the role of body in psychotherapy. Wilhelm Reich is the first who tried to develop a clear psycho-dynamic approach that included the body. He developed his own way of combining body and mind and the somatic regulators that connect these two dimensions. Reich was a significant influence in the founding the field of Body Psychotherapy - though he called his early work "Character Analysis" and "Character-Analytic Vegetotherapy". Reich's teacher and the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, also explored the role of body in neurosis.
Several types of body-oriented psychotherapies trace their origins back to Reich (notably Bioenergetic Analysis - founded by Alexander Lowen, M.D. and John Pierrakos, M.D. - students of Wilhelm Reich). Although there have been many subsequent developments and other influences, Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology are of particular interest in trauma work.
There is increasing use of body-oriented therapeutic techniques within mainstream psychology (like Somatic Experiencing, Sensory Awareness, Hakomi, EMDR, Mindfulness practice, etc) and psychoanalysis has recognized the use of somatic resonance, embodied trauma, and similar concepts, for many years.
In addition, the early history of clinical psychology points to somatic psychotherapy being practiced in Persia beginning in late 10th century. Historically, there were early practitioners, for example, the Persian physician Avicenna (980 to 1037 CE) who performed psychotherapy only by observing the movement of the patient's pulse as he listened to their anguish. This is reminiscent of both traditional Tibetan medicine and current energy therapies that employ tapping points on a meridian. The mind-body unity, posited by many disciplines within somatic psychotherapy, as well as concepts such as embodiment and consciousness, and an unconscious mind that 'speaks' through the language of body, have found support in latest research in neuroscience.
Dance therapy or (Dance Movement Psychotherapy) also reflect this approach and is considered a study and practice within the field of somatic psychology.
(Excerpts are taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic_psychology)