Body-Oriented Therapy: Holistic Approach

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Body-oriented therapy is a relatively new emerging approach within the broader spectrum of psychotherapy. However, it has ancient traditions of healing that highlight the importance of the balance between body and mind, and their intricate connection.

Body-oriented or somatic therapy is based on the hypothesis that the body preserves emotional and psychological experiences and feelings. This approach differs from traditional forms of psychotherapy due to its direct engagement with the body, in particular through movements, bodily sensations, breathing techniques, and releasing tension. 

The central idea of this approach states that emotions, especially those that remain unspoken or suppressed, ‘settle’ in the body. This can be manifested by muscle clamps, chronic tension or even pain. Therefore, body-oriented therapy assists in freeing the body from this so-called ‘emotional baggage’, which facilitates relaxation, relief of mental states as well as improvement of the quality of life.

The approach for engaging the body in psychotherapy was based on the works of Wilhelm Reich, a student of Sigmund Freud. Reich was a pioneering psychoanalyst who was one of the first to suggest that emotional repression could lead to physical tension in the body. Reich developed a form of therapy called ‘character analysis’, where he observed how body posture, breathing, and muscle tension reflected emotional states. This led to the development of what he termed ‘body armor’, or chronic muscular tension, which he believed could hinder emotional expression and well-being.

Furthermore, these ideas were investigated by other practitioners, such as Alexander Lowen, founder of bioenergetic therapy which involves the utilization of motor exercises and movements to release ‘settled’ emotional sensations. Other significant contributions were provided by Peter Levine, who developed “Somatic Experiencing” focusing on releasing trauma stored in the body.

Body-oriented therapy encompasses a range of various techniques that are helping individuals to better feel within and perceive their own body: 

• Releasing tensions: the therapist is helping the client bring to light muscle clamps or chronic tension in the body, which can be connected to stress, emotional sensations, and so on.
• Breathing techniques: controlled conscious deep breathing facilitates relaxation and regulation of the nervous system. Breathing practices help by releasing tension and being aware of how emotions influence physical states. It assists in reducing stress and anxiety.
• Bioenergetic analysis: this method integrates physical exercises such as deep breathing, grounding, and movement to release blocked energy and restore emotional expression. It emphasizes the role of physical posture and movement in the expression of emotions.
• Manual techniques: some methods include physical efforts such as massages or manipulations that help release tensioned zones.
• Motor exercises: certain movements targeted at stretching and relaxation of muscles, additionally can be used to relieve mental states.
• Somatic experiencing: developed by Peter Levine, focused on releasing trauma stored in the nervous system. It involves tracking physical sensations to help clients release pent-up energy from traumatic experiences and regain a sense of safety in their bodies.
• Awareness of bodily sensations: attention to sensations in different body parts allows one to easily recognize and process emotions that can be ‘stuck’ in the body. Hakomi Method: mindfulness-based somatic psychotherapy integrates body awareness with emotional healing, and emphasizes the importance of using the body as a resource in uncovering unconscious beliefs and resolving emotional conflicts.

Body-oriented therapy has a wide spectrum of applications. It can be beneficial for people who experience chronic stress, anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other psychological issues. 

This approach can be especially beneficial for:

• Working on traumas: bodily practices allow to release deeply hidden emotions and worries that leave their mark on one’s body. 
• Reduction of stress and anxiety: many techniques are directed to reduce tension, and stress and to restore natural rhythm of the body, which in turn will facilitate general appeasement and increase the level of energy.
• Enhanced emotional resilience: growing a deeper connection to one’s body can help individuals regulate their emotions more effectively. After practicing body-oriented therapy techniques, clients report feeling more present, grounded, and able to cope with stress more easily.
• Promotion of self-awareness and mindfulness: body-oriented therapy helps people to be in contact with their emotions and what influence these emotions have on the body. Thus, facilitating the ability to self-regulate, self-restore, be mindful, and promote overall well-being.
• Integration of mind, body, and spirit: for many people, this holistic approach offers a more comprehensive way of healing that recognizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of their being. 

Scientific researches confirm effectiveness of body-oriented therapy, particularly when working with post-traumatic disorders. For example, somatic therapy developed by Peter Levine, showed positive results in reducing symptoms of PTSD in veterans and people who experienced different forms of traumas.

Despite obvious advantages, body-oriented therapy has its own limitations. First of all, not all people are ready for direct engagement with the body, it can cause fear or discomfort. Secondly, the therapist has to have a high level of professional training and ethical standards, since physical therapy requires scrupulosity and attention.

To sum it up, body-oriented therapy is disclosing new horizons in psychotherapy, combining both psychological and physiological components. This approach allows people to understand more profoundly their innate world while working with the body. Which makes it especially convenient for people who are looking for a more integral approach to psychotherapy. With the integration of these techniques in the process of healing, clients can feel not only psychological relief but also physical alleviation, which makes body-oriented therapy an extremely effective instrument in the field of modern psychology.

By Iryna Falkivska 

iryna.falkivska01@icatt.it

Bibliography

1. Levine, Peter A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.
2. Levine, Peter A. (1997). “The Body as Healer: A Somatic Experiencing Approach to Trauma”. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 2(3), 17-23.
3. Heller, L. & LaPierre, A. (2012). Healing Developmental Trauma: How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship. North Atlantic Books.
4. van der Kolk, Bessel A. (1994). “The Body Keeps the Score: Memory & the Evolving Psychobiology of Posttraumatic Stress”. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 1(5), 253-265.
5. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. (n.d.). What is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy? https://sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org/