Abstract
The author provides an introduction to body oriented psychotherapy/somatic psychology. Historical roots, current practices and evidence base are discussed.
‘Mind is then no more than a special case of the functioning of the psyche-soma.’ (D.W. Winnicot, 1954)
BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY, also called somatic psychology, is based on the anti-Cartesian notion that a functional unity exists between mind and body. The psyche and soma are considered of equal importance for the development of psychological functioning and for intervention into psychological difficulties.
The array of therapeutic techniques may include touch, movement, physical exercises and breathing techniques. There is an emphasis within this approach on the non-verbal behaviour of both client and therapist (Westland, 2015).
The roots of this field (see Geuter, 2015; Langfield & Rellensmann, 2015) include ancient eastern philosophy, early psychoanalytic thought, dance, theatre and gestalt therapy. Perhaps the most well known contributor is Wilhelm Reich, who developed the concept of ‘character armour’ (Büntig, 2015). Reich felt that the restoration of full breathing and energy flow throughout the body was an essential component of psychological wellbeing and pioneered the use of bodywork to loosen such holding patterns.
It has been influenced and lent credence by research indicating the importance of touch and non-verbal behaviour in infant development (e.g. Downing, 2015; Trevarthen, 1979), the triune brain paradigm, particularly as it relates to the limbic system in relation to trauma (e.g. Van der Kolk, 2014), the functioning of the vagus nerve in trauma and attachment (Porges, 2009), and findings that neuropeptide receptors are found throughout the body (e.g. Pert, C, 1997).
The approach overlaps with other therapeutic approaches. Mindfulness, which does now have a broad evidence base (e.g. Khoury et al., 2013), uses somatic awareness to cultivate affect regulation and support moving from cognition towards sensory experience, also emphasised in body-oriented psychological therapy. There is overlap with dance-movement psychotherapy (Payne et al., 2016; Steckler, 2009). Eugene Gendlin (Gendlin & Hendricks-Gendlin, 2015), a student of Carl Rogers, developed ‘Focusing’, a method using somatic attention to gain affective insight, referred to as ‘the felt sense’. Body psychotherapy, however, should be distinguished from body therapies and methods that do not integrate complex psychotherapeutic, relational and cognitive processes.
The evidence base
An abundance of anecdotal evidence exists for the effectiveness of body psychotherapy, but scientific evidence is rather emergent. Some of the research would better be classed as evaluating ‘body therapy’, and not all studies are of high quality.
At present, there are studies indicating efficacy of body psychotherapy in: chronic pain (Monsen & Monsen, 2000); generalised anxiety disorder (Berg et al., 2009); depression (Röhricht et al., 2013); psychosis (Röhricht et al., 2011); trauma (Langmuir et al., 2011; Staples et al., 2011) and somatoform disorders (Nickel et al., 2006). There is some evidence (Westland, 2018) that positive therapeutic change can occur in body psychotherapy without interpretation or cognitive understanding. The heterogeneity of this field makes assessing efficacy difficult, as studies thus far have used differing methods.
Summary
In summary, body psychotherapy or somatic psychology uses techniques that affect the body, be it touch, movement and exercise, or breathing – to produce psychological change. It overlaps with other approaches. For instance, some aspects of mindfulness. The evidence base is currently emergent.
Private Practice, Edinburgh
References
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