Body-centered psychotherapy

body-centered psychotherapy (body-oriented psychotherapy, body psychotherapy, direct body-contact psychotherapy, humanistic body psychotherapy): Any combination of: (a) psychotherapy and (b) massage therapy, touch therapy, or movement techniques. Body-centered psychotherapy may include breathwork.

(See also: Body-centered psychotherapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Body-Oriented Psychotherapy: This growing and wide-ranging field combines counseling with bodywork. Practitioners believe the most effective changes come when they involve all levels of being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Massage, movement techniques, breathing and body awareness are emphasized.

(See also: Body-Oriented Psychotherapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

BODY-ORIENTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

Body-oriented psychotherapy seeks to enhance the psychotherapeutic process by incorporating a range of massage, bodywork, and movement techniques. Acknowledging the mind-body link, practitioners may use light touch, soft- or deep-tissue manipulation, breathing techniques, movement, exercise, or body-awareness techniques to help address emotional issues. Proper training is critical in this work. (Adapted from Holistic Health Directory.)

(See also: BODY-ORIENTED PSYCHOTHERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

BODY-ORIENTED PSYCHOTHERAPY: seeks to enhance the psychotherapeutic process by incorporating a range of massage, bodywork and movement techniques.

Acknowledging the mind-body link, practitioners may use light touch, soft or deep-tissue manipulation, breathing techniques, movement, exercise or body awareness techniques to help address emotional issues.

(See also: Body-oriented psychotherapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

body oriented emotional release psychotherapy (Neo-Reichian emotional release work): Method promoted by Dee Cassella. Its theory posits blocked sexual energy and holds that one reclaims one's natural 'SELF' as one:

(a)           releases anger, fear, and sadness, and

(b)          grieves over the loss of one's inner child.

(See also: Body oriented emotional release psychotherapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

organismic psychotherapy (humanistic body psychotherapy): Spinoff of Reichian Therapy developed by Malcolm Brown, Ph.D., and Katherine Ennis Brown, in Europe.

Its theory divides human anatomy into four dynamic Being Centers of the embodied soul:

(1)           The Agape-Eros Being Center consists of the upper frontal portion of the body and mediates feelings of openness toward others.

(2)           the Hara Being Center, the abdominal portion of the body, permits self-love.

(3)           The Logos Being Center, the upper dorsal portion of the body, has unfathomable intuitive faculties.

(4)           The Phallic-Spiritual Warrior Being Center, which consists of the lower back and the limbs, enables resoluteness (perseverance).

(See also: Organismic psychotherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Hakomi (Hakomi body-centered psychotherapy, Hakomi Body-Mind Process, Hakomi Body-Oriented Psychotherapy, Hakomi Method, Hakomi Method of Body/Mind Therapy, Hakomi Therapy, Hakomi work): Refinement of Reichian Therapy developed by Ron Kurtz in the mid-1970s.

The Hakomi Method uses the mind/body connection to elicit nonverbal core beliefs. It is based partly on bioenergetics, Buddhism, and Taoism. Hakomi is a Hopi word that means: How do you stand in relation to these many realms? (loosely, Who are you?).

(See also: Hakomi, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Emotional-Kinesthetic Psychotherapy (EKP): Mode of body-centered psychotherapy among whose three foci is psychospiritual development.

(See also: Emotional-Kinesthetic Psychotherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

BodyWisdom (BodyWisdom Therapy): Yogic form of body-oriented psychotherapy (body-centered psychotherapy) promoted by Margo G. Steinfeld, M.A. One of its principles is that, as the body aligns, physical and emotional blockages and the life force become free.

(See also: BodyWisdom, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

soul-centered therapy: A mode of psychotherapy that encompasses dreamwork and transcendental hypnosis and, past-life therapy

(See also: Soul-centered therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

somatic therapy (somatic disciplines, somatic methods, somatics, somatic techniques, somatic therapies): Field that encompasses aikido, the Alexander Technique, applied kinesiology, Arica, Aston-Patterning, Awareness Through Movement, bioenergetics, Body-Mind Centering, Capoeria, Continuum, CranioSacral Therapy, Eutony, Focusing, Functional Integration, Hakomi, Hellerwork, judo, karate, kundalini yoga, kung fu, Lomi (see lomi-lomi and Lomi work), Oki yoga (see Oki-Do), Process-Oriented Psychotherapy (process psychology), rebirthing, reflexology, Resonant Kinesiology, Rolfing, Rosen work (see Rosen Method), sensory awareness, SHEN, somasynthesis, tai chi, Touch for Health, Trager, Trans Fiber, yoga therapy, and Zero Balancing.

Subtle-energy elements are a commonality of somatic therapies. Thomas Hanna, founder of the journal Somatics, coined the word somatics.

(See also: Somatic therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

soul-centered psychology: Afrocentric mode of psychotherapy advanced by John Bolling, M.D. Its theory posits: (a) soul perception and (b) archetypal energies of the psyche that are susceptible to harmonization.

(See also: Soul-centered psychology, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Body mind Centering (Bodymind Centering technique): Form of meditation developed by married couple Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., a university professor, and Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D., a dance therapist. In Radiance! Breathwork, Movement and Body-Centered Psychotherapy (Wingbow Press, 1991), they defined it as a precise, step-by-step technique for solving life problems through contact with the Inner Self. They defined Inner Self as the part of us that knows how we really feel. Bodymind Centering reconnects the Inner Self and the Outer Self.

(See also: Bodymind Centering, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Hakomi Integrative Somatics (formerly Hakomi Bodywork): Form of body-centered psychotherapy originated by Pat Ogden. It includes energy work. Its theory posits wisdom of body, mind, and spirit.

(See also: Hakomi Integrative Somatics, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

psychosynthesis (psychosynthesis therapy): Form of spiritual psychotherapy originated in 1910 by Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli, M.D. (1888-1974), and developed by Johannes Schultz. Its design is to effect the integration and growth of the self and to release and direct psychic energies generated thereby. Its theory posits chakras (energy centers).

(See also: Psychosynthesis, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (Phoenix Rising): Derivative of Kripalu Yoga. Phoenix Rising is a form of body-centered psychotherapy that encompasses breathwork, energy balancing, visualization (see creative visualization), and a variation of hatha yoga.

Its principle is that unresolved emotional experiences are stored in the body - concealed from consciousness - and suppress the body's natural freedom. The method establishes inner balance by awakening the healing life force.

(See also: Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Radiance Breathing Meditation: Component of Radiance Breathwork described by university professor Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., and dance therapist Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D., in Radiance! Breathwork, Movement and Body-Centered Psychotherapy (Wingbow Press, 1991).

It fills the body with waves of energy, and the mind with clear light.

(See also: Radiance Breathing Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

HAKOMI THERAPY

A body-centered psychotherapy, hakomi was started in the mid-1970s by American Ron Kurtz. Hakomi uses body tensions and sensations to access information about the limiting beliefs, patterns, and habits of the individual. Hakomi bodywork includes hands-on manipulation to access and change these beliefs. Treatments vary to meet individual needs.

(See also: HAKOMI THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Combine Spirituality and Psychotherapy: Eclectic integrative system developed and practiced by author Bernard Green, Ph.D. It includes consciousness expansion, Eastern psychotherapy (see Eastern psychology), nutritional psychology, psychosynthesis, Simonton techniques (see Simonton method), and Sufi psychology (see Sufi healing).

(See also: Combine Spirituality and Psychotherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

holistic psychotherapy: Approach to psychotherapy promoted by Russian-born Reiki practitioner Katya Salkinder, M.A. it is a means of releasing energy blocks created by unresolved emotional conflicts.

(See also: Holistic psychotherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)