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ass i o o ci a t i on for Body Body for on ● fall/winter 2012 fall/winter ps y cho a t t h i c Pr er a p y J a ourn x i s a l p p b a e uropean ody- sychotherapy ssociation y EABP Journal for

International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 2 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Courtenay Young,Courtenay UK. USA; Joop Valstar, Netherlands; Halko Weiss, Germany; Shahar; Israel; Maurizio Stupiggia, Italy; Jennifer Tantia, Marjorie Rand,USA;Frank Röricht,UK;AsafRolef Ben Marshall, Germany; Marc Rackelmann,Germany; McKenzie, Australia; LindaMarks, USA;Elizabeth Klisic, Serbia; René Kostka, Switzerland; USA,Narelle Inge Joachim, Germany; Rubens Kignel,Brazil; Ljiljana Regina Hochmair, Austria; Lawrence E.Hedges, USA; Grossmann, Germany; Sibylle Huerta-Krefft, Austria; Giuffra, USA;Herbert Grassmann, Germany; Margit Italy; Will Davis, France/USA; Ruella Frank, USA; Mary Barbato, Italy; Sasa Bogdanovic, Serbia; Fabio Carbonari, Christina Bader, Switzerland; Jeff Barlow, Australia; Luisa Peer Review Board: Halko Weiss, Germany; Courtenay Young, UK. Manfred Thielen, Germany; Joop Valstar, Netherlands; Frank Röhricht,Germany; Maurizio Stupiggia, Italy; Clorinda Lubrano, Greece; Gustl Marlock, Germany; Kignel, Brazil; AliceLadas,UK;Peter Levine,USA; Ulfried Geuter, Germany; Stanley Keleman, USA;Rubens George Downing, France; Lidy Evertsen, Netherlands; Switzerland; Fabio Carbonari,Italy; Will Davis, France; Germany; Marianne Bentzen, Denmark; Malcolm Brown, Netherlands; Jeff Barlow, Australia; Joachim Bauer, International AdvisoryBoard:Regina Axt, Katy Swafford. Christine Hayes, Michel Heller, Elizabeth Marshall, Robyn Burns, Nancy Eichhorn, LidyEvertsen, Editorial committee: Design/Layout: Ronald Jeans Cover illustration:Panta Rei (Eugène Brands) Cover Design: Joop Valstar, Chiel Veffer Production Team [email protected] Managing Editor: Jill van derAa [email protected] Editor:Associate Diane Cai [email protected] Editor: Jacqueline A.Carleton,PhD ongoing discussion. andpractice through related fieldsofclinicaltheory exchangeas toencourageaninterdisciplinary with research withinthefieldofbodypsychotherapy as well stimulate theexchange ofideas,scholarshipand The Journal’s promote and missionistosupport, the website www.usabp.org. for BodyPsychotherapy andcanbeordered through volumes ofwhichwere publishedby theUSAssociation It isacontinuationoftheUSABPJournal, thefirstten European AssociationforBodyPsychotherapy (EABP). Association forBodyPsychotherapy (USABP)andthe year. It isacombinedpublicationoftheUnited States is apeer-reviewed, onlinejournal,publishedtwicea The International BodyPsychotherapy Journal (IBPJ) VOLUME 11,NO. 2,2012 International BodyPsychotherapyJournal (formerly US Association forBodyPsychotherapy(formerly USAssociation Journal) The ArtandScienceofSomaticPraxis Publishers: written permissionofthepublishers. any informationstorageandretrieval system, without mechanical, includingphotocopying, recording, orby transmitted inanyformorby anymeans,electronic or Noreserved. of thisjournalmaybereproduced part or 2168-1279Copyright (c)2012USABP/EABP. Allrights Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN EABP ortheirrespective Boards ofDirectors. necessarily represent theofficialbeliefsofUSABP, the N.B. The accuracyorpremises printeddoesnot ofarticles may alsobefoundintheoriginallanguage. been acceptedforpublicationinEnglish, thefullarticle originallywritteninanotherlanguagehas If anarticle Spanish. http://www.eabp.org/publications-journal.php Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian and on theEABPwebsite inAlbanian,French, German, English language.Abstracts are ofarticles tobefound Translation TheonlineJournal ispublishedinthe the websites orcontactus. For yearly subscriptionsandprintedratespleaseconsult €4.50 article Online rates:Single current issue€12.50,Individual www.eabp.org EABP Secretariat: ChristineHayes. [email protected] Europe $5 Online rates:Single current issue$15,Individual article USABP Robyn Burns [email protected] www.usabp.org US &Canada Subscriptions, changesofaddress,advertising Editor: [email protected] Correspondence Addresses FORUM Representative: Stefan Bischof COUNCIL Representative: Elfriede Kastenberger Zimmermann, Michael Heller Ethics CommitteeRepresentatives: Ilse Schmidt Scientific CommitteeChair: Herbert Grassmann EAP Representative: Thomas Riepenhausen Treasurer:Eva Wagner-Margetich General Secretary/Vice-President: Jill van derAa President: LidyEvertsen EABP BoardofDirectors Duclos, Serge Prengel Members: Paul Briggs, Jacqueline A.Carleton,Marcel Treasurer: AnnLadd LynnSecretary: Turner Vice President: J.Giuffra Mary President: KatySwafford USABP BoardofDirectors Serbian, Sasa Bogdanovic; Spanish, David Trotzig. Portuguese, Teresa Ribeiro; Russian, Evgenia Soboleva; Petridou, Ioanna Chalalampous;Hebrew, RachelShalit; Agnes Farjon; German, Elizabeth Marshall; Greek, Sofia Abstract Translators: Albanian,Enver Cesko;French,

EABP secr USABP usabp@usabp [email protected] www.eabp.org .org www.usabp.org the principlethateverything moves,changesandtransforms allthetime(Heraclitus,Plato,Aristotle). The imageonthecover isanoilpaintingbyEugèneBrands, entitled‘EverythingStreams’.Itrefers to‘Panta rei’, PANTA REI of of B T a le volume eleven 142 132 Journey:ARetrospective ranslator’s 128 BOOK REVIEWS 24 7 ARTICLES 4 119 74 45 94 59

C David Boadella,BA,MEd. Body P A R George Downing,PhD and Methods A R In QuestofaTheoryforBodyPsychotherapy: Marcel A.DuclosMTh,MEd,LCMHC,LADC,LCS A T H Gender asaR R A CalltoR Efficiency ofPsychotherapyInvolvingAlteredStatesConsciousness: Jacqueline A.Carleton,PhD Editorial Salita S.Bryant,PhD,MF Anatomy Lesson Merete HolmBrantbjerg Hyporesponse: TheHiddenChallengeinCopingWithStress R The EverChangingConstancyofBodyPsychotherapy W In SupportOfBodyPsychotherapy Daniel J.L Nina Bull:TheW Gary Glickman,MA,LMFT Conversation) obert Hilton,PhD achel Shalit,BA o ow Psychotherapists Participate in Gendering Clients (An Experiential ill Davis eview of Michael C. Heller’s eview ofMichaelC.Heller’s BodyPsychotherapy: History,eview ofMichaelHeller’s Concepts, n sychotherapy: History, Concepts,Methods (2012) t

ewis, MPH, MA en ● econsider OurSpiritualStanceattheClinic number two number ts elational SomaticExperience: ork, LifeandLegacyofaSomaticPioneer : A ● fall/winter 2012

3 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 4 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Ladas, for example) who participated init. Ladas, forexample) whoparticipated of academicinstitutions,much ofthematerialisonlyavailable orallyfrom people(Alice about themhave disappeared. Because bodypsychotherapy hasdeveloped mainlyoutside into thefoundingfigures ofbodypsychotherapy before many ofthesources ofknowledge just inandofitself, ofresearch butasanexampleofthesort thatneeds tobeundertaken background andtheformative influencesonher research. not isofimportance Thisarticle her role asteacherandmentortoStanley Keleman. Mr. traceswhatisknown Lewis ofher of the work, lifeandlegacyofNina Bull, a pioneer insomatic studies, chiefly known for years. orforty past thirty and are ways some of applying thedata in that new were available but unanalyzed in the their senseofidentityinregard togender. Gender studiesare experiencingare-emergence ustohow withpatientsinlimiting toalert cliniciansmayunwittinglyparticipate an effort literature before describinghismethodologyandtheresults from thegroup’s experiencesin to explore therelevant theirexperienceofgender role-playing. In hesurveys hisarticle, group ofbody-centered psychotherapists familiarwithRelational Somatic Psychotherapy narrowing andspiritualexperience. gulfbetween rigorous scientificinquiry its efficiency. andpublished research, sheattemptstobridgetheUtilizing boththeory inclusion ofaltered statesofconsciousnessinthetherapyprocess may, infact, increase body psychotherapy. Drawing onresearch from diverse fields,sheconsiderswhetherthe EABP Student Thesis Award, examinespossibleroles foraltered statesofconsciousnessin publishable inthisjournal. this past August. One of thequalifications fortheawards beinaform wasthat thearticles to astudentresearch award. These were presented attheUSABPConference inBoulder and capableleadershipofJennifer Tantia, selectedrecipients ofaresearch award inaddition of itinthisvolume.) Similarly, theUSABP’s research committee,undertheenthusiastic Shalit’s is the only one presently inEnglish and we are pleased to present an abridged version professional organizationswithinEABP, selectedthewinnersofresearch awards. (Ms. in September ofthisyear. This committee,alongwithFORUM membersandof presented animpressive post-conference symposiumattheEABPCambridgeConference formedScientificCommitteeheaded The EABPhasanewly by Herbert Grassman, which their publicationhonorstherenewed interest inresearch ofbothorganizations. onthepart exploring theseandmanyotherissues. both theEABPandUSABPhave active research/scientific committeescommittedto of manypractitioners’ professional lives? Amidst thegrowing urgency oftheseissues, government agenciesandinsurancecompanieswhichtoagreat extentshapetheexistence arguments addressed: the scientific community at large, psychotherapists of all kinds, or orscientific validation? Canthetwobemarried? observation How? And,towhomare these esearch in the field of psychotherapy, of which body psychotherapy is a subset, has since its been inception. a theater of contention virtually Which has more validity: clinical The 2012USABPS W I The firstthr R n the excerpt from published herein, her dissertation Rachel Shalit, recipient of the 2012 inner ofthe2012USABPAliceLadasResearch Award, Glickman, gathered Gary afocus ee articles inthisissuewereee articles recipients ofUSABPandEABPresearch awards; tudent Research Award went toDanielforhisinvestigation J.Lewis Volume 11,No.2,2012 Editorial requirement. detailed anatomicalknowledge. It isourhopethatthispoemwillconsiderablylighten that Lesson.” Many modalitiesofbodypsychotherapy require studentstoacquire considerable we includeapoemby psychologist andpoetSalita entitledsimply “Anatomy Bryant, ultimately momentouswork. Duclos provides on the process of translatingthis often dauntingbut a commentary body psychotherapy, as leaders in points the of fieldview of contemporary and Marcel Duclos. Drs. Downing andBoadellaeachdescribeanalyze thebookfrom theirunique review isinthree sectionsandauthored by George Downing, David BoadellaandMarcel History, Concepts, Methods, translated by Marcel Duclos and published by Norton. The section ofbookreviews. We begininthisissuewithMichael Heller’s BodyPsychotherapy: motoric responses. with suchreactions by utilizingresources tocounteractthe“automatic” autonomicand also provides somesuggestionsforhelpingourselves andourpatients copemore effectively details thesubtlebodilyandemotionalreactions thatare likelytoensue. Thankfully, she prolonged stress, asmostofuswholeadactive professional lives are likelyfamiliarwith,she to how apersonisabletoenlistmuscularactivity. Callingonherown experienceswith in detailtherelationship system’s between theautonomicnervous functioninginrelation are missingfrom consciousnessinawayoftenunaccountabletotheindividual.She explores muscular systemaffectsthefunctioningofhumanorganism.Systems ofmusculature Holm Brantbjerg explores themyriadwaysthisformofbodilydissociationfrom the years.last few In “Hyporesponse – The Hidden ChallengeinCopingwithStress”, Merete (endured?) inpsychotherapy. and againtothenecessityoffindinglove andconnectioninlife,oftenfirstencountered Drawing deeplyonhisown experiencesasbothpatientandtherapist,Hilton returns again through more recent Jungian Donald KalshedandBioenergetic psychiatrist Robert Lewis. course, Lowen). He also traces it through psychoanalysts such as Winnicott, Guntrip, and explores thenature ofthetherapeuticrelationship beginningwithFreud andReich (and,of Everthis volume. Entitled “The ChangingConstancy ofBodyPsychotherapy”, theauthor keynote speech,which,withadroit editingby ourassociateeditor, Diane Cai,isincludedin in thecourseofsixmonthsbodypsychotherapy. majorchangecase studyofapatientwhosebodilyattitudeandfacialdemeanorunderwent neurology, psychoanalysis (intersubjectivity)androbotics. He concludeswithanillustrated body intoverbal andcognitive therapies.He goesontoincludethecontributionsof Analysis, cognitive psychology, selfpsychology andsocialpsychology have integratedthe registered inthebodymusculature aswell asinthemind.Davis explores how Transactional isfunctional identityofbodyandmind,theunderstandingthatpersonalhistory Psychotherapy” beginsby pointingouttwocentraltenetsof Wilhelm Reich’s work: the a paradigmshiftwithincognitive, socialandselfpsychologies. “In Support ofBody incorporated into several different schools of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, denoting Davis, in“In Support ofBodyPsychotherapy”, discusseshow thebodyisbeingnoticedand body psychotherapy isnolongeronthefringesofpsychology andpsychotherapy. Will I A And, inhonorofthesubtitle ofthisJ Lastly M n thelastissueofInternational BodyPsychotherapy Journal, we mentionedthat t thesame2012USABPConference inBoulder, Colorado,Robert Hilton gave the uch hasbeenwrittenabouttheeffectsoftraumainformongoingstress inthe , we are pleasedtointroducefeature anew tothelandscapeofthisJournal: a ournal, “The Art andScienceofSomatic Art Praxis”,ournal, “The

5 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 6 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis November, 2012 New YorkCity Jacqueline A.CarletonPhD brief, whichwe willbehappytopublishinthenextissue. we encourage a dialogue and hope you will respond with Letters tothe Editor, extended or preferences…. In thespiritofscientificpursuitthatis represented inseveral ofthearticles, produces change,leadstoward thepatient’s goals,makesadifference. patients asco-researchers. Eachdyadmustdiscover, oftenthrough trialanderror, what still persist.So, where doesthatleave usasclinicians?It withour leaves usinpartnership have attemptedtofillthe void andhave produced someinteresting studies, yet, questions is time-consumingandfraughtwithquestions.Heuristic research andgrounded theory Some modalitiesare usingfilmfortrainingpurposes,butanalysisofeven such“hard data” details canprove daunting.How couldonepsychotherapy sessioncompare withanother? happens inasinglesessionare legion.Even trackingonlyrelational oronlytechnical psychotherapists do. Very littlepsychotherapy isprotocolized, andtheelementsofwhat we needto pointoutthatsuchresearch isnotappropriate forwhatmostofusasbody become agoldstandard. But, whilemuchofpharmaceuticalresearch isalsounderfire, by thesame modelthatmedicationsare “proven” effective. Double blindstudieshave pressure onpsychotherapies toproduce “evidence” ofallsorts thattheyare effective hotly debated topicsthese days amongresearchers and clinicians alike. There iscontinued W The natur e hopeyou willenjoy thissecondissue.Better yet, letusknow your thoughts,feelings, e ofresearch andevidence,indeedeven thequestionofwhatis“scientific”, are 1 © Author andUSABP/EABP. Reprints [email protected] Volume 11,Number 2,2012pp7-23Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN2168-1279 International BodyPsychotherapy Journal TheArt andScienceofSomaticPraxis by Dr.supervised EstherRapoport. fulfillment ofgraduationfrom the was inpartial Holistic-Body Psychotherapy program at Reidman College, Israel, respects long-termprocesses andtheunknown, andwhosurrenders tothe naturalflow ofthings. between the“old” Rachelwhoispragmaticandresult-driven andthe“new” Rachelwhodeeply from myprevious professional world,well-embedded inme,andnewly-encountered concepts— the spiritual—believingIneeded tochooseoneortheother. Ialso had tointegrateconcepts separate therapeuticdomains— ontheonehand,body-orienteddomainand,other, As Iwondered aboutmyown therapeuticidentity, Ifoundmyselfhovering between two spiritual quest,accompaniedby aspiritualpsychotherapist. However,perfectionism. alongsidemyformalpsychotherapy studies, I have gone through a phase outfrom anITcareer. For years, Ihave wandered inrealms ofrationalism,realism and I aminmymid-40’s, tobeabletakemyfirst stepsasapsychotherapistI fortunate as This paperisbased ontheauthor’s thesis, whichwasthewinnerofEABP2012 Student Award. The thesis paragraph, in other instances as issues raised for further contemplation. paragraph, inotherinstancesasissuesraisedforfurther clients. The paperdiscussesthree mainsubjects: embracing thecorrespondence between thebodyandspiritholdsgreat promise for is calledfor. Moreover, asASCmayalsotriggerspiritualexperiences,itismybelief that therefore, amethodologicalexplorationoftheASCrealm ofbodypsychotherapy aspart and purposeinlife.Body-orientedtechniqueshave thepotentialtoinduceASC; may profoundly reorient anindividual’s identity, emotionalattitude,senseofwellbeing arising from research thatASC inthisfieldisdefined (1991),whoasserts well byBogart techniques thatstimulatealtered statesofconsciousness(ASC).One mainconclusion A CalltoReconsider OurSpiritualStanceatthe Clinic 3. trance, spirituality Key In italicsappearquestionsanddilemmas,insomeinstancesasanintroduction toa 2. 1. This paperdealswiththeefficiencyofpsychotherapy, wheninvolving particularly

words: bodypsychotherapy, altered statesofconsciousness(ASC),efficiency, The corr The efficiencyofpsy Alter ed statesofconsciousness—whattheyare, waysofinducingthem elation ofbodypsychotherapy withconsciousnessandspirituality Efficiency ofPsychotherapyInvolving Altered StatesofConsciousness: Received 23May 2012;acceptedSeptember 2012 chotherapy My Personal Journey Rachel Shalit, BA Abstract

EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY 1

7 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 8 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis RACHEL SHALIT Consciousness are theybrought aboutandwhatare theirconsequences? What isconsciousness—whatare thestatesofconsciousnessandwhatare thealtered ones?How ensemble. rebel, toexperiencemyselfwholly, intoatrue Ihadtofindawayconnectalltheseparts within me,askingtobeheard andpleadingforreconciliation. Within theframeofmyinner When Ilookatitnow, from a moderatedistance,Irealize thattheseelementswere confused hyper-suggestibility (Kokoszka, 2007). meaning orsignificanceofthings, asenseofineffability, feelings ofrejuvenation and emotional expression, change inthe changeinbodyimage,perceptual distortions, states: alterationsinthinking, disturbedsenseoftime,losscontrol, changein consciousness”. Ludwig (1966)listedthefollowing characteristicsofthealtered waking generalnormsforthatindividualduringalert functioning from certain as representing asufficientdeviationinsubjective experienceorpsychological subjectively by theindividualhimself(orbyof individual) anobjective observer psychological, orpharmacologicalmaneuvers oragents,whichmayberecognized 225) as“any mentalstate(s)ofconsciousness, inducedby various physiological, are considered unusualbutnotabnormal.ASCwere definedby Ludwig (1966,p. and isstillthemostpopularnotionusedtodescribe statesofconsciousnessthat consciousness, andonethathasabeginning,middle, and end. change inthinking,feeling,andperception, inrelation stateof totheordinary ‘altered statesofconsciousness’ (ASC). as ‘non-ordinary statesofconsciousness’ (NOSC)andinthescientificliterature as levels ofbrainwaves. levelsThe non-ordinary are referred to in somespiritualwritings Altered States ofConsciousness Nader Butto (2008): the literature. From themanydefinitionsstill currently incirculation, thefollowing is by B The conceptofaltered statesofconsciousness wasintroduced by Ludwig (1966) Metzner (1995,inPeres, Simão, &Nasello, 2007)definesASCasatemporary Consciousness isexperiencedinvarious states,whichcanbetracedasdifferent aruss (1987,inKokoszka,aruss 2007)hasfound20different definitionsofconsciousness in confused, overly sympatheticandsoforth. ratherthanhavingthepossibilityofbeingcreative,distorted, thatpersonfeelsworried, of thepsyche isthehumansoul’s energeticsource. When aperson’s consciousnessis them, tobegenerous, aware ofothers’ needs,anddevelop empathyforthem. This part intentions. It ofusthatenablestolookdeeplyatothersandunderstand isthepart ofusthatisresponsibleConsciousness isthepart forthoughts,awareness and Altered States ofConsciousness(ASC) • • • • • (Vaitlspecific diet,sleepdeprivation andnear-deathexperiences etal.,2005). (pressure, temperature) mayalsotriggerASC,aswell assexualactivity, a orgasm,starvation, states just before fallingasleep, sleep and dreaming. Extreme environmental conditions consciousness are transientinnature, andinclude:drowsiness, daydreaming, hypnagogic fluctuations,intherangeofseconds. may changethroughout thedayinshorter States of throughout development— fromto childhood to adulthood. One’s birth state of consciousness of consciousnesstoanotherover time.For example,one’s stateofconsciousnesschanges Triggering ASC

the pulsationandaliveness ofthecosmos. non-thinking andpulsatingaliveness withinusisanexcellent principleof bridgeintothevery oftheinfinite-being.a moment,feelingthesenseofbeinganinseparablepart a The focuson themeditatorinfollowingthis couldsupport hisbreath andsurrendering toitsflow and,for the underlyingconnectednessandunityofenergyfieldthat we are of. allapart In turn, the ocean.It maytherefore remind themeditatorofoceanicfeelingthatwe allpossess, proposes thattherhythmandflow ofbreathingof couldbelikened totherhythmandflow cosmos’ energy, likeadrop intheocean,Rolef Ben-Shahar (2011andpersonalcommunication) as citedinRolef Ben-Shahar, 2010).Following theideathatpeopleare ofthe anintegralpart led toexperiencesresembling descriptionsofashaman’s journey. beats,which theta EEGactivitywhilethesubjectwaslisteningtorhythmicmonotonousdrum in Becker-Blease, 2004).Maxfield (1990,ascitedin Vaitl etal.,2005) recorded anincrease in across theworld.In manycultures, trancestatesare tiedtospiritualexperiences(Cousins,2002 increase infrequency to40Hzwaves across largeareas ofthebrain(Zohar &Marshall, 2000). Duringalertness. deeperstages,whenthemindmightbeopentospecial,deepinsights,brainwaves first stages of meditation the predominant brainwaves are alpha waves (7–13 Hz), as suits relaxed the electricalactivityinbrainsofmeditationpractitioners.Research shows thatduringthe mental activity(Vaitl etal.,2005).Avast amountofresearch inregard hasbeenundertaken to focus onnon-analyticalactivity. There degrees are of manytypesofmeditation,withvarying arousal (Vaitlcortical etal.,2005). response hasbeenshown tobeaccompaniedby changesinEEGreadings thatindicatereduced muscle relaxation, biofeedback,andmeditative practices.Neurophysiologically, therelaxation The clinicallyestablishedandcommonlyappliedmethodsforbodyrelaxation are progressive There are several known waystoinduceASC,suchas: ASC are naturallyoccurringphenomena.People spontaneouslyshiftfrom onestate loosening oropening” (Leary, Metzner, 1995). &Alpert, psychedelics. They were described byHofmann, Albert who synthesized LSD, as “psychic of consciousness. Mystical and spiritual experiences can and often do occur with the use of methylamphetamine) are usedtoaccesstranscendent,religious ortranspersonaldimensions MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) andMDMA(3,4-methylenedioxy-N- psychiatric suchasLSD(lysergicaciddiethylamide), literature substances) drugs forcertain Aldous Huxley, meaning“mind-manifesting”) or‘hallucinogenic’ (atermmostoftenused in P B M M R sychedelic/Hallucinogenic –‘Psychedelic’ Drugs (atermcoinedby Humphrey Osmond and elaxation Techniques – There isawiderangeoftechniquesforinducingrelaxation andASC. reathing – The simplestformsofmeditationinvolve attendingtoourbreaths (Smith, 1985, usic andDance –Music anddancehave beenassociatedwithASCforhundreds ofyears and editation –Meditation refers toagroup oftechniqueswhichinvolve anattempttoconcentrate EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY

9 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 10 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis RACHEL SHALIT ASC maybea way ofintegratingspirituality andreligiosity withpsychotherapy inorder to can alsobeseenaspsychologically healingpractices. altered statesofconsciousnessare oftenconsidered spiritualhealingpractices.However, they without exception, sacred states” (p. 101,ascitedin Thomason, 2010).Practices thatinduce institutionalized altered statesofconsciousness,andintraditionalsocietiesthese are, almost According to Walsh (1996),“fully 90%oftheworld’s cultures make useofoneormore 2010). Shamanism may be 25,000 years old (Walsh, 1990 as cited in Thomason, 2010). entities inorder tohealpeoplewhoare illordistressed (Eliade, 1964,ascitedin Thomason, which practitionersvoluntarily enteraltered states ofconsciousness,interactingwithspiritual Shamanism, thetraditionalhealingintribalsocieties,includesaclusteroftraditions in Spiritual Experience During ASC therefore the neurological basisforspiritualintelligence(Zohar &Marshall, 2000). Researchers concludethatthesewaves are theneurological basisforconsciousnessitself and communication andcoordination ofcognitive andintellectualprocessing across thebrain. ordinary’ or‘altered’ states. • • • • • (Zohar &Marshall, 2000): electro-magnetic frequencies. Brain Activity During ASC

Walach etal.(2005,ascited inPeres, Simão, & Nasello, 2007)suggest thattheuseof Tribal societieshave usedASCaspathwaytospiritualexperiencesforthousandsofyears. 40 Hzbrainwaves canbefoundthroughout thebrainandare responsible forthe Beta brainwaves are considered tobe‘ordinary’ while therest are considered tobe‘non- G B Alpha (7–13Hz) years old Theta D The following isalistoffrequencies andtheoccurrences duringwhichtheywere observed Using electroencephalography (EEG),scientistsfoundthatthebrainexperiencesvarious eta (13–30Hz) amma (~40Hz) elta (0.5 – 3.5 Hz) 3.5 – (0.5 elta (5.5 - 7 Hz)

- - O - O - O - O Typical toaconsciousmind,duringwakefulnessordreaming bserved duringdeepsleeporcoma,frequent inthebabybserved brain bserved duringmentalactivity,bserved whileoneconcentrates duringrelaxedbserved alertness bserved duringdeepsleep,bserved frequent inchildren atage3-6

http://www.doctorhugo.org/brainwaves/brainwaves.html Figure 1:Brain Frequencies Diagram, from with theresults oftheir psychotherapy and feltthattheysignificantly benefited from it. (primarily psychodynamic therapy). The study indicated thatthemajorityof clients were content questionnaire by about 3,000 people in the US who have gone through mainstream psychotherapy therapy durationisoftenprolonged. is nogiven withmore protocol, clientsoftenstruggle thanonechallenge(multi-factorial),andthe given problem. Such research are undertakings notrepresentative ofreal-life therapy, where there therapeuticmethodwithanotherfora have beenconducted,mostofthemcomparing acertain possibletherapies.Many theshortest as well studies asinsurancecompaniesseekingtosupport Psychotherapy Effectiveness –Research Results relief andhealingtobeachieved, theextentof changeanditspersistenceover time. define theefficiencyofpsychotherapy? objective orsubjective? Can somebody’s lifebetreated asanevidence-based factor?How dowe measured? Once dealing withwellness and not pathologicalbehaviors,shallthemeasurement be When thinkingofmeasuringtheefficiencypsychotherapy, manyquestions arise: Can itbe of resolution, acceptanceandinnergrowth. lasting change,withevidentresults. To achieve that, we need a deepandgenerative process to achieve anauthenticandefficienttherapeuticprocess, onethatenablesthepursuitof I believe itisourdutyastherapiststoensure we have atourdisposalthebestmethods acute situationinwhichthey, aswell astheirsurroundings, exhibitgreat painanddifficulty. Why isefficiencyofpsychotherapy important? it? Is spiritualpractice beyond theboundsofourclinic? Do weshort? allow ourselves tobeengagedinextraordinary experiences? Will we beabletohandle originally aimedfor? What isourpositioninsuchcases?How oftendowe usegrounding tocutit What shouldbeourreaction whenaclient’s experience isfarstronger thantherelaxation we experiences andrealms. ASC. It tonotethatby inducingASC,ourclientsmaybesubjecttounusual isimportant (relaxation, meditation,touch,deeptissuemassage,musicanddance)mayeasilyinduce Cunningham, 2011). in whichtheuniverse isperceived asharmoniousandunified(Hastings, 1991,ascitedin experiences’. A‘peak experience’, whichmayoccurduringASC,isdefinedasanexperience experience andcreates asenseofone-nesswiththeuniverse. as citedinKokoszka, 2007)defines itasalevel ofmentalactivitythattranscendsallhuman perceived to occur duringreligious practices in other, non-Western cultures. Dean (1973, liberation from psychological, social and biological constraints. These mystical states are assist personswhosebeliefsystemsandvalues are alignedwiththe‘subjective instance’. The mostextensive “real life”, by ConsumerReport, undertaken wasanswered viaInternet Therapy effectiveness hasbeenasubjectofgreat interest fortherapists,researchers and clients, forasenseofI suggestthattherapyefficiencywillbemeasured by thetimenecessary In mostcases,clientscometotherapyduesufferingintheirlives. Some ofthemfacean In summary, bodywork and many techniques used duringbody-psychotherapy sessions The senseof‘one-ness’ hasbeencoinedby Maslow (1964inCunningham, 2011)as‘peak Kokozka (2007)mentionsthat masterscharacterize higherstatesofconsciousnessasa How Efficient isthe Psychotherapy? EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY 11 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 12 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis and laypersons. Asafunctionofthisinterest, there hasbeen animpressive riseinthenumber across investigations. (p. 104) psychologies. We absenceofshared avirtual measures have observed and/ormethodologies andvaluesconsistent withtheunderlying worldview promoted by third andfourth-force been advanced, providing greater accessibilitytothelived worldofexperience, beingmore complexity, andoftenineffabilityofsubjective humanexperience. With time, methodshave on thegrounds thattheyare reductionist andunable todojusticetheinherent richness, objective tests, formalized assessment, and conventional empiricalresearch methodologies quantitative assessmentasrelated tospirituality andhumanistic/transpersonalpsychology: Measurement Status andmeasured. observed energy, stateofhealth,emotionalwelfare andpersonallife,cantherefore bequestioned, to joy, from complainttogratitude,from lonelinesstounion. These are all-evidentinone’s one, helpingonetransformfeelingsoffeartothoselove, from despairtofaith,from pain research, shallalsobeapplicabletothespiritualworld.Areal spiritualprocess isahealing transcendent ofthenon-spiritualworld experiences.Do therules alsoapplyinthesecasesaswell? this pragmatic approach facesachallengewhendealingwithtechniquesthatinvitethepatientto thereAssuming is an objective method to measuring the efficiency ofpsychotherapy, itseems as if thus, promoted apositive change. rejections oftherapeuticsteps.It ismybeliefthatthisallowed consciousnesstoexpandand, the therapeuticsessionenableddeeperwork andhelpedbypass somerationalizationsand client ofpsychotherapy, Icametobelieve thatbeinginameditative, relaxed stateduring consciousness isamajorpointofinterest tome.Following mypersonalexperienceasa Psychotherapy Efficiency andAltered States ofConsciousness RACHEL SHALIT educated andpredominantly middleclass,abouthalfwere women,andthemedianagewas46. (22%), socialworkers (14%),andmarriagecounselors(9%). The respondents were highly 1995): In recent years, interest in spiritualityhasbeenincreasing among scientists,practitioners In general,humanisticandtranspersonalpsychologies have eschewedtheuseof MacDonald &Freidman (2002)suggestedthefollowing regarding thestatusof I propose apragmaticandgrounded approach: precise evaluation, thebasicmeansof The correlation between theefficiencyofpsychotherapy andaltered statesof • Results: 2,900 individualsmetwithmentalhealthprofessionals: psychologists (37%),psychiatrists The following dataare thereport’s demographicdetailsandrelevant results (Seligman, •

1982; Smith, Miller, &Glass, 1980). converge withmeta-analysesofefficacy(Lipsey& Wilson, 1993; Shapiro & Shapiro, good,oratleastso-soby thetimeofsurvey.92% feltvery These findings the timeofsurvey. Of the786peoplewhowere feelingfairlypoorly attheoutset, poorly when they began therapy,very good, good, or at least so-so by 87% felt very A a lotbetterfollowing therapy T reatment by mentalhealthprofessionals usually worked. Most respondents managed veraged over allthementalhealthprofessions, ofthe426peoplewhowere feeling can bedrawnfrom completedresearch. The following are ofthoseconclusions: afew enhanced withinformeduseofASC. of defenses. The following paragraphsuggeststhatourwork andclients’ processes mightbe been strongly woven intoone’s mindandbody, andhave becomewell protected behindwalls What isthecontributionofASCtopsychotherapeutic efficiency? ASC Psychotherapy Effectiveness –Research Results I canonlyjointhiscalling. effectiveness oftheirwork totheirclients,profession, andtheirscience.(p. 106) attemptsatbeingaccountableforthequalityandare notmakingsatisfactory relative tothelargerpsychological andscientificcommunity, since…practitioners psychological practicecanbeseenasbeinginanincreasingly defenselessposition andassociatedpractices,[humanisticand]transpersonalusefulness of[relevant] theory forefront ofspiritualityandconsciousnessstudies.(pp. 122-123) tohaveand makestrong humanisticandtranspersonalpsychology efforts placedbackinthe sincere hopethatinvestigators takeheedoftheargumentsandinformationpresented here due totheirlackofcommitmentrecognized psychological research methods.It isour these psychologies are becomingmarginalized andeven excluded from scientificdevelopments aleadingrole,transpersonal psychologywhatinfactishappeningthat shouldbeserving ideas once taboo in empirical traditions, a time where one would assume that humanistic/ of studies appearing in the literature. However, in thisage of acceptance and exploration of • Although notsystematicallyandscientificallyproven conclusions yet, someimportant As therapists,we know how difficultitistochangeone’s conceptsandbeliefs,whichhave Without significant energybeingdirected at demonstratingthe validity and • • •

self thatconventional psychotherapy seeksmerely 1991). tomodify(Bogart, experiences ofaspaciousness beyond the cognitiveofthe structures andconstructs ultimate goalofmeditationis toevoke thehigherpotentialsofconsciousnessand emotional attitude, and sense ofwell-being and purpose in life. In most systems, the states ofconsciousness,meditation mayprofoundly reorient anindividual’s identity, increased introspection andself-regulation. Through itscapacitytoawaken altered & Scotton,1999inPeres, Simão, &Nasello, 2007). an effectivepatternsofthinking,feeling andbehaving(Kasprow toolforformingnew Several researchers showed thatusingASCintheperception ofmentalimagesmaybe demonstrating thatexperienceofsuchstateshasinfluenced changesinbehavior. cited inPeres, Simão, &Nasello, 2007),studiedASCanditsuseinpsychotherapy, Peres, Simão, &Nasello, 2007). overcoming difficultiesandsufferinginthepsychological ambit(Dietrich, 2003in morephenomenon, andsotonew favorable emotionalstatesforcopingwithor positive ways. spontaneous recall oftraumaticmemories,andcanalsohelpreframe them inmore states ofconsciousnessintherapyishighlyrelevant and asitpromotes bothvoluntary M T D P eres, Simão &Nasello (2007,inRodrigues, thattheuseofmodified 2010)assert art etal. (1990,ascitedinPeres,art Simão, &Nasello, 2007)andMetzner (1995,as ifferent perceptions statesofconsciousnessmay leadtonew ofthesame editation bringsaboutcognitive shiftsthat canbetranslatedtobehavioralchanges, EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY

13 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 14 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis RACHEL SHALIT research whichuntilrecently identifiedconsciousnesswiththebrain. ofthispaper?Why isthebodyabsentfrom majorparts the intuitionandvast knowledge, whicharisewhenfocusingonbodilysensations. wisdom, acknowledging the role it plays in mental andemotional processes, and trusting –MindBody –Spirit to modifyitscognitive schemas,itsmentalorganizingsystem. obsessions andtraumasby thepower oftheirthoughts.Neural plasticityisthebrain’s ability people were abletore-structure theneurological web intheirbrains,thushealingfrom Itself, Norman Doidge (2007)explainedtheideaofneuroplasticity anddemonstratedhow during infancyandchildhoodbutalsoadulthood.In hisbook The Brain That Changes ofone’sengraved asapart personality. capability to change structure throughout life, allowing ideas and perceptions new to be In suchterms,then,‘ego receptivity’ might becultivated by ASC, perhapsby thebrain’s Nash, 1997,p.248, ascitedinRolef Ben-Shahar, 2010). to experientiallearningarisingbothfrom withinone’s selfandfrom outside” (Fromm & of ourgeneralreality orientationtothebackground, therefore allowing forgreater openness How canthecontributionofASCtopsychotherapy efficiencybeexplained? The Flexible Mind • The following sectionpresents aboutconsciousness: awiderview The inclination of this paper is towards the brain, as it is referring to scientific As abodypsychotherapist, Iamagreat believer inthebody, initsintelligenceand • Doidge wrote: Recent research showed thatthe brain hasthecapabilitytochangestructure notonly Neuropsychology attemptstotracktheneurobiological aspectsofpsychological changes. We may say that ASC promote ego receptivity, a term defined by Erika Fromm as “fading • • Findings thatlong-lastingimmanentchangecanbeachieved. such as thesemayascertain •

aware of, asbeingthought of. The bodyisanobjectofemotion,consciousness F or ‘reenact’ them,especiallyiftheywere traumatic.(pp. 229-230) explicit memories, sometimes for the first time, and patientsno longer need to ‘relive’ plastically re-transcribeproceduralthese consciousthey become so that memories, words and into context, so they can better understand them. In the process they Analysis inachangingworldby changingitself.survives far tohelpusperceive andtakeintheworldaround us.It hasgiven usabrainthat The brainisafarmor .(בןשלמ,the mid-1980s” (p. 9).He explainedthatwhileitwas previously further assumed wisdom isundeniably real—a factthatmedical researchers began toacceptin D that happenstothehumanbody ispreviously encodedinthepsyche. differing intheirvibrations. High vibrationsincludethe lower ones,soeverything body, mind andsoulare different expressions ofthesame energy(orgone),while B and thought(1996 or the medieval philosopher Spinoza, the mind is the body as sensed, as being expresses Reich’s position offunctionalidentity, i.e. that(בוטו,utto (2008 eepak Chopra(2004)reiterated: ”Althoughcompletelyinvisible, thebody’s helps patients put their unconscious procedural memories and actions into Body Psychotherapy,Body ConsciousnessandSpirituality e opensystemthanwe ever imagined,andnature hasgonevery proactive andconscioususeofASC: or aphraseisenoughtoput many peopleintoalighttrance” (1999,p. 92). says, “Simply closingone’s ofone’s eyes or paying attentiontoapart body, amentalimage transpersonal modalityinvolving it isnotalwaysnecessary. ASC; nevertheless, As Woolger and transpersonalpsychotherapy. Stanislav Grof’sHolotropic Breathwork istheleading Body Psychotherapy utilizingASCtechniques body psychotherapy iscalledfor. It ismybeliefthatamethodologicalexplorationofaltered statesof consciousnessin and skillsinbodypsychotherapy involve theuseoftrance-likestates(Ben-Shahar, 2008). forms ofASC,whetherinducedformallyoroccurringspontaneously. Many techniques believe we cannot. we embrace ASC? What isthelossinnotdoing so? ASC, otherthanbeingabletoapplygrounding techniques?And ifnot,shouldwe be?Shall Are we, asbodypsychotherapists, well andsufficientlytrained enoughinformed todealwith Shall we Embrace ASC? The following are body-oriented psychotherapy a few modalities which make a ASC-related methodsare commonlyidentified with Jungian analysis,hypnosistherapy Rolef Ben-Shahar (2008)writesthatallaffect-basedpsychotherapies incorporate The pressing question is whether we can afford to bypass process; this important I • • • • • • This papercontendsthat: •

process that might have otherwise commenced.process thatmighthave otherwise astonished, there isapotentialrisk ofshuttingoffadelicateanddeeplycuring potential therapeutic expedition. If the client’s experience is to find the therapist Conversely, we maybeinsecure duringsuchanencounterandthushindera aware oftheiroccurrences andimplications,thusprepared fortheirpresence. spiritual experiences)underdifferent realms of consciousness, we should be better S ASC ar attached. ASC ASC pr ASC ar ASC ar of thecerebral canbeseenasthebestmodelofuniverse. cortex, thinking by aboutamillionyears. Their wisdom,more ancientthan thewisdom an intelligenceintheimmuneanddigestive systems.Actually, cellsprecede our that intelligenceisauniqueattributeofthebrain,recent evidencehasindicated Each stateofconsciousnesshasacorr I so thatconsciousnessisnever merely disembodied.(p. 1) byis simply that eachstate of consciousness is supported a corresponding body, (using “mind” broadest senseas“consciousness”). inthevery pointThe important can speakofthegross bodymind,thesubtleandcausalbodymind energies “support” thecorresponding mindorconsciousnessstates.In asense,we subtleenergy(or“wind”),types ofgross, subtle,andvery andthesebodiesor n hisuniquelydecisive style,Ken Wilber (2011),elucidates: ince we may, andactuallydoencounterourclients(who,ostensibly, undergo constitute a neutral modality, ideas or conceptions with no particular e regularly triggered inbodywork. worldbye akeyaspecttoanexplorationofwholenew theclient. accessible,andare actuallycommonlyarounde very us. omote profound changesinperception, personality, emotionsandmore. esponding bodythatis“made” ofvarious EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY 15 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 16 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis succeeded instaying attentive withthebodilyexperience ‘here andnow’. minutes (longerthanplanned, encouragedby theclient’s surrendering), whiletheclient discourse. Unlike anyprevious focusingortouchexperiences, this process lastedfor45 I usedaffirmationsrelated tointerpersonalaspects,whilerefraining from emotional held herpalm.Ireflected onthechangestakingplaceinherbreath andrest ofthebody. disliked anddefinedby heras“tacky“. therapeutic relationship Emotional expressions andtrust. anddialogueswere also devaluated andreferred toas“functional” touch,inspiteofthegood or“pain relief” to asenseofsadnessandmilddepression; experiencesofbodywork intherapywere and pleasure were not toleratedandusuallytriggered afreezing reaction. relationship. Although theclientlongedtofeelmagicoftouchandorgasm, ofanintimatethe capacitytofocusonsomaticsensationsandtolerate touchaspart the ‘Minimal Cue’ method.In thiscase,ASCwere usedtohelptheclientdevelop ‘Minimal Cue’ —Excerpt From a Therapy Session RACHEL SHALIT I believe keyelementsenabled myclienttosustaintheexperience: the thatafew During theapplicationof‘Minimal Cue’, reclining, theclientwascomfortably asI Previous anddistress, experiencesoffocusingcausedtheclientdiscomfort leading The following accountfrom atherapysessionisanexampleofASCinductionusing • • inimal Cue’ hypnoticprocess —where physicalcuessuchasblinking, •

a transformationofconsciousnessatthecore ofbeing(IBPInstitute, 2012). Bioenergetics andtranspersonalpsychology amongotherpractices.It aimstofacilitate spirit, by unifyingvaried approaches, includingpsychoanalysis, Reichian therapy, withthebodyandphysicalenvironment (McIntosh, 1979). of ‘self’ stages istoleadtheclientintoastateof“blankmind” andreduce hisassociation alternate from light to dark and back to light several times. The purpose of these stage, theclientisrequested tofeelsuspendedinspace,whilehissur¬roundings In thethird stage,theclientisrequired tovividlyvisualize ascene.In thefourth client tosensehisbodyasafluidsubstance,free from normalphysicalrestraints. expanding outwards inalldirections, likeaninflatedballoon;itmayassistthe his feetandheadstretching andshrinkingthenaskedtovisualize hisbody foot andforehead massages.In thesecondstageclientisrequested tovisualize profound ASCexperiences.It consistsoffive stages:In thefirst,clientisgiven Mind: theChristosExperience involved body-mindwork andattemptedtocreate the techniquewhichwasintroduced by G.MGlaskin inhisnovel Windows ofthe ANS functionsisimmense(Rolef Ben-Shahar, 2002). correlating withalphabrainwave rhythms. The healingpotentialofcontrolling branch oftheANSpredominates, withevidentphysiologicalsignsofrelaxation, parasympathetic branch). When aclientrelaxes intoatrance,theparasympathetic in arousal, tensionandstress (thesympatheticbranch)andinrelaxation (the system(ANS),whichplaysamajorrolemediated by theautonomicnervous trance. The responses describedtotheclientare mostlysomaticorsemiconscious, client, eitherverbally ornon-verbally, facilitatingaprofound innerfocus,a breathing, twitchingoranythingthathappensnaturallyare conveyed tothe I The ‘Christos ‘M ntegrative BodyPsychotherapy (IBP)—integratesthebody, mind,emotionsand ’ Procedure —thoughnotdeveloped inthe psychotherapy arena, ‘Minimal Cue’: of ourpalmsandthedeparture from theintimate sacred spacecreated between us. bodily sensation,followed by alongstagedevoted totheseparationact— and shesucceededintoleratingenjoying thesituation. to trackbodilysensationssolelyby herself. My active presence helpedherfeelsecure, In addition,myreflections fulfilledamediatingrole, bridgingacross theclient’s inability fact thatthetouchhadaspokencomponentandtherefore wasperceived as“legitimate”. altered/more suggestive state ofconsciousness,thesimpleandstablestatictouch, Body PsychotherapyBody andSpiritual Experiences this framework. attachment aspectsthatwillnotbediscussedinprocess alsoincludedhighlyimportant system, changingtheneurological adeepchange. webnervous andbringingforth The complete experience,infull awareness, hasagreater chanceofimmersingitselfinthe experienced withinarelaxed, consciousnessstate.Ibelieve non-ordinary thatsucha and verbalization withinanintimate-relationship context.It wasapositive experience, to herhabitualfreeze. swollen andmoisturized, indicatinganexpansioninherphysiology; areaction opposite - The following excerpt isashort demonstratingthemethodofinducingASCthrough The presented process includedthree spontaneousstagesofdeepeningintoASCand If we acceptthepotentiallink between statesofconsciousness and theextent In summary, theexperience included:bodilysensationawareness, therapistreflection As theprocess ended,theclient’s eyes were shiny, hernostrilswidened,lips - Her bellypuffsup, therelaxation deepens,theeyeballs move likeinREMsleep. - The client’s fingers loosentheir hold, the breath is quiet,hereyelids move and spread - - - - -

connection isenabledinadeepersensethanever.” sure anymore where theboundariesofmyhandendandwhere Our yours start. blood that becomes a jointblood,one cell associating with another cell. I am not with anotherbodyandshare anintimate space. Through ourpalmsbloodflows, in completerelief. The mindis somewhere elseandthebodyisallowed tobe without talking,justasimplebeing.Our palmsresting together, withnoeffort, and you are safewithme.Letmebeyou whileyou are inarelaxed state.” slightly.apart it’s possibletorelax intoit.” heavily resting.” space. Your blinking isbecomingfaster.” embryo heartbeat,”embryo twitching inyour thumbmuscle.” Therapist ( T T T T Client: ”Iactuallyfeeltensioninmyey T Client concentratingonthesensationinherpalm:“N : “The situationisniceandcozy,: “The releasing. It feelsnaturaltobewithsomeone : “Allow yourself toletgointothistouch,ourrelationship. I’m withyou : “Our handsare together, withasteadywarmth.It’s touch,therefore atrusted : “You are welcome torelax even more… Your breath quieted,your bodyis : ”There is some tension and slight shivering in your jaw. Your eyes gaze into T): “WeT): are in eye contact,your fingers hold mine tightly…Ifeel a es”, andthenshutshereyes. EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY ow Icanfeelit.It’s likean 17 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 18 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis RACHEL SHALIT research. Devil thatheconceptualized (1973),depicting aholisticspiritualworldview from his What didReich sayaboutit? be separated from theirpsychological growth andwell-being? How dowe therefore positionourselves towards thisneedofourclients,awhichcannot western culture isyet unable toprovide” (p.10). oriented counseling,incorporatingdimensionsofspirituality. Something our‘civilized’ we generallythink. The majorityisinneedofalongitudinalnon-pathologizinggrowth- thefactthatthisprocess ismuchmoresupport commoninthegeneralpopulationthan growthof therapy:“The requests forspirituallycompetenttherapyandcounseling 9-10). Louchakova alsoreferred totheincreasing aspart demandforspiritualsupport (pp. attitudes andcharacterstructure. It istheoverall life-longchangeintheself” embodied awareness, changes in perception, self-awareness, self-identification, values, stage-specific correlations ofindividuation, religious/spiritual experiences,modalitiesof consists ofaslow, gradual,life-longprocess ofpsycho-spiritual transformation,involving psychological,accompanied byandeven necessary physicalchanges. Acompletepicture of 15years”, whichshows thatspiritualexperiences donotstandisolated. They are growth are amorphousby nature, andtherefore cannotbeclearly defined. reached. Iwouldliketosuggestthatboundariesbetween psychotherapy andspiritual intodomainswhichare notcontinually as anexpansionoftheidea“knowing thyself” relief.true Transcendent experiences, which are experienced naturally, can be referred to the issuesthatclientsfaceare existentialinnature, spiritualideasand growth mayoffera be reached unlesssomespiritualgrowth hasbeenachieved. Furthermore, sincesomeof Psychotherapy andSpiritual Growth body-centered methods. psychotherapy inaddressing spiritualawakeningsthatmaytakeplaceinthecontextof various ontological spheres. may realize thatbody-orientedpsychotherapy triggersspiritualexperiencesand“touches” which are beyond time,spaceorego,andthatASCare agatetospiritualrealms, thenwe the body-orientedtherapeuticmethodsmayinduceASC,thatASCpromote experiences may connectustouniversal consciousness.If we acknowledge thatmanyof theassertion consciousness thatexistsinthebody’s cells,we mayalsoacceptthenotionthatbody of openness to the influence of spiritualpowers, as well as the ideaof intelligence/ The following are citationsby afew Wilhelm Reich from hisbookEther, God and Louchakova (2004)reported research on“more than500informantsover theperiod It is my understanding that some levels of well-being ofour souls cannot and parts An unexaminedassumptionofaspirit–bodydualismmaysimilarlylimitbody In thetranspersonalfield,there inherent isamajordiscomfort intheabsenceofbody: human subject.(Louchakova &Lucas, 2007,p. 6) of the 2007) needs to be grounded(as in Cortright, in the transpersonal theory studying human consciousness. The welcome departure from dualistic thinking spiritual awakening,andprevents adialoguebetween thisdisciplineandothers psychology in addressing psychosomatic conflicts that frequently take placein The unexaminedassumptionofamind-bodydualismlimitstranspersonal

religious ideas: terms, butratherdares tocorrelate spiritual/ hisscientificfindingswithcertain body psychotherapy. of limits.”Aquestion tobeaskedishow muchofhiswork isyet outsideofthe limitsof himself expelled.Reich (1973,p. wantingto,Ifoundmyselfoutside 6) wrote, “Without a functionalidentityandare aunitedandcoherent functionalsystem,buthefound spiritual concepts.According tohisparadigm and research, Body-Mind-Soul share instincts to bio-energetic functions, and from bio-energetic functions to physical. (p. 169) disclosing thetransitionsfrom reasoning toemotions,from emotionstoinstincts, from and “universe”. Orgonomy hascontributedsomemajorinsightsintothisriddleby is actuallyalongingforthesublime—whatexistedbefore man—theUniversal Spirit: to thesublime,God: longbeforeEarth thefirstsatellitephotos confirmedit. also statedthatReich wrote aboutan“envelope” ofblue-glowing energysurrounding the mountain ranges,aswell asexistinginafree formwithintheatmosphere. DeMeo (1998) a blue-glowing aura-likephenomenonradiatingfrom animalsandpeople,from trees and other substances. The bluish-glowing energy, namedorgoneenergy, as waslaterobserved inthe microscope asa bluish-glowingbe observed fieldaround living blood cells and powerful bioenergeticforce— aformoflife-energywithinlivingorganisms,whichcan at firstappeared tobeonly“bioelectricity” waslaterclarifiedby Reich asamuchmore emotion, sexualexcitation andorgasticdischargewere measurablephenomena. What Reich, thescientist,doesnotconcealhisontologicalconclusionsbehindscientific Reich cameupwithfunctionalandsystematic explanationsfortranscendentand Mere reasoning seemedtohave corroborated suchcloseinterrelation between “mind” Reich alsodealswiththeimpactsofmindonphysicaloccurrences: Reich clearlystatesthatthebodyandspiritare one,andthattheorgasmiclonging Reich theconceptthatlife-force energyactuallyhasadirect specificallyasserts link DeMeo (1998)explainedthatReich’s bioelectricalexperimentsproved thathuman “God”, the“creator”. (p. 179) genital embrace is profoundly expressed in the belief in a “universal spirit”, in and includestheorgasticdischarge:SUPERIMPOSITION. The longingforthe longing inpuberty, etc.,seemsdirected towards abasicfunctionthatprecedes of man,includingallitsdisguisedexpressions suchasmysticalecstasy, cosmic cosmic functions.…It waspointedoutandemphasized thattheorgasticlonging O O N I creator oftheuniverse, with‘God’. (p. 174) world spirit;itrepresented inmore orlesscleartermsman’s connectionwiththe cries and laughs and loves and hates appeared to be connected with an immaterial As isw its origin.(p. 167) organism anditscosmicenvironment, whichofnecessity, isandalwayshasbeen of pulsesintheatmosphere... There isnolongeranybarrierbetween ahuman bio-energy andtheastrophysical realms. (p. 166) crossed, or ratherwipedawayby orgoneresearch. (p. 170) t hasbeensuggestedthatman’s orgasticlongingissomehow pointingtowards ow, theboundariesseparatingreligious beliefandpure reasoning have been ne can easily switch over from pulses in the living organism to the same type rgonomic research had broken down completely the boundaries between the ell known, thespirit,soul,‘something’ withinmanthatfeelsand EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY 19 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 20 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis RACHEL SHALIT body imageor sexuality. For totake place,several conditionsare thistypeofsurfacing inasimilarway toanyotherissuethatis brought up intheclinic,suchasone’ssurface, stages. However, theideapresented here istoenablespiritualmaterialsandissues clientsindiverse psychologicalspecific goalsthatjointlyset andsupport andspiritual withthetherapy istargetedtohelpthe clientwiththeissueswhichs/hestruggles, spirituality-focused therapy? Does thepossibleinvolvement itinto ofspiritualmaterialsand experiences attheclinicturn Spirituality-Enabled Psychotherapy convenient thananescapetodenialorintellectualization. sensations throughout, processes maysustainagreater whichisoftenfarless innertruth, when refraining from segregating thebodyfrom thespirit,andusingembodied yearned forbutonlyconceptualized, transpersonalbypass mayeasilyoccur. However, to theexplorationofintellectualandtheologicalfields only. When spiritualityis embodiment inwestern spiritualismisleftungrounded, culture. subject Otherwise, it is the role of body psychotherapy step and promote to take one further the spirit’s of bodyandmindaswell asfortheinclusionofbodyin therapeuticalliance, domain? My sincere fortheunion belief isthatastheschoolofthought,whichstruggled experience? Is bodypsychotherapy oneoftheschoolsthatrefuses towork therapeutically withspiritual psychotherapy standpoint. journey ofrevelation Ihadtogothrough mademewonderaboutthe“official” body reality”spiritual experienceandexperiencesofnon-ordinary (Lukoff &Lu, 1996). The unnecessarily restricted ofthepsyche view [andrefuse to]work therapeuticallywith body-oriented, psychodynamic approach? My answer wasaffirmative. on body-work. Iwondered, canIpossiblysimplyembracespiritualityaccording tothe experiences norspiritualdevelopment from theclinic)andmydesire nottogive up ofmyclients’ thefullspectrum support development (andthusexclude neitherspiritual ideas oftranspersonalpsychotherapy, andmydilemmawashow toreconcile mywishto transpersonal therapist. should choosebetween thetwoanddefinemyselfaseitherabodypsychotherapist ora psychotherapy andpsycho-spiritual aspects,aseparationwhichmademebelieve thatI doing so? Shall we segregate body psychotherapy from spirituality? Can we do so? What is the price of What Is Our Stance? aspects— thusallowing ourselves toenjoy the fullwealth oftheideasheoffers. benefit toincorporatemore aspectsofReich’s thespiritual,cosmic ideas—particularly feat through hislifelongdedicationtoprofound inquiry. Ibelieve itwouldbetoour pieces ofnotionsare unitedintoacomplete,coherent concept.Reich hasachieved this The purposeofpsychotherapy Primarily, isnotspiritual coachingorconverting. I wonderwhyspiritualityistreated differently thananyotherhuman-developed Many schoolsofpsychology, Scotton(1996)astutelycomments,“adhere toan After lookingintosomeofthetranspersonalconcepts,Ifeltuneasywith In mybodypsychotherapeutic trainingthere wasasterndivisionbetween body It happensnottoooftenthatthedotsgetconnected,formingsomethingwhole,and I wishtothank Dr. AsafRolef Ben-Shahar forhisreview andhelpfulremarks onthispaper. in thepower ofthegroup todrive andsustainachange. In case the call presented here appeals to you, you are welcome to share it with me, as I believe Personal Note exploring andpracticingmethodsthatapplytoconceptsIfindengagingrelevant. effective manner. Alongside studying existing integrative modalities, I wish to continue therapeutic model,topromote healinginaplentitudeofdimensionsanefficientand my clinicalpracticeheading. Therefore, Iwillcontinuemysearch forawide-horizons implications ofspiritualityonclientsandtherapy. related totranspersonalpsychotherapy andspirituality-enabledpsychotherapy, andthe ’transpersonality’ isbeyond thescopeofthispaper, asisadiscussionoftheconcepts is woven intopsychotherapy. Afullerdiscussiononthedefinitionsof‘spirituality’ and that bodypsychotherapy cannotsegregate itselffrom potentialspiritualgrowth, which changes inconsciousness, spiritual experiences and bodywork has been shown, suggesting in clients’ personalitiesand lives. The connectionbetween altered statesofconsciousness, states ofconsciousnessmighthave agreat potentialtopropel deepandthorough changes content thatisbrought upintheclinic. (c) thetherapistissufficientlyinformedandcapableofadequatelyhandlingspiritual subject ofspiritualityisatallwithintheboundariespsychotherapeutic work; and his/her own spiritualstateandpersonaltendencies;(b)thetherapistdecidesthat (a)thespiritualdomainsare openedwithinthetherapist, inaccordancenecessary: with p.533) “Love istheway, Happiness isthesign,Lightgoal.” Together we canmake ithappen. acknowledging thepower aswell astheresponsibility aheadofus. let’s setourselves tomove keepmoving forth, alongthepath, It oneofus— alldependsonus,eachandevery like ourpredecessors, philosophersand shamans. it, but solongasitisnotcommonlyso,maywe, therapists,bethespearheads tosupport If onlyeachoneofuswillobtaintheconditionsforself-fulfillment; and alltogether, we’ll raiseit. If onlyeachoneofuswoulddare flyhighbeyond the collective consciousness and thendare findhisinnerlatentpotential. If onlyeachoneofuswouldaspire toreveal, dare tosearch, I wouldliketoshare apersonalhope: Spirituality-enabled bodypsychotherapy isthedirection towards whichIforesee This paperexplores evidenceforthenotionthatpsychotherapy whichinvolves altered,2008,בוטו) Nader Butto Summary EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY 21 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 22 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis RACHEL SHALIT Louchakova, O.,& Lucas, M.K.(2007). Transpersonal Reflections on selfasaclinical category: Louchakova, O. (2004). Awakening to spiritual consciousness in times of religious violence: Reflections Leary, T., Metzner, R.(1995).Thepsychedelic experience:Amanualbased onthe R.,&Alpert, Tibetan M.J.,& Barley,Lambert, D.E.(2001). 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Davis, oftranspersonalpsychology. J.(2003). Anoverview TheHumanistic Psychologist, 31(2-3),6-21. Cunningham, P. F. (2011).Transpersonal therapy. Retrieved from http://www.rivier.edu/faculty/ Cunningham, P. F. . Retrieved (2011). A primer oftranspersonal from http://www.rivier.edu/ psychology Chopra, D.(2004).Thebookofsecrets: Unlocking thehiddendimensionsofyour life.New York :Random G.(1991).MeditationBogart, andpsychotherapy: Areview oftheliterature. American Journal of Bennett-Goleman, T.(2001). Becker-Blease, A.K.(2004). Dissociative statesthrough New Ageandelectronic trancemusic.Journal REFERENCES conceptualization, andwelcomes feedbackandcontact. interested in psychotherapy-related incooperationopportunities research andtheoretical and continuestospecialize inpsycho-spiritual therapyandparenting training.She is at Reidman College.For thetimebeing,shecombinesbothITandtherapeuticwork holistic body psychotherapist, havingcompletedthe five-year program certification She ofart. isacertifiedand methodologies.She holdsaBAinhumanitiesandhistory she fulfillsaconsultantpositionfororganizationalchangemanagement,work processes the IDFcomputeracademywithalifelongmanagerialcareer inITbusiness.Currently, BIOGRAPHY Email: [email protected] Rachel Shalit isawifeandthemothertothree teenageboys, aswell asagraduateof Transpersonal Approaches tothe World of Today. 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Schneider, K. J.,& Leitner, L. M. (2002). Humanistic psychotherapy. Rolef Ben-Shahar, A.(2011).Salsa lessonsandtheemergentself. TheUSABodyPsychotherapy Journal, Rolef Ben-Shahar, A. (2010). Surrender oftrance, to flow: A unifying theory relationality andembodiment. Rolef Ben-Shahar, A.(2008).Embodied trances,relational hypnosis.TheBritish Journal ofPsychotherapy Rolef Ben-Shahar, A.(2002,August). Hypnosis II: andbodywork –part Trancework intheBody. Rodrigues, V. (2010).On consciousness-modifying(transpersonal)psychotherapy. Journal of Reich, W.(1973). Pierrakos, E.(1990).Thepathwork ofself-transformation. USA:Bantam Book. Peres, J.F., Simão, M.J.,&Nasello, A.G.(2007).Spirituality, religiousness andpsychotherapy. Revista Pace, P. (2003).Lifespan integration: Connectingegostatesthrough time.Roslyn. WA: Peggy Pace. Mulhauser, andresearch G.(2010,December 10).Theory incounsellingandpsychotherapy -general MacDonald, D.A.,&Friedman, H.L.(2002,fall).Assementofhumanistic,transpersonal,andspritual Lukoff, D.,&Lu, F. of (1996).History Transpersonal Psychology. Retrieved from http://meridianuniversity. Zohar, D.,&Marshall, I.(2000).SQ:Connectingwithourspiritualintelligence. New York:Bloomsburry Wilber, ofmypsychological model--or, K.(2011).Asummary outlineofanintegral psychology. (Shmbhala Walach, H.(2009).Narcissism –theshadow oftranspersonalpsychology. Transpersonal Psychology Vaitl, D. (2005).Psychobiology ofaltered statesofconsciousness.Psychological Bulletin, 131(1),98– Thomason, T. C.(2010). The role ofaltered statesofconsciousnessinNative Americanhealing.Journal Seligman, M.E.(1995,December ). The effectiveness ofpsychotherapy: The ConsumerReport’s study. Psychotherapy 10(2), 22-31. Kailua-Kona: AmericanPacific University. Integration, 5(1),17-29. Anchor Point, 30-35. Transpersonal Research, 2,44-61. de Psiquiatria Clinica,34(S1),58-66. general-and-comparative.html and comparative. Retrieved from http://counsellingbooks.com/bibliography/theory-and-research/ Stateconstructs: ofthescience.Journal ofHumanistic Psychology, 42(4),102-125. edu/chtp/html/Transpersonal%20Psychology.htm culture, gender, andphenomenology. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 37(2),111-136. Publishing. Publications) Retrieved from http://wilber.shambhala.com/html/books/int_psych_summ.cfm/ Review, 12(2),47-59. 127. of Rural CommunityPsychology, E13(1). American Psychologist, 50(12),965–974. (Vol. I, pp. 949-957).New York: Elsevier Science/Academic Press. Ether, God andDevil. New York: Farrar, Straus andGiroux. EFFICIENCY OFPSYCHOTHERAPY In The Encyclopedia of

23 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 24 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 1 © Author andUSABP/EABP. Reprints [email protected] Volume 11,Number 2,2012pp24-44Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN2168-1279 International BodyPsychotherapy Journal TheArt andScienceofSomaticPraxis GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT ascribed masculinity or is, behaviors, dress, emotions, attractions, thoughts and feelings—corresponds to a culturally- identified sex,maleorfemale, or, attheother, theextenttowhichaperson’s manner—that seem tomeanby theword “gender”, aperson’s atoneendofthespectrum, actual genital- clients andcliniciansactually mean whentheytalkaboutgender. In casualdiscourse, people a remarkable absence ofawareness, inclinicaldiscussion bothscholarlyandcasual,ofwhat this assuranceby AllanSchore, oneofthestandard bearers ofneuroscience, there seemstobe of biologicalpredispositions withrelational interfacing experience(Schore, 2003).Even despite based theoristsagree thatgenderisnot entirely ahard-wired biologicalgiven, butacombination protégés beganinterpreting thedreams ofwomen. Today, even themostpositivistneuroscience- psychotherapy sincemodernpsychotherapy sinceFreud wasimagined,certainly andhismale Winner of USABP2012Research Award play experiences, and suggestions for further study.play experiences,andsuggestionsforfurther relevant topsychotherapy, adescriptionofmethodology, results from thegroup’s role- limit it. A workshop introduction followed is articulated, by a review of gender literature gender (aswithanyotherculturallyreinforced identity),theymightbecolludingto are notaimingtohelpbringconsciousnessaperson’s senseofidentityregarding in“gendering”might beparticipating theirclients. That is,towhatever extenttherapists experiences, andforhelpingcliniciansunderstandhow wittinglyorunwittinglythey hopes RSPmightofferalensforhelpingclientsunderstandtheirembodiedgender centered psychotherapists familiarwithRelational Somatic Psychotherapy (RSP),in Understanding the various experiences of living our various-gendered lives has fascinated sexuality, clinicaleros Key astudyofgenderrole-playing byThis paperarticulates afocusgroup ofbody- it, mark it, train it, torture it, force it to carry out tasks, to perform ceremonies, outtasks,toperform to it, mark it,traintorture it,force ittocarry Gendering Clients(AnExperientialConversation) words: gender, Relational Somatic Psychotherapy, masculinity, femininity, “Power relations have animmediateholduponit[thebody];theyinvest Gender asaRelational SomaticExperience: How PsychotherapistsParticipate in Received 8August, 2012;acceptedAugust 2012 emit signs” (Foucault, 1991,p. 25).

Gary Glickman,PhD Introduction Abstract

1 further workshops.further andfocus group transcripts,andsuggestedmethodology for analysis ofcodedinterview experiential workshop, a review ofcontextualizing literature, adescriptionofmethodology, larger, more willbeable: formal experientialinvestigations, inwhichparticipants and ofoneanother’s responses. Iimagine thispaperenrichingtheconceptualgroundwork for psychotherapists, twomalesandfemales,theirexperiencesofplayingwith genderroles as heterosexual. responsive toherfemalepartner’s masculinequalities;sucharesponsiveness Butler describes identifies ashomosexual. Similarly, aself-identifying homosexual femalemightbesexually describedas“takingexample whatoneparticipant thelead”. This responsiveness Butler sexually responsive tohisfemalepartner’s masculine qualitiesorbehaviors,suchas,for the sexandqualities,aself-identifyingheterosexual malemight(sometimesoralways)be invertingincluding sexualbehaviorscommonlyassociatedwiththefeminine,andlikewise, (sometimes oralways)besexuallyresponsive tohermalepartner’s femininequalities, the genitally-identifiedsex. experienced between as well independent ofboth same-sex partners as contra-sex partners, bodies. In otherwords, genderiscomprisedofattractionsandbehaviorsthatare commonly gendered (masculineand/or feminine) energies—rather than necessarily male or female attractionsandbehaviorsbetween and homosexualitymaybeunderstoodascomplementary between masculineandfeminineenergy. She proposes, forexample,thatbothheterosexuality defined by sexualanatomy, oreven sexual behavior, brainconstruction, butas relationships (2004) definition,whichsheframesasanenergeticbehavioralpatternnotcontainedor identity), theymightbecolludingtolimitit. help contextualize aperson’s senseofgenderidentity(aswithanyotherculturallyreinforced does thesamething(Fine, 2010). That is,towhatever extenttherapistsare notaimingto clients—unwittingly towhatever extenttheyare unconsciousofhow thegeneralculture well asforhelpingcliniciansunderstandhow ingenderingtheir theymightbeparticipating offer anincisive lensforhelpingclientsunderstandtheirembodiedgenderexperience,as by Michael articulated (2007) andfurther Sieck (www.threefoldway.com, 2007),might hunch here wasthatRelational Somatic Psychotherapy (RSP),asdescribedby Robert Hilton studyaskinghow somaticpsychotherapiststheory understandandwork withgender. The centered therapiststalkingaboutandplayingwithgender—oneevent inalargergrounded wounding (Fine, 2010). one withtheotherhaslongbeenconsidered anessentialbasisofgenderoppression and femininity: their“maleness” and“femaleness” (Moon, 2008a,2008b, 2010).Confusing Because the focus is experiential, I have laid out in this paper an introduction for an 3. 2. 1. This paperanalyzes anevening ofrole-playing by afocusgroup offourbody-centered To insimpleexamples:A self-identifyingheterosexual femalemight embodythetheory The core ofmyown by Judith understandingofgenderisperhapsbestarticulated Butler’s ofbody- Thus therationalearose forthispaperdescribingtheexperiencesofasmallcohort

regarding genderandsexuality. to pr constrictions thatlimitemotional andrelational resilience; and to lear of choicesregarding genderasanembodiedexperience; to r howecognize theirclinicalchoicesmightaffect,expand,orconstrictaclient’s sense actice recognizing andworking withtheedgesoftheirown counter-transference interventions thatassistclientsinbecoming aware ofwheren interventions theirbodieshold GENDER ASARELATIONAL 25 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 26 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis times” (p. xxii). women atothers.Assheputs itinherintroduction, “We have beenhere before, somany from brainscansthatmalesare neurologically hard-wired tosucceed betteratsometasks, claimsforgenderinequality,support guiseofaccepting theso-calledproof underthenew level ofcredibility—has slippedintomainstream culture againandtoonce poorly-vetted studyafteranother, sheshows—and she’s speakingofstudiesatthehighest psychology that’s infatuatedwiththe authoritative words andideasofbrain-science.One scientific proofs oftheinferioritiesfemalebrain. Fine pointsoutthatit’s notjust the samerealm whichhas,atleastsince themiddleof19thcentury, beenpronouncing twenty years have, unsurprisingly, takenonthemantleofauthority ofscienceitself, at all.By “neurosexism” Fine meansthat theamazingadvances ofneuroscience inthelast psychotherapy communitymightbeanswering thequestion—ornotaskingquestion “neurosexism” (p. xv), which seems to me is likely influencing the way the body-centered GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT communicate it,helptofacilitatehealingaround it? is perceived psychologically regarding gender? That is,how dowe measure it,perceive it, Yet whatisactuallyinvolved, empiricallyspeaking, inhow a person feelsoridentifies obvious to consider. Or as if, wittingly or unwittingly, the difference is being overlooked. archetypal masculineorfeminineasopposedtotheirsex—goesunmentionedifitistoo suddenly that difference—that specification of aperson’s psychological identity regarding the I wonder, useanotherword asidefrom sex?Just whenIbegintobelieve Iunderstandhim, from why, whatisempiricallymeasurable,aswiththesize ofthehypothalamus.Otherwise, “female”? Because hedidnot,itseemstomeby genderhemustmeansomethingdifferent sex” tothesameeffectas “gender,” stickto“male” forthesamemeaning,andotherwise and assumptions ofwhatisculturallyidentifiedasimplicitlymasculineorfeminine. recognizability according tosomeunspecifiedqualitiesofthemaleorfemale—thatis, “psychological gender” (p. 264), then Iam left to supposehe means aperson’s psychological ofthebody.that is,identifiableparts Whenheswitches,however, andwrites the words When heiswriting about braintissuesandhormones,Ibelieve Iunderstand what hemeans— does notexplainhimselfnorspecify, presumably becausehebelieves hismeaning is manifest. to fetalbrainanatomy, heseemstomeanthedefiningfeatures ofmale or femaleanatomy. He greatly by you allthetime.Andthat’s justmyown private senseoftheword itself. of myneck? That small,private feeling-senseofwhatIoriginallymightmeanisinfluenced cross oruncross you legs?Do you think:mysex,genitals,thepitchofvoice, thetilt you squirminyour seatat the word? Do you square your shoulders and straighten your spine, private feeling-sense of what I mean, but mostly I wait for the vibrations back from you. Do 1998). When I say “gender” out loud and let the word sail into the room, I hold onto a small, word thatis,likeallwords, afteralljustanabstractsignifierthat (Wilber,we mustagree upon because myunderstandingofthetermfeelstomedependentonyou—how you understanda facilitators. By gender—I’m not sure what I mean, or rather what I intend to convey to you, In In Is gender, then,thesameassex,andcouldSchore (2003)insteadhave written“psychological When neuroscientist AllanSchore (1994)writestheword “gender” (p. 264)inreference What dowe meanwhenwe thinkgender?By “we” Imeanthoseofusworking ashealing- Delusions ofGender, researcher Cordelia Fine (2010)identifiesaphenomenonshecalls Workshop Introduction summarized the study, “Childhood Gender Nonconformity: A Risk Indicator for Childhood injured by narrow and rigid notions of gender. Here is how the online blog “Gender Spectrum” Academy ofPediatrics theideathatindividually andculturally, articulated Americansare all aims andthewidespread phenomenonofgenderwounding. what mainstream culture now encourages might be a healing bridge between psychotherapeutic American culture. Iwonderifthe Two Spirit ideaofholdingopenidentityoptionsbeyond et al,2004). This identityseemscuriouslyclosetoarole thatpsychotherapists fillindominant 1986,p.pragmatically (Williams, 120),andoften as healers as well (Anguksuar, 1997;Balsam “one whoistransformed”—held aplaceinNavajo societyasmediators,bothspirituallyand For theNavajo, the Two Spirits—their word fortheidentitylabelindicates“changing one” or basisforaperson’s ofmaleandfemalesexastheprimary adherence tothebinary identity. of masculine and feminine without getting as stuck as the European gender concept in a rigid (Williams, 1986). a fifthandsixthgender (Roscoe, 1998)—and since the emergence of gay and lesbian Native American identities, even traditions evidentlyapprehended within a Two Spirit traditionathird gender andfourth normal ordeviant(Brown, 1997).In contrast,thescholarstellus,manyNative American idea ofgender:aperson,anidentity, adestiny, iseithermaleorfemale, masculineorfeminine, translatable inEuropean andoppositional languages,becausetheycreate avehemently binary the Native Americanconceptof“Two Spirit”, anapproximate translationofatermthatisnot indeed have asensethatyou actuallymightknow bothfeelings,andidentify—likeme—with feels likefrom theinside,physically, psychologically. On theotherhand,someofyou might psychologically; someofyou perhapsbelieve you have never feltlikewhatyou senseawoman have never inyour lifefeltlikewhatyou sense amanfeelslike from the inside,physically, The Native AmericanConceptof Two Spirit and whatmeaningswe makeofthecomparison. do withyour body;inotherwords, “gender” ishow we are comparingourselves tooneanother, body: your contours,movements, voice, draperiesandornaments,myguessesastowhatyou 1994). Andofcourse,mysensemyselfandyou, too,changeaccording toyour with mybody, sociallyandintimately—andhow, asaresult, we are now interacting(Grosz, contours andmovements, itsdraperiesandornaments,myvoice, your guessesastowhatIdo all therelational experiences I amhaving:how you are looking atme,assessingmybody, its are deeplyaffectedby thosesameexperiences—how othersfeel,see,andinteractwithus. by Robertespecially asarticulated Hilton (2007),propose inadditionthatourbodies themselves us, andhow 1971).Relational theyinteractwithus(Winnicott, somaticpsychology traditions, how we feel—infact,oursense ofselfiscreated—by how othersfeelaboutus,how theysee gender asaclinicalsubject. Those traditionspropose thatwe are comprehensively affectedin qualities thatisbasictorelational psychology traditions,and,Ithink,usefulinapproaching Relational Somatic Psychotherapy In February of2012,for example,along-termstudyfrom theJournal oftheAmerican It seemstomethat Two Spirit isanidentityconceptthathonorsthemanifoldpolarities Now, Iholdthebeliefthatsomeofyou are notlike me. Perhaps someofyou believe you Accordingly, whatImightunderstandby theterm“gender” isnow, suddenly, impactedby There is,however, ananswer tothequestionabouthow peopleidentifywiththeirgender GENDER ASARELATIONAL 27 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 28 InternatInternationalional BBodyody PPsychotherasychotherappy JJournalournal TheThe Art andnd Science of Somataticic Praxixis Abuse andPosttraumatic Stress in Youth” by Roberts, Rosario etal.: GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT possible genderwoundingintheirhealingexperiences. body-centered psychotherapy—to more toincludeawareness consistentlyhelppeoplestart of aconversation abouthowmight start cliniciansmightuseoursomaticrelational capacity—our experimentation, andthrough all-around mindfulnessoftheimpactgenderconstrictions,we awareness forrelational healing. Through offeringaplayfulnessaround gender, through adaptations, and wounding might be acentral identity aspect useful to bring into wider clinical central conceptofsomaticpsychology, I’d liketosuggestthefollowing: genderconstrictions, require healingthrough healingrelationship (Hilton, 2007;Rosenberg, 1985). To extendthat limbic systemscreate amazingcommunicationsandrelationships, and relational wounds community. That familiarcentralconceptisthis:ourbodiesare innatelyrelational, our slight extension of a concept central to to the suggest somatic is psychotherapyonly a very or perhapsliterallynomentionoffacilitatinghealingfrom genderwounding. What I’d like a curiousfactthatinthebody-centered psychotherapy literature sofarthere hasbeenvirtually reaching/touching/asserting and also its complementary receptivereaching/touching/asserting andalso its complementary poles. Freud names to thedifference” (p. 41)—in otherwords, beingableto accesstheentire of spectrum points out,bisexuality means“the availability ofallsubjects tobothpositionsinrelation renouncing thestillungendered impulse towant/reach/assert. For Freud, asDowning conscious one” (as citedinDowning, 1989,p. 72). To myear, thatmeansadoptingor is, active] consciousattitudeandwomen toadoptapassive, or[so-called]feminine, society, notnature, “that seekstopersuademenadopta[so-called]masculine [that the successive renunciation ofmasculinetraits” (Gay, p. 519).According toFreud, itis Freud biographerPeter Gay (1988)writes,by a“femininity…essentially acquired by considered by Freud tobe“masculine”, whetherfrom amanorwoman,balanced,as polarityofactive/passive. “Activeaim, whichhedividedintothebinary sexuality” is is how fullyembodiedhisunderstandingofgenderwas,focusedasitwas onsexual psychotherapeutic understanding. What mightbemostusefultopointoutbrieflyhere of Freud’s ideas—still surely undergirdmainstream much of contemporary Freud—Jung—Reich—Lowen—Hilton integrated. understandings ofgenderandtheenthusiasticassurances neuroscience mightbeusefully and aframeworkofRelational Somatic Psychology, inwhichthetraditionalarchetypal on whichpsychotherapy isrobustly relying; monopolyofneuroscience; acritiqueofthenew gender, andsomaticpsychotherapy’s connectiontoit;thegenderperspectives ofneuroscience that mustbeintegrated:thetraditionalbackground informingmainstream psychotherapy and Given suchacommonphenomenon ofgenderwoundingfrom culturalconstrictions,it’s Freud. Freud’s neo-Freudian ideas about gender—andparticularly representations Toward explicatingsuchpotential healingexperiences,itseemsthere are fourliterature sources participants grew uptobeheterosexual.participants (www.genderspectrum.org) of abuseandPTSD duetogendernonconformity, notingthat85%ofthestudy’s of theAmerican Academy ofPediatrics, shows thatoneintenchildren faceelevated risk studypublishedinPediatrics,identity orsexualorientation. A new The Official Journal allyoung people,regardless notionsofgenderhurt Limited binary oftheirgender Literature Review allowed andculturally proscribed inemotionsandactions, initiallyandespeciallyasa resolution In other words, from infancy onward, the body itself is actually shaped by what is culturally muscular protection, orarmor, thatbecomesthebody’s ofrepression. physicalinstrument 5). Reich meantnotsimplyphysicalmanifestations ofpsychic repression, but eventually a (1985) describesas“instinctual demands…andthecounterdemands ofthesocialworld” (p. rigidities. These rigiditiesare created asaninfant’s response totheconflictbetween what Smith armoring” tomeantheuniversal experienceofvarious energeticconstrictionsdue tomuscular deepest authenticity(Jung, 1951). identity andthemaskof“persona”—and towards aself-aware manifestationofone’s own “individuation”. The direction ofindividuationisaway from undifferentiated collective from theenergeticresources ofitscomplement,impeding theprogress ofwhatJung called (such asonlySolid oronlyFluid, onlyMasculine oronlyFeminine) istobecomecutoff words, tobecomeover-identified withorpossessed by one valance ofanarchetypal pattern oversolidification ontheonehand,and overfluidification ontheother” (pp. 318-19). Inother between gender dimensions “indispensable for avoiding the two underlying alchemical risks: Using Jung’s centralmetaphorofalchemy, Lingiardi callssuchapracticeofholdingtension fluidity(butnottoomuchofit)intermsholding for acertain “gender tension” (p. 318). masculine/feminine, psychoanalyst Vittorio Lingiardi (2007)writesofthenecessity ofallowing into consciousnessandchoice(Jung, 1951).Regarding thearchetypes ofthegenderbinary, with anarchetypal patternbecomesfixed andrigidinsteadofallowing ittomove fluidlyback ofaconscious,relativelypart wholelife” (p. 67). with thisrepressed ofoursexuality, part Downing writes,“isto[Freud] asignallyimportant world, butisalsothe“culturally privileged” side(Downing, p. 77).“Consciousconfrontation” up (the side inverse to anatomy) is not only the “active” impulse that allows for agency in the contra-sexual side oftheirnature, astheso-calledmasculinesidethey are beingaskedtogive Freud, 1917;Isay, 1989). Women, Freud suggests,mayhave even more problems givingupthat nature thatisacentralcauseofneurosis andhumanunhappiness(Downing, 1989,p. 49; the repression ofthehomosexual,orrather, “contra-sexual” elementofone’s originalbisexual longing (theirbisexualnatures, according toFreud’s Freud positedbinary). positsthatitis according tosuchatheory, peopleare pressured torepress onesideoranotheroftheirdeepest are acquired through culturaltreatments ofmaleandfemaleidentities. longing” (p. 50). Freud’s implicationseemstobe,stateitagain,thatgendered characteristics Perhaps in all of us that early longing, innocent of sexual difference, persists as our deepest infantile sexuality may be homosexual precisely because for the infantthere is only to gendered characteristics.In fact,asDowning notes,“Freud suggeststhatour‘primitive,’ based ontheobjectofsexualattractionbutconflatedwithsupposedlyinnateconnections were fabricatedcontemporaneouslywithFreud’s generation,animagined,unhistoricalbinary are categoriesofsexualbehaviordisguisedascore identities,which,asDowning pointsout, undifferentiated sexualnature” (p. 41),really notbisexual,homosexual,orheterosexual. Those active/passive, ormale/female,Freud seestheinfantbeginning,asDowning putsit,“with an attitude” (p. 41),however, even before awareness ofadifferentiated masculine/feminine, now commonlyidentifyasgender. this subject as sexualitythatlatergendertheoristssuchJudith Butler (1990,2004) Reich. AnotherofFreud’s protégés, Wilhelm Reich (1945),coinedtheterm“body Jung. According toJung, identification peoplebecometroubled whentheirmomentary thatweIf allbeginlifewithanoriginalundifferentiated itistrue sexualimpulse,then, Even before adoptingwhatDowning (1989)callseitheramasculineorfeminine“conscious GENDER ASARELATIONAL one sex.

29 InternatI nTERNATIONALional BBodyody PPsychotherasychotherappy JJournalournal TThehe Art andnd Science of Somataticic Praxixis 30 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis easily, onemaypoint to conclusionsof Lowen’s thatseemblindto how symptoms are not an empiricalobjectivity thattodaylooksculturally relative, and even radically subjective. Too although inspiring asconceptualbridgesbetween psyche andsoma,canalso beseentopresume roles ofso-callednaturalgender. Bystandards, Lowen’s contemporary genderassumptions, mentor, locates as gender-relevant responses to homosexuality, or difficulties in accepting the aboutworking somaticallywithsymptomsthatLowen,compendium ofobservations likehis unpleasurable stimuli: constricted andrepressed. body, andthecontrol available toapatriarchal culture whenthesexualityofmassesiskept core insightsofReich’s ofliberatingemotionsthrough work, liberating the theimportance marks around Reich’s term—”natural sexuality”—in order to most fully profit from two other keeping inmindahistoricperspective onthisview, itmightbeusefultokeepthequotation energetic interchange forthehealingtransformative potentialoforgasmtobemanifested.Even emotional stunting,and,further, thatonly penile-vaginal interactionallows forsufficient orgastic gratification” (p. 5)allowed forsuchaliberationfrom bodyarmoringandsubsequent “control” (p. 217) ofsexualitythrough psychoanalysis. Reich (1945) considered thatonly“full person’s “natural sexuality” (p. xvii), ratherthanthrough whatFreud (1928)framedasgreater (and itspsychological constrictions)canonlybetransformedthrough afullexpression ofa and negatedaspectsoftheself(Reich, 1945). archetypal energy(Conger, 1988)—apersoncanthusreclaim lostresiliency, trappedenergy, (p. 5). By addressing and releasing the chronic strictures of thebody—comparable to repressed Lowen (1980)explicated,accurately andspecifically “reflect[s] thecharacteronasomaticlevel” of sexualtensionswithinFreud’s Oedipal triangle.Such armoring,asReich’s studentAlexander GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT and Orgasm (1965) but also including the more general psychology (Rosenberg, 1985).Lowen’s work, especiallyTheLanguageoftheBody(1958),Love Lowen, founderofBioenergetic Analysis,makingLowen anothercentralpatriarch ofsomatic a conceptualizationofgenderby Reich’s student,analysand,andtheoretical heir, Alexander might bekeyinre-translating Reich’s insightsfortheir continuingpotentialinpsychic healing. of gendersuchasthework ofLyndsey Moon (2008)thatactuallyequategenderwithemotion, the assumptionsofhisempiricismregarding “natural sexuality”. re-examinations Contemporary stimulated theemergenceofpsychoanalysis (Gay, 1988),thatReich himselfdidnot question oppressive perspectives ofpatriarchal culture, andawareness thatitwashysteriainwomen perspective, itseemsstrange thatwithReich’sa contemporary (1945)great sensitivitytothe (rather thanincludes)deepvaginal penetrationby apenis(Baker, 1982;Reich, 1945).From cultural relativity tosuggestasReich andloyal followers did,that“natural sexuality” equals electromagnetic measurements between penisandvagina, itseemsanobvious matterof the unconstrainedbody. Conversely, inthedecadessinceReich’s experimentswiththe entire populationsby restricting theawareness ofthepleasure available toanyone through Reich (1961)sawemotionsasbiologicalphenomena,causedeitherby pleasurableor Reich’s (1945)divergence from Freud wasbasedprimarilyontheideathatbodyarmoring Lowen. The paradigm ofbody-armoringhasinfactalready beensignificantlyextendedinto It was Reich’s (1945) great insight that governments could control the behavior of psychic apparatus,pleasure andanxiety. (p. 146) directions ofbiophysicalplasmacurrent correspond tothetwobasicaffectsof “remotion” tothecenteroforganism. --from theperiphery These twobasic the periphery. Conversely, unpleasurable stimuli cause an “emotion” -- or rather, Pleasurable stimulicausean“emotion” oftheprotoplasm from thecentertowards Fear of Life (1980) is an unprecedented that three “events are required” (p. 321): person integrateboththemeaning andtheenergy. Towards successfulresolution, heproposes trapped by the adaptations. Traditionally, he points out, most fail because they fail to help a identifying ofsuchadaptations—theanalysis,ormeaning—or elseonlythebody-energy of thisaliveness thatallows theoriginalwoundtoheal” (p. 327). reason fora parent’svery rejecting “contempt andenvy..tobeginwith,itistherecovery that an authentic self in an alive-feeling body, he explains, is “ultimately sexual in nature”, is the Therefore any resolution mustbeaphysicalresolution, “a body resolution” (p. 327). The fact pelvis” (Hilton, 2007, p. 327)and away from allowing the body to be grounded and feel alive. move, contrived by anadaptation“pull[s] holdourselves. The “false energyupoutofthe self” and thefactthatbodyisplacewhere theseadaptationsare lived out:how we breathe, Robert Hilton’s defensive adaptationsthatare work madeearlyinlife, pointstothenecessary cultural relativism andinter-subjectivity. engagement withembodiedgenderintoalanguageandconceptualizationmore mindfulof rapprochement andadvancement mightbenavigatedby re-translating Lowen’s lifelong conversation aboutgender, thebody, andpsychotherapy. If so,itispossiblethatamajor and as “pathological”, might still be considered a central building block for a new, integrated women. Still, Lowen’s focusongenderasmanifestedinthebody, bothframedas“normal” to callattentionitsradicalpathologizingofhomosexualityandautonomous,active what Cordelia Fine (2010)coinsas“neurosexism” (p. xv). magnetic brainimagingofthe1990’s, monopolyofneuroscience thenew onpsychology, and Lowen, there hasbeenrelative silence in thesomaticpsychology universe—until the advent of gender anditslong-unquestionedcorrespondence togeneticandgenitallyidentifiedsex.After body-mind connectionstilldared focusexplicitlyonthequestionsimplicitinconceptof ago,whenattentiontothe historicalmarker foramomenthalfcentury asanimportant serves subjectivespecific meaning(thoughfrompointofview). oneInaddition,Lowen’svery work Reich’s somaticconceptstowards adefinitionofgender:here isthebody, here isagender- culturally relative, Lowen’s work comprisesthemostcomprehensive applicationtodateof function ofmovement ismore inhisnature important thaninhers” (pp. 168-169). endowed withgreater musculardevelopments thanthefemale,itcanbeassumedthat “Only through her vagina can a woman respond fully to a man…since the human male is of ayoung womanwhoinphysicalappearance impressed measresembling agorilla” (p. 99); pleasurable feeling” problem (p. ofthe‘butch’ 76);“The becameclear tomeinthetreatment isthehomosexualproblem: genitalexcitationand natural:“This inabodythatisdevoid of patients whosesenseofgenderidentitydidnotcorrespond towhatLowen considered healthy Lowen madethemostsweeping andunfoundeddenigrations and assumptionsregarding innate anduniversal, butidiosyncratic,and,more importantly, culturallyinflicted. 2. 1. Hilton (2007)pointsoutthatmanykindsoftherapiesaddress eithertheintellectual HiltonRobert and Relational Somatic Psychology. In direct lineage from Reich and Lowen, Perhaps clinicianswhosecareers have beenbasedonLowen’s work mightbehesitant Even looktobe despiteinnumerableassumptionsofobjectivitythatafterhalfacentury Take, briefquotationsfrom forexample,afew Lowen’s Love andOrgasm (1965),inwhich

an adaptationis beingactivated. means theclientmustrecognize inthepresent moment—the momentintherapy—that The clientmust“identifywith thecontraction The earlydefenseadaptations must betakenseriously ” (p. 321),by whichIbelieve Hilton . GENDER ASARELATIONAL 31 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 32 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis body. There are, according tothedominantinterpretations ofbrain-scanimages,male-type body: afixed, central,binary, about aperson’s biological truth brain,mind, personality, and natural, outermanifestation ofthedifferences between the maleandthefemalebrain Sterling, 2000;Fine, 2010). Gender, from Baron-Cohen’s (2003;2007)perspective, isthe and female,withcorresponding strengths ascribed tothemaleandfemalemind(Fausto- and directly correlated tobiologicalsex,which isnaturally, permanentlydichotomized as male Western religion andsciencethatgenderisnaturallydichotomized asmasculineand feminine a career prooftraditionally argued by ofclaimingnew fortheview the mostdominantvoices in by clarity and specificity ofmagnetic imaging(MRI)brainscans, hasmade supported the new of thepersonality” (2003,p. 267). now acceptedingenderresearch, thatbothsexes containafeminine(andmasculine)component polymorphous and undifferentiated proposition,—as Schore at birth himself described it, “The perspective seemstoaccepttheFreudian proposition thatgenderisinnatelybisexual,by nature characteristics—is actuallyestablishedpost-natallythrough socialinteraction. Thus, Schore’s gender” (1994, p. 264; 2003, p. 68)—evidently meaning gonadally instigated psychological and irreversible” by 18months(1994,p. 264)positsthatmuchofwhathecalls“psychological In other words, even the neuroscience perspective on gender that Schore describes as “fixed they are manifestedinphysicalways in thebrain,andthusnature/nurture cannotbesegregated. describes genderandsexdifferences fromthatby thepointofview bothnature and nurture the theoretical soundnessofsomaticpsychology (Fosha, Siegel, &Solomon, 2009).Schore has beenperhapsthemostwidelycitedsource ofneuroscience research-based evidencefor GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT Contemporary NeuroscienceContemporary (2012). the authenticHere—Now Self” as Sieck describes, “ultimately releas[ing] the bound energy to become more fully grounded in concept of“adaptation” mightbeappliedmore explicitlytoanexaminationofgender, toward, must adapt with a constricted version of the authentic self. I am curious to see how such a don’t shout;boys don’t goodgirlsare tokissgirls),andtheindividual modest;goodboys cry; try environment, and,forculturallydeterminedreasons, are eitherwelcomed orrebuffed (girls tendencies intheindividual(aggression, say, orsensitivity),which are thenmetby the byto SchoreHilton articulated (2003)andfurther (2007),differences inthebraincreate by theinter-subjective theoristswhobasetheirwork onneuroscience. For example,according installed, and maintained, as delineated by both traditional mainstream psychotherapy and confused with identity—closely matches the descriptions of how gender itself is constructed, the humanbeingexpressing them” (www.threefoldway.com). and thusone‘identifies’ over timewiththepersonalitypatternsratherthan realize thatoneis of how “the internaldynamicsby whichlimitationoccursquicklybecomeinvisibletotheuser delineates theaimsofRelational Somatic Psychotherapy (RSP)ashelpingtofacilitateawareness our authenticself. Hilton’s one-timestudentandeventual editor, Michael Sieck (2012),further 348)—to helppeoplefind,intheir own bodies,thebridgebacktoourauthenticlifeenergies, Simon Baron-Cohen. By contrast,British neuroscientist Simon Baron-Cohen (2007), This RSPpremise—that adaptationstopsychic woundingbecomeinvisibleandthen This listiswhatHilton (2007) calls “our job as Relational Somatic Psychotherapists” (p. thebasiclifeforce asitre-entersThe therapistmustcontactandsupport the 3. Alan Schore. AlanSchore’s (2003)scholarshiponaffectregulation anddysregulation

environment” (p. 321). “ between biologicalstructure andthemeaningheascribes togender: well, isneuropsychiatrist Daniel Siegel’s (2007)summary, implyingadirect, fixed connection innately manly (goodatsystems)while a naturalwomanwomanly (good atempathy). Here, as be what Western culture by understandsaswomen.Or definition,anaturalmanis further: prove thatmaleswillmostlybewhat Western culture understandsasmen,femaleswillmostly building systems” (2003,p. 1).Research andquantifiablemeasures, from thisperspective, hardwired forempathy. The malebrainispredominantly hardwired forunderstandingand styles, behaviors, advantages anddeficiencies. “The femalebrainispredominantly He writes: sex-specificspecialties, brains andfemale-typebrains,withconcomitant(thoughvarying) about gender. Her thesis,inDelusions ofGender (2010)isthis: have nonethelessbeenwidelydisseminatedintomainstream culture truths assupposedlynew especially thescientificlapsesinlogicandmethodology weakening most oftheclaims,which at math,psychology researcher Cordelia Fine (2010)examinesthoseclaimsingreat detail, Neurosexism unwittingly, assumptionsaboutgender” (p. 118). research, thisorganremains avast unknown, mediumonwhichtoproject, even aperfect or awomanissocialdecision” (p. 3).Andhere: “Despite themanyrecent insightsofbrain is politics by other means” (Fausto-Sterling, p. 255). Or, alternately: “Labeling someone a man for example,thisbiologistalignswithDonna Haraway (1986)inherperspective that“biology and sexualitybecomesomaticfacts?”(p. 235).Concerningtheissueofmalevs.femalebrains, (2000) asksthequestionsomaticpsychology mightcontinuetoinvestigate: “How dogender must influenceanystudyofgenderandsomaticpsychology. In thatwork, Fausto-Sterling Her integrative text,Sexing thebody:Gender Politics ofSexuality andtheConstruction (2000) offeministtheorizingabouttheembodimentsexandgender.an integratingarticulation sense oftheword)” (p. 7).Assuch,shemightbethemostcentrallypoisedspokespersonfor delineates herselfadditionallyasascientist,historian,and“feminist Witness (intheQuaker empathizing. as male or female, masculine or feminine, geared either for greater success in systemizing or conclude that,allowing forvariation andexception, brainstructures defineaperson’s abilities others’) central assumptions,butlocates theassumptionsinalarger frameabouthow and Countering theclaimsthatneuroscience hasonceagain“proven” thatwomenare notgood Anne Fausto-Sterling. AnneFausto-Sterling (2000),a“biologistandsocialactivist” (p. 5) To summarize theabove perspective: recent neuroscience and the psychology based on it Not onlydoesshereveal themethodologicaland logical flawsin Baron-Cohen’s (andmany regions towork intensively more ontheirown. (p. 45) brain canbesaidtomore differentiated, ormore specialized, allowing theseparate with athickercorpuscallosumthatconnects the leftandrighthemispheres. The male favor ofbothgenders.Female braindevelopment appearstoinvolve more integration, People alwaysaskaboutgenderdifference, andsohere isageneralstatement,biasedin second, closerlookatoursociety andourscience.(p. xxv) tellsusanything,itistotakea what Isuspectisreally amajorityopinion.If history differences’ between thetwosexes simplyreflect—and give scientificauthorityto— whobrave thestiflingideologyofpolitical correctness.truth, Yet claims of ‘essential for thegenderstatusquooften liketopositionthemselves ascourageousknightsof Writers whoarguethatthere are hardwired differences between thesexes thataccount GENDER ASARELATIONAL 33 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 34 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis client-role mightwantto imaginethemselves asmenorwomen, whichever genderpolarity to role-play atherapist-client interaction. in The initialsuggestionwas thattheparticipants Finally, intriadicrole combinations oftherapist,client,andobserver, were participants invited from theusualidentificationofgender. wereParticipants nextinvitedtoadd oneoftheprops. interact withafellow continuingtoholdan imaginalshiftofconsciousnessaway participant, to investigate thevarious gender-marker props. Subsequently, were participants invitedto gender-identity, simultaneously noticing their own somatic responses. Next, they were invited wereThe participants first invitedsimplyto imaginethemselves asdifferent from theirusual baseball caps,falsemustaches,wigs,clip-onearrings,costume jewel broaches, afeatherboa. for playfulness,Iputonthetablesometypicallygendered attire andornaments,suchas recorder onthetable.In inplainview caseprops mightenhance Winnicott’s (1971)imperative differentiation, andforactivation ofstereotypical expectationsandroles. people tocheckeitherthemaleorfemalebox putsgenderinmind,andcreates acontextfor subjects. She pointsout,forexample,thateven thetypicalquestionnaire beginningby asking ways thatshesuggestswouldnever beunnoticed,norallowed togounnoticedaboutother goals, andidentity” (p.4), ignoringmethodological flaws concerninggenderexperimentsin called gender-neutralexperiments ignore implicit,unconsciouslevels of“stereotypes...attitudes, supposed proofsintegrate the new ofneuroscience. Essentially, herargument is thatmanyso- why genderassumptionsare created, andalsowhythedominantculture hasbeensoquickto GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT further responses,further corrections, clarifications,andemergenttopics. for analysis, Iwasabletoshare indyadicinterviews emergent themeswiththeparticipants the material.Afterdatacollectionandfocusedthematic codingoftheinitialopen-coded inthe momentandmypersonalconnectionsto study by sharingmyauthenticobservations andthusabletoenhancetheexplicitreflexivitymyself wasfamiliartoeachparticipant, ofthe andinitialcoderoftheparticipants’participant transcribeddescriptionsoftheirexperiences.I 2001). (Willig, the potentialdeficitsofafocusgroup, asuppression ofauthenticityduetosocialself-censoring intensify clarificationsandtriangulationsofpointsview, and,Ibelieve, largelyavoid oneof oneanother, andtrusted knew the participants theywere abletousethegroup’s dynamicsto they mightbeinfluencinggender-basedexperiencesintheirinteractionswithclients. Because develop aworkshop inwhichbody-centered therapistscouldexamineanddiscusstogetherhow study,beyond theinformedconsentsofadissertation Idescribedmyintentiontothem long-time colleagues,twomalesandfemalesintheir50’s or60’s. By wayoforientation group interactions. Toward that end I formed a focus group of four body-centered therapists, around gender, primarilythrough simpleactive-imagination exercises, andsimpledyadic mostly somatic psychotherapists—could feel safe enough to play with their own feelings intention here wastocreate amodelforanexperientialworkshop inwhichparticipants— investigating how somaticpsychotherapists understandandwork withgenderclinically. My For thisfocusgroup study, we metfortwohoursaround akitchentable,withanaudio I describedmyownorsoleresearcher-writer, role notasprimary butmostlyas fellow ofamoreThis qualitative casestudywaspart comprehensive study grounded theory

Methodology Procedures is a: that by (normal)nature, genderwantstoexpress heterosexuality. She writesthatsuchamatrix example ofwhatJudith Butler (1990)famouslycalledthe“heterosexual matrix”, apresumption Gender asHeterosexual Matrix inbothroles adoptedagender-switchedrole.participants take onagenderidentitydifferent from whatever wasusual,whatactuallyhappenedthat experiences intopreconceived ideas.AlthoughIhadmadethesuggestiononlythatclient according tothesuggestionofCathyCharmaz(2006)follow whatemergesrather thanforce with therapist-clientdyads.Ichosetofollow theirimpulsesratherthaninsistonmyprotocol, was thatmycareful protocol wasquicklysidelined;thetherapistsbeganimmediatelyplaying into aplayfulnesswithstrong flavor ofhilarity. ThefirstthingInoticedaftertheinitialhilarity developed intocentralthemes. themes were andsubsequently shared infollow-up withparticipants individualinterviews and open-codedforaction-orienteddescriptions(Charmaz,2006)ofwhatemerged.Emergent debriefed asagroup ontheirvarious experiences. The recording wassubsequentlytranscribed was lessfamiliartothem. The role-play dyadswere recorded, allparticipants andafterwards one therapist,“the first thingthatcomesoutofmy mouthistheextreme.” actors asthebehaviors, language,andemotions emergedfrom theirown bodies. “Wow,” said “fell into”, andwere sometimes“appalled by” strong gender stereotyping thatsurprisedthe isyour purposeinlife.’”controlled. In enacted,“gave ‘This all the dyads,participants into”, just identifymaleorfemalewith onepolarity—itbecomesstereotype. Andthenyou canbe the stereotyped response this way: “Well, togenderscrutiny that’s thetrapofgender, ifyou was potentenoughtoinduce areflexive stereotyped connected response. One participant offered thesubjectof genderitself was muchdiscussed,butparticipants thatatleastinpart, the stereotyped response, andtowhatextentthesubjectofrole-playing wasresponsible the themeofgenderasstereotype. To oftheexercise whatextenttheartificiality wasinfluencing Gender asStereotype seductive energytoward aman, manifestingafemaletomaleheterosexual desire. role-playing awomanconveyedwoman, andamaleparticipant “woman” primarilyby showing primarily manifestedthrough obvious seductive energytoward role-playing a amaleparticipant sex) sexualattraction.In otherwords, genderrole-playing aman(by afemaletherapist)was expression ofgenderthatwascentrallyconnectedtoapresentation of heterosexual (contra- The centralthemethatemergedfrom therole-play presentations ofgenderwasaclear As soon as thegender-identified props were presented, quickly shifted the fourparticipants A second,related themethatemerged from the role-playing andsubsequentdiscussionswas In ourfocusgroup, theassumptionwasmanifestedby animpulsive, non-mediated hierarchically defined through the compulsory practiceofheterosexuality.hierarchically definedthrough thecompulsory (p. 151) gender (masculineexpresses male,feminineexpresses female)thatisoppositionally and bodies tocohere andmakesensethere mustbeastablesexexpressed through astable hegemonic discursive/epistemic modelofgenderintelligibilitythatassumesfor Results GENDER ASARELATIONAL 35 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 36 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT necessarily male?”Anotheranswered: anatomy. For example,regarding the“’uhg’ maleenergy”, onetherapistasked,“Is that (stereotypes) basedonanatomy, orculture imposingitsdominantpower structures onto according togenderwere actuallybasedonmaleandfemaleanatomy, over-generalizations group debatedwhetherornotthetraitsfamiliarlylabeled debriefingconversation, participants Roman mythology:“I’ve gotMars ontheascendant,I’ve gotallthat‘uhg’ maleenergy”. In our Said for example, referring one participant, based on Greco- to her astrological birth-chart personifies thecharacteristicsconsidered innatelyfeminineandmasculine by Western culture. All usedthelanguageof Western archetypal metaphors,grounded inClassicalmythologythat more conscious of what they usually referred to asmasculine and feminine, male and female. such profound markers asgender, theyare infactfluidandplasticthroughout life. as Elizabeth Grosz (1994)pointsoutthat,inoppositiontotheideaofbodiesbeing“fixed” in noticing ofthem,imagining interacting withthem—influences theinflectionofgender, much us toconformtheprop.” In otherwords, theprops themselves—just theinvitation,just other thing”, answered, theparticipant “Just askingustoplaywithgendered props pressures you’re saying now, be this other thing.” When I asked what message was conveying “be this entirely. said,“Ihave One 64Crayola participant crayons, andyou’re onlygivingmethree, and inferredbut the participants more of a mandate to be dramatic, or to leave behind authenticity as another gender,partner and/or to play at imagining/experiencing oneself as another gender, or thesubjectofexercises. The invitationwastoplayatimagining/experiencingadyadic shared confusion as to whether it was the exercise itself that was creating the sense of constraint, or rewarded to do or not do; in other of words,“constraint”. a boundary Here again there was a others intermsofbothboundariesandlimitations:genderaswhattheyfeltexpectedorallowed andLimitation Gender asBoundary identification with “opposite” genderwas retained: conversation, thesenseofgenderdifference itselfdissipated,even thoughthepseudo- man andthepseudo-woman. couldfeelintothe“safety”When participants ofanauthentic an authenticrelationship beginningtogrow between thetwosub-personalitiesofpseudo- dissipated, there wasagrowing senseofpoignancybeneaththestereotypical behavior, asof through stereotype intoauthenticnegotiation”. It camedown oncethenervousness totrust: describedas“morelong enoughforinterchanges toemergethatparticipants authentic:moving A central part of this sense of boundary andlimitation involved becoming participants of thissense of boundary A central part Participants fabricatedgenderandthatof described theirexperiencesofown temporary Interestingly, thestereotypes tendedtodissipatewhenthedyadswere allowed tocontinue if Ineedtobe, or Icanbeactive ifIneedtobe.I’m stillmale,that’s notthequestion. meant by mymasculine energy andmyfeminineenergy. AsamaleIcanbe receptive and female.Just theconcepts of“the feminine” and “the masculine”. Andthat’s whatI archetypally—by thedefinitionsofhow theword isgenerallyunderstood. But notmale receptive, Masculine Andfeminineenergyismore energyisthatgoesforward. cute.’…A lotofpeopledon’t getbeyond thatfirststage. person insideme!?—Okay, I’ll beafuckingguy. ‘Hey bitch,you lookpretty damn That we were rightatthebeginningofthat.It waslikebarfingout, ‘who wasthis I felt thatif you and I had continued, we interesting would have had this very meeting. And sheagreed withthecomparisontoBorderline Personality Disorder characteristics: me asafemaleclient.I’m goingtopushthistherapist.It wasapushingkindofthing.Afight.” body”, “pushing”, “willing tolayoutmyanxiety, tosaythingsthatwouldn’t have occurred to There wasnothingbehindpersona.It wasallpersona.” described hisbodyandfaceasbecomingstiff:“It wasthepersona.Idefinitelyin of passive sort feeling, I don’t know how to do it, don’t know how to navigate this moment.” He what tosay. Ifeltlikehadtoclaimmyreputable reputation inthemoment.AndIhadthat but Ifeltinvaded, andIfeltlikeitwasaborderline moment.Ifeltshut down. Ididn’t know evident defensiveness: domination move, andalsothemaleinfemale-therapistrole responding withsilenceandthen gathering role, asinthefollowing interaction,whichcaptures boththefemaleinamale-role appraisal: “So, Mary, you comereally well recommended.” She tookandkepttheinformation- as “the dominantrole intheinteraction”, offeringthetherapistanapproving (iftentative) For example,afemaleintherole ofmale-clientimmediatelytookwhatshelaterdescribed describedas“differentdesignations onwhatoneparticipant positionsonthepower spectrum”. seemed toreveal ashared assumptionthatgenderisexperiencedonaprofound level as identity. It’s afalserigidity, afalseclarity.” clear. Asonetherapistputit:“That’s whywe getintotrouble relating behaviorpatternstosex though there’s Lookingclosely, lotsofambiguitybetween pointsonthespectrum. it’s not that we have agreed isthisandthat.Likeagreeing onwhatsetoflightwaves isblue,even your sex. What we callmasculineandfeminineisaculturallyagreed uponsetofcharacteristics and speech).Here, below, isasectionof apseudotherapeutic exchange, offered atlength in gender, whatever theoriginsofitsimpulses,ismademanifestthrough actions(suchas gesture Gender asPerformative as“harder,described by theobserver more aggressive, defending,lessfeminine.” information-gathering, pleasant,easy”. When thetherapistfeltthreatened, theresponse was aggression, ifyou usePeter [Levine’s] oldwords, an incompletefight response.” becoming endless.Asinkingfeeling.aggression. Akindofafreeze ontopofan One femaleinmale-clientrole expressed self-perceptions asmore “adamant”, “out ofmy The maleinfemale-therapistrole describeditthisway:“Maybe thatwasmebeingawoman, Gender aspower One phenomenon thatbecameevidentduringtherole-playing spectrum. Gender, thesetherapistsseemedmostlytobesaying,istherelationship ofyour behaviorsto Judith Butler (1990)famouslyusedtheterm“performative” aboutgender, indicatingthat of thistherapist-client dyad described the male therapist at first as The observer “feminine, Regarding anditwas hersomatic response, shesaid:“Ifeltwassinkingintothestory from different positionsonthatpower spectrum. borderline quality. Or the traumatized quality. We were both perceiving the same thing, into therapysayingIwanttowork withyou, butI’m fightingwith you. That’s the things difficult,andpushingthetherapistintoacornertoprove myself. .I’m coming Well Idefinitelyfeltmyborderline fight-mode, making edge—masculineassertion, Client: Therapist:

hav “I don Ar “F irst ofall,I’d liketoknow ifyou’re gayornot.[Afterasilence] e you married?” e quiteareputation.” ’t thinkthat’s I’ve important. beeninthisbusinessalongtime,I GENDER ASARELATIONAL 37 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 38 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis some of the participant descriptionsoftheirexperience: some oftheparticipant guidelines more explicitthan“witness takeonanothergenderrole”. your partner Below are Frustrations were focusedmainlyonthedifficulty oranxietyevoked by role-playing without Participant Debriefing therapist role] asmyself, anactualwoman,whowasgoingtobechallenged,andwouldopen. in asoft,needIsayfeminineway?feltlikerecognized aqualityinyou, [themaleinfemale- It wasafeelingthatyou were meeting my confidence with your confidence,butin aflirtatious, what doIdo?”Soempowering. itwasvery Anditwasdisgusting what cameoutofmymouth! wasn’t necessarily power over her. But there was never a moment when I was like, “Oh, now The femaleinmale-clientrole experienceditthisway: were beingenactedbetween therapist-role andclient-role: order togive aflavor oftheexperience. Perhaps itwillbecomequicklyevident whatgenders GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT • expressedAll fourparticipants surpriseatthe intensityoftheenergyevoked by theexercise. Total power. No matter what shesaid,nomatterwhere shewent, Iwas inpower. Andit • • • • • • • • ------

note isn’t goingtobethemusicyou wanttoplay. it’s okaytogopast your first take. It doesn’t have tobeaconsistentcharacter, thefirst limiting. of oneortheother, but you become man,woman,masculine, feminine—human.It’s a I thinkw initial stuff, andthat’s already meltingaway. It wasinteresting. I got Venus inAries,so… energy actuallyis.LikeifIwere awoman,Iprobably woulddosomething like that.I’ve The seductiv I r M I feltlimitedb V V R to asuccessfultherapeuticrelationship. I appr appointment atthree? S O S O some thingswithyou. I’ M B What doy Y I believ t’s what’s atfirstbetween thegenders,that’s thenegotiation. That’s thekindofcock- o, shouldIpickyou upattwothen,andwe cangodosomething,andwe canhave our o, whattimeshouldIcomegetyou? What timeshouldIpickyou up? ou ‘believe’ you canhelpme,oryou canactuallyhelp? m notactuallyinterested inusingitasatransference. Iwouldn’t mind transferring ery powerful, very charged. powerful, very ery interesting. ery ecause I—Imean,I’m attractedtoyou, so— eally comfortable. ur usualappointmentfornextweek. Three o’clock. ur timeisupfortoday, but—Ithinkwe’ve doneamazingwork. y experiencewasthatit’s limitingonlyuntilthere’s somethinginthesetupthatsays, y boundariesare excellent. Imean,we canusethetransference. eally thinkyou sawwhatisinsideme. eciate your humor, serious…Authenticity butthisisvery isvery, important very e Icanhelpyou. e usethephrase Two Spirit, meaning,you’re bornmale orfemale,degrees ou think?…Whatare you feelingrightnow, inyour body? e, thepowerful, boundariedenergyfeltlikewhatmydeepcross-gender y thefactthatIwasplayingarole. Once you turnitintoanexercise, it’s It wouldbeeasierIthinkifwasgiven arole. ‘You are a46year oldwoman.’” shouldsay,what participants but‘this isyour story, thisisyour client,thisiswhyyou’re here.’ wantedascriptorscenarioforclient-therapistrole-play:larger scale.One “Not participant of Participant Suggestions For Future Applications Certainly, these suggestionswillfindtheirwayintoa revision oftheexercise, for example: Another suggestedanintroduction likethis: There were several suggestionsfrom thegroup regarding replicating suchexercises ona • • • • • •

- - of apersonidentifiedwithanother gender. have alotofrespect for. So you immediatelygetawholestory, oratleastafullersense opposite sex,asin:Sit foraminute,andthinkofsomebodytheoppositesexthat you In order tofree peopleofthestereotype, helppeopleaccessarespectful imageofthe for thethree-minute firstpiece. To dissipatethestereotype response. play itout.Andyou couldputitinacontextthatwouldbesocial—like acocktailparty, then asecondtimewithpartner, andslow itdown, soyou gettoimmediately Maybe dotworounds really quick, likethree minuteswithafirstpartner really quick, any sense.It’s notaboutholdingcharacter. to keepevolving inyour persona,even ifyou contradictyourself, andyou don’t make not goingtolandthere thefirstthing thatcomesoutof your mouth. So allow yourself thing tosay. So thatyou’re tofind your authenticity, exploring,trying you’re possibly “No matterwhere allow you start, yourself tochangeandevolve” wouldbeahelpful feel aboutmyself. we were in.Being abletobeempowered inthepositionswe were in. power, way. inacertain it’s alignedwithit.So cross sex,withmeasthewoman,Ifeltvery couldaccessmy because there’s somuchshared woundingthrough historicalhomophobia…But when liberationthatIcan’tof attraction.Awonderful even doeven withanothergayman, and enjoy my feminine attractiveness—let’s just say my attractiveness…and my feelings the womanIfeellikedidn’t have toswimthrough it.Icouldjustbeattractedtoyou, this semblanceof…”AndIfeellikehave toswimthrough thatallthetime.But as man withmen:“Idon’t wanttoseemlikethekindofmanwho…andIhave tomaintain M of therapy, to‘make sure theycomebacknext week’. B becoming process. So it’s notover tillthefatladysings.” As myself sexualized, personalitydisordershistrionic, very transgressing. NOS, really boundary T the stereotypes andthencomingbackalittlebit. I Ther t wasaboutmediscovering ofmethatare alloftheparts notsogendered, by goinginto

o putontheoppositegenderbringsoutinmesomethingunhinged;borderline, rought out the therapy as seduction, therapy as bed, the unspoken seduction element akes merealize thatinactualpracticeIhave tonavigatesomuchhomophobia,asa authenticity, merely from theperspective ofadifferent gender-role. I I intendtochangetheinstr with words, perhaps withjusteye contactornon-contact gesture. segment allowing tomillabout and,iftheyfeellikeit,interact perhaps participants n order toallow formore thansimplystereotypical reactivity, Iwilladda quick e wasthispositive experienceofbothusbuildingthestrength ofthepositions , Ihave maleandalsofemaleavailable tome,whenever Iwantit. That’s how I uctions to state that participants should exploreuctions tostatethatparticipants GENDER ASARELATIONAL 39 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 40 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis investigate: forexample, facial expressions, postures, orreaching patterns. What constrictions or constriction concretize pathsto orreside?” andsubsequentlychoosemany intervention accessible toconsciousness,which prohibited from conversation orawareness? coiffed, partnered, pierced? Which ofthesecharacteristics are plasticandwhichfixed? Which prohibitions, for example, of the way a client walks, how a client is shod, clothed, ornamented, mindful therapeuticattention to thelistabove! What are theorigins,implications,inspirations, psychic healing. natural toimaginethatgenderplaymightbecomeamore commonroute ofexplorationtoward be tappedthrough suchsimplegenderplayasimaginingbeyond one’s zone, itseems comfort that energyinthemselves. Given suchalevel ofenergyandaccesstotheunconsciousable had they either interacted with borderline personality disorder energy in another, or navigated sexual in nature, to feel on some level that caused participants alarmed, as they would have felt was called and experienced as play, there was an unleashing of an authentic impulse, usually to feelandactunbounded,outofcontrol, insufficiently reigned in. Even thoughthecontext the coherency ofone’s usualgender-identity, oneofthefirst responses from thepsyche was feelings duringtheexercise asfeeling“borderline”. It wasasif, by daringtorelease control of Implications forPractice surreptitiously constrainingafullerexploration,understanding,andenjoyment oflife. sense ofgenderidentitymightdiscover unexpectedaspectsoftheirprivilegethathave been where agencyandidentity can comefrom. Those who mightbe mostly privileged by their be disempowered by gender-related identitiesmightbeassistedinshiftingtheirsenseof identities, andthosewhoare mostlyprivilegedby theirgenderidentity. Those whomight to me,regarding boththosewhoare generallydisempowered by culturalresponses togender for theory, forhealing—forincreasing resiliency andself-awareness andjoy—seem significant culture thatseesgenderasthecentralorganizingprinciple of self(Fine, 2010). The implications for Theory Implications GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT A somaticpsychotherapist inthebodydoesunnoticed domination might ask, “Where What awealth ofpossibilitiesforgrowth, healing,andinsightmight beaccessedby a Elizabeth Grosz (1994)pointedoutthat: One oftheresponses mostinteresting tothegroup wasthedescriptionofbehaviorsand I suspectthere ismuchmore toinvestigate here regarding basicpersonalitycoherency ina depending onwhatkindofclothingisworn.(p. 80) when theywear clothing.Andtheposture and gaitwill,moreover, enormously, vary subjects do not walk the same way orhave thesameposture when theyare nakedas objects. They mark the body, itsgait,posture, position…by marking thebodyimage: enough willbeincorporatedintothebodyimage—clothing, jewelry, otherbodies, Anything of that the comes body into and contact remainswith the surface there long - will ask people to write down on 2-sided paper some feelings/ thoughts/ -

I’ expectations/fears before andalsoaftertheexercises. I have alot of respect for. Soyou immediatelygetawholestory.” m goingtoadd:“Sit foraminute,andthinkofsomebodytheoppositesexthatyou Discussion frequently is homoerotic transference or counter-transference evaded, denied, or denigrated, person’s bodily experiences? To intowhere pusheven mighthide,how further discomfort explore onlyverbally themost intimatediscourseofall,the imaginal explorationsofanother and/or guide clients to touch one another. How are those assumptions dealt with by those who assumptions dealtwithby clinicianswho touchtheirclients,guideclientstothemselves, ourgenderedand scrutinize relationships withclients?How are gender-awareness andgender- the eroticism ofproximity useful,distracting,ordangerous, ifwe andscrutiny clinicians admit embarrassed eros, bethekeytosilence stilldiscouragingthesequestions? That is,how is and why? Where andwhy? andwheniseye contactextendedorcutshort, touched, andby whatgenderoftherapist,andwhichclientsare addressed alwaysatadistance, allowed toadmitnoticingorallowed oftheconversation? tomakepart Which clientscanbe oftheirownthey sit,orwhatparts bodytheytouchoravoid? Asawoman,whatwouldIbe allowed totouchoreven admittonoticingaboutanotherman’s body, ora woman’s, abouthow or withaman,teenagerschildren orelders? What, forexample,amIasaman another man,orwithawoman,aswomaninintimatebody contactwithanotherwoman, working forexampleasamaninintimatebodycontact(sittingtogether aloneinaroom) with that ideaoffixed genderimpactthebody-experienceofsomaticpsychotherapists themselves, fixed, discrete, by cutting-edgeneuroscience, biologicallybased,andsupported thenhow might we allneedtoaskaboutgender, istheproblem, andforwhom?”(p. “What 92). practitioners whodealdirectly withthegendered body?AsCatherineButler (2008)suggested question mightbe:where isthevibrantscholarlydiscussionregarding genderamongsomatic integration andresilience possibilities? What empowers thosewhoare? Even more basica the assumptionsofthosewhodon’t? What stopstherapistswhoare notinvestigating such of thoseclinicianswhodoapproach gender-basedconstrictionsasanyotherconstriction,and accomplish thiswithrespect togender?If theydon’t, whynot? What are thegenderassumptions bodies expandintoresilience from debilitatingconstrictions(Hilton, 2007),how doclinicians there, aswithotherarchetypal patterns(Lingiardi, 2009;Moon, 2008;Singer, 1972)? understood genderinwaysthathelpclientsfindthepsychic safetytoplayandexperiment What psychic andphysicalintegrationsmightclientsattain,itbeasked,ifclinicians anger ornot,andwhyhow docliniciansregulate, investigate, oravoid theanswers? hugs forhiswife—orlive withoutthementirely? Who canfreely cry, orcan’t, orexpress orfeel or receive, ahug,or, incontrast,canbearfrom anothermanatmostahandshake,leavingthe How isawomansubtlybindingherown feet? What istheeffectonamanwhodares askfor, be anaturalapproach towards healinggenderwoundingaswell. general, collective psychology” (par. 757).Such aperspective ofplayandindividuationmight in particular, itisthedevelopment ofthepsychological individualasabeing distinctfrom the word, “individuation”: “the process by whichindividualbeingsare formedanddifferentiated; considered tocreate anenvironment allowing fortransformation,and,touseJung’s (1921) play, orexperimentsafely, withmaterialthathasformerlybeenunconsciousorunsafe,is a stateofnotbeingabletoplayintoplay” (p. 50).Being ableto (1971) famousdictumthatpsychotherapy issuccessfulwhenithelpsapersonmove “from into greater expansiveness? Somatic psychology oftentakesitsinspirationfrom Winnicott’s and rigiditiesofthebodyare basedonlifelongconstraints,andhow mightapersonbehelped To whatextent mightheterosexual hegemony(Butler, 2004),oreven unexamined If somaticpsychotherapists are stilloperatingfrom anunderstandingofgenderasclearand Given aim to that helppeople somatic and psychotherapistspeople’s hold as a primary How, forexample,isamanisolatinghimselfby cuttinghimselfofffrom “feminine” feelings”? GENDER ASARELATIONAL 41 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 42 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT neutral. as comprehensively—especially includingclinicalinteractionsusuallyapprehended asgender- awareness andgender-orientedinteractionsmightimpactactuallife experiences,subtlyaswell gender role, thatbehaviorsandemotions mightemergeleadingtoinsightsabouthow gender role, andby holdingwitnesswhileothersplaywith theirown sense ofgenderidentityand toattainaplayfulfeeling regardingparticipants theirown senseofgenderidentityand brain integration(Siegel, 2007).Second, thatperhapsby makingitpossible forclinician- 1971)andwhole- deep experimentationandsubsequentlylearning,healing (Winnicott, and safetyofafeelingplayfulnesswithgendermight,like playfulnessingeneral,allow for session. The premise undergirding thestudywastwofold: first,thattheimaginative flexibility awareness oftheirown genderexperiencesby theinter-subjective experiences inaclinical whether psychotherapists mightbewittinglyorunwittinglycontributingto theirclients’ ”Gendering Clients”. In otherwords, Ienvisionedthisfirst studyasawaytobegininvestigating result, thethemesdescribedhere reflect theactualconsensusofgroup. wereand follow-up possibleforthesakeoftriangulatingemergentthemes.Asa interviews ofoneanotherandtheresearchertrusting wasthat there available, wasadeeplevel oftrust other hand,oneoftheadvantages bothfamiliarand ofusingasmallfocusgroup ofparticipants asaninitiatingmodelforlarge-scaleinvestigations. Onattention tothesubject,andserve analysis. Still, myexpectationisthateven suchbeginningsasthesemightsuccessfullybring that causesufferinginclients. Those illuminationsawaitmore comprehensive samplingand therapists mightbecontributingtoareification ofgender-role behaviorsandassumptions regarding genderorgenderingbehaviors.Nor hasityet illuminatedexplicitwaysinwhich oftherapistscannotcoursebeusedtogeneralizeOne aboutemergenttheory smallcohort Critique ofMethodology solidify itsinfluence. peripheralize thediscipline,justasengaginginconversationfurther mightelectrifyand gender asbiologicallyfixed (Baron-Cohen, 2003). Resisting orignoringtheconversation might bringing somaticpsychotherapy itselfintogreater prominence, even asitre-reifies theideaof the uniquecapacitytoadvance thegenderconversation justatatimewhenneuroscience is fluid andtransformablewithinthebody-mind relationship, somaticpsychology mighthave called “a stateofdenial” onasocietallevel (2006,p. xiv). With itsexplorationofwhatis fear,constraints of publicdistrust, andincomprehension (Levine, 1997), what Daniel Siegel work, aswell astowards aliberationofthepracticesomaticpsychotherapy from lingering expanding theory—towards increasing thepotency, parametersandpotentialofclinical dominant culture? word (1977)—through psychotherapy’s consciousandunconscious collaborationwiththe words, are culturalnormssilentlymaintainedandregulated—policed, wasfamouslyFoucault’s how much is it heightened by those erotics of proximity How, and somatic scrutiny? in other My biasinthisstudymightbedescribedby whatisrevealed inthetitleofpaper— Obviously, nature ofasmall focusgroup. oneofthelimitationsthisstudywasvery Asking suchquestionsofsomaticpsychotherapists mighthave implicationstowards Conclusion Experiencing Practitioner, andstudies Relational Somatic Psychotherapy withMichael Sieck. andmaintainsaprivate practiceinSantaArts, Monica, California.He isacertified Somatic Institute, AntiochUniversity, ArgosyUniversity, Extension Schoolofthe andtheUCLA Gender In ClinicalPractice”. He hastaughtasadjunctfacultyattheSanta Barbara Graduate is titled,“Gendering theClient:How Somatic Psychotherapists Understand and Work with as completingPhD somaticstudiesattheSanta Barbara Graduate Institute. His dissertation Pacifica Graduate Institute, anda PhD insomaticpsychology from theChicagoSchool,as well BIOGRAPHY Anguksuar REFERENCES Foucault, M.(1991). The ethicofcare fortheselfasapracticeoffreedom. In J.Bernauer &D. Foucault, M.(1977).Disciplineandpunish: oftheprison. NewThe birth York: RandomHouse. Fosha, D.,Siegel, D.,Solomon, M.,(eds.)(2009).Thehealingpower ofemotion:affective Fine, C.(2010).Delusions ofgender. How ourminds,society, andneurosexism create difference. Fausto-Sterling, A.(2000).Sexing ofsexuality. thebody:genderpoliticsandconstruction New Downing, C.(1989).Myths andmysteriesofsame-sexlove. New York: Continuum. Conger, J.(1988).Jung andReich: The bodyasshadow. Berkeley, CA:North Atlantic Books. Butler, J.(2004).Undoing Gender. NY: Routledge Butler, J.(1990,1999).Gender trouble: Feminism andthesubversion ofidentity.New York: Butler, C.&Byrne, A.(2008). Queer inpractice. Therapy andqueertheory. In L.Moon (Ed.), American Psychological Association(2007);Sex difference inmind. Keeping science Baron-Cohen, S.(2003). The essentialdifference. Men, women,andtheextreme male brain. Baker, E.(1982).“Sexual theoriesof Wilhelm Reich.” Journal ofOrgonomy, 20(2). The American Balsam, K.F., Huang, B.,Fieland, K.C.,Simoni, J.M., Walters, K.L.(2004).Culture, trauma, Gay, P. (1988).Freud: Alifeforourtime. New York: Norton. Freud, S.(1928).Gesammelte(Vol. schriften XI) Vienna: Internationaler Psychoanalytischer Verlag. Lang, S. (Eds.), Two-spirit the cosmosandrestoration ofindigenoustaxonomies. In Jacobs, S.E., Thomas, W., and Email:Website: [email protected]. www.garyglickman.com. Glickman, PhD,Gary holds a master’s degree in counseling and depth psychology from Rasmussen (eds.),The neuroscience, development &clinicalPractice. New York: Norton. NY: Norton &Co. York: Basic Books. Routledge. London: Routledge. Feeling approaches queerorfeelings:Radical tocounsellingsex,sexualitiesandgenders. Psychological Association. science? Top researchers debatetheevidence(pp. 159-172). Washington, D.C.:American distinct from socialpolicy. In S.Ceciand W. Williams (Eds.), Whyaren’t more women in London: AllenLane. College ofOrgonomy. Americans. and wellness: Acomparisonofheterosexual andlesbian,gay, bisexual,and Two-spirit native (pp. 217–222).Chicago:University ofIllinois Press. , LaFortune, R.(1997).Apostcolonialperspective onwestern [mis]conceptionsof Cultural diversity andethnicminoritypsychology,10 (3), 287-301. fi nal Foucault. Cambridge: The MITPress. people: Native American gender identity, sexuality, and spirituality GENDER ASARELATIONAL

43 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 44 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Winnicott, D.W. (1971/2005).Playing andreality. New York: Tavistock Publications. Smith, E.(1985).Thetradition ofthebodyinpsychotherapy. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. Singer, J.(1972,1994). Boundaries ofthesoul: The practice ofJungian psychology.New York: Siegel, D.(2007).Themindfulbrain. New York: W.W. Norton &Company. Sieck, M.(2012). Taken from theinternet,March 11,2012.www.threefoldway.com ——(1994). Schore, A.(2003).Affectdysregulation anddisorders oftheself.New York: W.W. Norton &Company. Rosenberg, J.L.(1985).Body, self,andsoul:Sustaining integration. Atlanta, GA:Humanics, Roberts, A.,Rosario, M.,Coliss,H.,Koenen, K.C.&Austin, S.B.(2012).“Childhoodgender Roscoe, W.(1998). Reich, W.(1961). Reich, W.(1945). Patton, M.Q.(1990).Qualitative Evaluation andResearch Methods (2nded.).Newbury Park, CA: Moon, L.(2010).Counselingideologies:queerchallengestoheternormativity. (L.Moon, ed.). Moon, L.(2008b).“Queer(y)ing theheterosexualisations ofemotion.In Feeling queeror Moon, L. (2008a). Queer(y)ing apsychosocial approach tosex.Sexuality andgenderintherapeutic Lowen, A.(1980).Fear oflife.New York: MacMillan. Lingiardi, V. (2007).“Dreaming gender: Restoration and transformation.”In Studies inGender and Levine, P. (1997).Waking thetiger, healingtrauma: The innatecapacitytotransform overwhelming Jung, C.G.(1951). The syzygy:Animaandanimus.In Aion:Researches intothephenomenology Jung, C.G.(1921).Psychological typology. The collectedworks ofC.G.Jung. (vol. 6).pars.960-87. Isay, R. (1989).Being homosexual.Gay menandtheirdevelopment. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux. Hilton, M.(2007).Relational somaticpsychotherapy; Hilton. CollectedessaysofRobert (M.Sieck, ed.) Haraway, D.(1986).Primatiology ispoliticsby othermeans.In Feminist approaches toscience, ed. Grosz, E.(1994).Volatile bodies: Toward acorporeal feminism. Bloomington: Indiana GenderSpectrum blog(n.d.)Retrieved March 2,2012,from http://www.genderspectrum.org/ GARY GLICKMAN,MA,LMFT Random House. New Age. [Electronic Version]. nonconformity: Ariskindicatorforchildhoodabuseand posttraumatic stress inyouth. St. Martin’s Press. translator). New York: Farrar, Straus, andGeroux. Sage Publications, Inc. Burlington, VT: AshgatePublishing Company. approachesfeelings: Radical tocounsellingsex,sexualitiesandgenders.London:Routledge. sexualities andgenders.London:Routledge. settings. In L.Moon (Ed.), Feeling approaches queerorfeelings:Radical tocounsellingsex, Sexuality experiences. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books. University Press. of the self. In, The collected works of C. G. Jung. (RF.C. Hull, Trans.). Princeton: Princeton Jung. Princeton: Princeton University Press. (RF.C. Hull, Trans.). Princeton: Princeton University Press. In A.Storr (1983).Theessential SBGI Press, Redlands CA. Ruth Bleir. New York: Pergamon Pres, pp. 77-118. University Press. blog/99-gender-constructs-hurt-all-children 8(4):313–331. Affect Regulation anddisorders oftheself.New York: W.W. Norton &Company. Selected writings.New York: The Noonday Press/ Farrar, Straus andGiroux. The sexualrevolution: Toward aself-regulating character structure. Pol, (Therese Changing Ones: Third andFourth Genders inNative North America.New York: Pediatrics 129(410).DOI:10.1542/ped.2011-1804 pointed to historicalarchives information. thatcontainedfurther Full-text searches ofthesedigitized documents yieldedfascinatinginsightsinto Bull’s personalityandlifestory, and recently. In years thepastfew Google andothershave digitized andindexed oftheworld’s majorportions literature. 1 © Author andUSABP/EABP. Reprints [email protected] Volume 11,Number 2,2012pp45-58Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN2168-1279 International BodyPsychotherapy Journal TheArt andScienceofSomaticPraxis aspects ofherlegacyinthewiderculture. inFormativeher legacywithrespect toboththerole ofattitude theory Psychology andother experiments sheconductedtotestthetheory, aconsiderationofherlife,anddiscussion to bethefirstdevoted specificallytoher. andthe Itincludesasynopsisofherattitude theory teacher toStanley Keleman, thefounderofFormative Psychology. The present appears article written aboutherwork orherlife.She isprobably bestknown mentorand asanimportant relationship andtherole ofthemusculature insubjective experience,yet littlehasbeen Psychology. formal degree. Herwouldprove attitudetheory amajorinfluenceon Keleman’s Formative older than nowadays, andforging a successful career as a scientist despite not holding a field”, herscientific career starting inhermid-fiftiesatatime when50wasconsidered much The historicalresearch reported herein wouldhave beenextremely difficult, ifnotimpossible,toconductuntil and attitudesthatinformedherresearch. work andFormative Psychology, andpresents originalhistoricalstudyoftheevents the experimentssheconductedtoconfirmhertheory, discussesthe relationship ofher her work orpersonallife. This paperpresents asynopsisofherattitudetheory, describes aslittlehasbeendoneinthewayofcompilinginformationaboutremains amystery mentor toStanley Keleman, thefounderofFormative Psychology. Still, herlifelargely role ofthemusculature insubjective experience.She isbestknown asateacherand psychotherapy. She wasapioneerinthestudyofmind/bodyrelationship andthe musculature, muscles,attitudetheory. Nina Bull, wholived from 1880to 1968, was apioneerin the studyofmind/body She waswell aheadofhertime,beingawomaninwhatwasthenconsidered “a man’s Key Nina Bull isasignificantalbeitunderappreciated ofbody figure inthehistory words: Nina Bull, Formative Psychology, ofpsychotherapy, emotion,history skeletal Nina Bull:TheWork, LifeandLegacyof Daniel J.Lewis,M.P.H., M.A. a SomaticPioneer Accepted September 2012 Introduction 1 Abstract

NINA BULL 45 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 46 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis DANIEL J.LEWIS,M.P.H., M.A. rapid inductionofahypnotictrance,were given thefollowing hypnotic suggestion: subjects—“seven menandthree girls” (Bull, 1951,p.44)—screened andtrainedforthe the specificmuscularconfigurationsandpostures associatedwithspecificemotions. Ten Testing the Experimental InvestigationTheory: oftheMind/Body Relationship preparation foractionprecedes, notfollows, thesubjective awareness ofemotion. tocommonassumption,delayed, andactionitself. contendsthat,contrary Attitude theory actionis toaction,whichthengives risebothtofeeling,iftheconsummatory preparatory attitude”: firstalatent readiness or “predisposing neuralpattern”, thenthemotorattitude the introduction oftheneuromuscular sequenceandtherole ofthe“preparatory motor andthetheoriesof W.B.Lange theory Cannon(Bull, 1951).Her specificcontributionwas events wouldresult inemotion. attitude followed action,butadelaybetween thesetwo immediatelyby theconsummatory we feellesssorry.begin tocry Emotion motor wouldnotbegeneratedfrom apreparatory about tocry, we feelsorry. butholdthatattitudeandinhibittheactualcrying, Once we action, thenthesubjective consciousnessofanemotionwouldarise.If, forexample,we are attitudewasnotfollowedthat ifthispreparatory immediatelyby theconsummatory from whichthemovementform afulcrum cantakeplace...”(Bull, 1951).She postulated some posturalpreparation. “Some oftheorganism must alwaysbestabilized to portion nature ofemotions.She notedthatanybehavior, thatis,anybodilymovement, requires (Herrick,1950), Bull andconductedexperimentalinvestigations intothe developed theory Research Projects fortheStudy ofMotor Attitudes atNew York State Psychiatric Institute College ofPhysicians andSurgeons andlater, afterforced retirement in1950asDirector of (Bull, 1951;Bull, 1962).Her ofattitudetheory. majorcontributionwasthearticulation the next25years shepublishedsome18papersinpeer-reviewed journals,andtwobooks situation whichcoulddisprove the prevailing theory. subjective experienceoftheirassociated emotionalstate.She didthisby settingupa each oftheseemotions.She usedthisinformation inthenextphaseofherresearch. Inobservers. thisway, Bull learnedthespecificmuscularconfigurationsassociated with depression, triumph,andjoy. The subjects’ behaviorwasrecorded indetailby twoorthree Bull tested her theory throughBull a series of experiments. tested her theory The first step was to determine Her theory, sheexplained,wassimilartothoseofseveral others,mostnotablytheJames- In the1940’s and1950’s, firstas research atColumbia associateinpsychiatry University’s Bull publishedherfirstscientificwork attheageof58 (Bull, 1938). Over thecourse of The nextstepwastoshow thatthesemuscular attitudesinvariably preceded the The procedure wasconductedwithsixstimulus emotions:disgust,fear, anger, the room. you Afterward willbeabletodescribewhathappened.(Bull, 1951,p. 45) about—anything atall. You willnotbeannoyed orembarrassedby ourpresence in eyes orleave themclosed,remain seatedorgetup, liedown onthecouchorwalk outward behaviorinanaturalmanner. You maydoanythingyou like,openyour this emotion,experiencestateofmindstrongly. You willshow thisin your which denotesanemotionorstateofmind. When you heartheword you willfeel In alittlewhileIshallcountto five. IshallsayawordImmediately afterward with the postural setcommonly associated with itcould be produced, so thatby hypnoticsuggestion feeling atvariancecomponent parts, If thebasicsequence ofmotorattitude--> feeling couldbesplitinto withdrawal behavior and a “reaching reflex”. Her 1967 letter to Abraham Maslow criticizes Museum of Natural History requests information about his research inapproach and sense to the forebrain. Herolfactory brief exchange with T. C. Schnierla of the American Her briefexchange in1966/1967withLesterAronson concernstherelationship ofthe Psychology at The University ofAkron containhalfadozen letterswiththree correspondents. Len Lye, anexperimental filmmaker, at apicture andcanview ofherlaboratory Woodstock. Alfred Korzybski, thefounder ofgeneralsemantics. We alsolearnofheracquaintancewith acquainted withMira Korzybska, painterandthewifeof whowasaprominent portrait neurological principlesandphilosophy. We alsolearnfrom theselettersthat Bull was The letters record the development of Bull’s thought and contain rich discussions of various andrequestedher articles hisresponse, towhichhefrequently responded insomedetail. Kansas containsome50letters,spanningtheyears 1946to1960. She senthimcopies of mayfit well hercorrespondent’sthat attitudetheory ideas,andtheninvitea reply. of oneherpapers.She willthenmentionapaperorlineofthoughttheirs andsuggest correspondents. Bull frequently introduces herselftohercorrespondent by sendingareprint to herpapers.However, Ihave locatedcorrespondence inthearchives ofanumberher have athandisprobably incomplete,asIhave notlocatedanarchive specificallydevoted Correspondence andOther Interactions withColleagues therapy” (Herrick, 1954). and stated,“It seemswe are ontheverge ofsomeformulationsthatshouldbereal usein a 1954lettertoC.Judson Herrick, Bull development wrote ofattitudetheory ofthefurther anddepression. beyond emotiontoincludegoalorientation,frustration, Inattitude theory worked withherontheresearch thatresulted inthisbook(USABPJ,2007). This bookextends adopted adifferent posturalattitude. specific tothatemotion. Subjects couldnotexperienceadifferent emotionunlesstheyfirst or triumph.Subjects foundthisimpossibletodoaswell. hands andarmstightentheirjawwhilesimultaneouslyexperiencingtheemotionofjoy emotion namedby theexperimenter. For totensetheir example, theymightbeinstructed to assumeamotorattitudedescribedby theexperimenterandthenaskedtoexperiencean impossible todothis. phase of the experiment to be associated with the feeling of anger). The subjects found it time tensingthehandsandarmstighteningjaw(amotorattitudefoundinfirst “triumph,” tomaintain that feelingwhileat the same the subjectmightthenbeinstructed attitude associatedwithadifferent emotion.For example,ifthestimulusword was“joy” or The subjectswere tomaintainthefeelingofthatemotionwhileassumingamotor instructed an emotionwasinduced,asbefore, by theexperimentersayingoneofsixstimuluswords. The Archives oftheHistoryAmericanPsychology attheCenter fortheHistoryof The Archives ofC.Judson Herrick attheSpencer ResearchoftheUniversity Library of Her correspondence withcolleaguesmakesforfascinatingreading. The record thatI In 1962,Bull publishedasecondbook,TheBodyandIts Mind (1962).Stanley Keleman In thisway, Bull demonstratedthatemotionisinvariably preceded by amotorattitude In asecondarmoftheexperimentorder wasreversed. Subjects were firstinstructed In onearmofthisphasethestudy, subjectswere againplacedinahypnoticstateand (Bull, 1962,p.37) then areinvestigation oftheentire conceptwouldbecalledfor. NINA BULL

47 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 48 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis children (Ogilvie andHarvey, 2000). Bull, afellow parishioner ofthe Trinity Church (Wallace, 1989).She ultimately hadthree then ayoung woman,was probably present. Three months latershemarriedHenryAdsit or another, throughout herlife. was notachurchgoer. Aswe shallsee,Bull’s sense of thedivinewaspresent, inoneform 1933). Generally though,Luhan writes,Nina wassad,paleandsomber. playfully liftthemupanddrop themontothebed.Nina loved thistimewithherfather(Luhan, play withNina andherfriendMabeldaywhilehewasdressing for dinner. every He would apparently generallyhumorlessand cold, andawkward around children, would nevertheless favored herown childandwascold,neglectful,meantolittle Nina. Bull’s father, although role inBull’s lifeandultimatelygained agreat dealofcelebrity. She wrote thatBull’s stepmother that themarriagewascharacterized by “coldness andlackofintimacy” (Wallace, 1989). daughter wasborntothatunion.Friends ofthetwochildren remembered manyyears later cared forby hermother’s sister. Three years laterherfathermarriedthiswoman, anda the community(Niagara Falls Gazette, 1930; Wallace, 1989). rather coldandhumorless,heappearstohave beenwell respected, perhapseven loved, in center forworking mothersintheUnited States (Buffaloah, n.d.).Althoughgenerally from adverse development. He wasalsoafounderoftheFitch Creche, thefirstdaycare numbered years. He reform tosave Niagara andinefforts wasactive incivilservice Falls and countyelectionsinodd-numbered years andstatenationalelectionsineven- concerned withgoodgovernment. He iscredited withpromoting theideaofholdingcity prominent attorney in Buffalo. He was well known as a philanthropist and as a civic activist Early Life collection andtheLifwynnFoundation collection.Ihave notyet seenthesematerials. “frustrated peopleactas‘true believers’”. 1955 paperandaskedhisreaction. She hisideaoftheway statedthatherideassupported Stanford University containsaletterfrom 1956inwhichBull sentHoffer acopyofher emergence ofcerebration fitsinwith your generallineofthought,asitappearstomedo.” papers. She to some of his ideas and asks, “whetherrelates attitude theory my concept of the replies. She and asked him for a reprint sent him a paper on attitude of theory one of his Jesuit priest,philosopher, andpaleontologistPierre Teilhard deChardin, and Teilhard’s Georgetown University in Washington, DCcontainstwolettersfrom 1952ofBull tothe no record ofMaslow’s reply. “However,” shesays,“when you writeofhomeostasis...Iamwithyou 100%.” There is “elation” and “integration”. She suggests that “elation” could be studied in the laboratory. his terms“peak experience” and“self-actualization”, preferring touseinsteadtheterms DANIEL J.LEWIS,M.P.H., M.A. The inaugurationof Theodore Roosevelt took placeinBull’s childhood home.Bull, We alsolearnfrom Luhan thatBull heldareligiosity thatannoyed herstepmother, who A childhoodfriend,Mabel Ganson (laterMabel Dodge prominent Luhan), wastoplayavery Bull’s mother, CorneliaC.Rumsey Wilcox, diedsixweeks afterBull’s Bull birth. was Nina Bull wasbornin1880Buffalo, New York. Her father, Ansley Wilcox, wasa The Yale University containsmaterialrelating toBull Library intheHans CasparSyz The Eric Hoffer Collection,box 27,folder17,attheHoover Institution Archives of The Teilhard Schmitz-Moormann Collectionatthe Woodstock Theological Centerof Her Life New Thought as“the oldNew Age”. It wasdescribed by William James as follows: was amajorfigure inthe“New Thought” movement. Someone oncehumorously described Church. assume thatitinvolved acommitmenttotheEpiscopalianism practicedatBuffalo’s Trinity how herreligiosity manifested whenshewasunderherfather’s roof, butitisreasonable to Religious andSpiritual Development 1935, p. 114).She issometimesreferred toasNina Witt. figures spenttimein Taos, anditisquitelikelythat Bull wasacquaintedwithmanyofthem. visit wasdescribedinDodge’sin Taos bookLorenzo colony there. Bull followed herthere andhostedD.H.Lawrence onthelatter’s visit. This John Reed. Neith Boyce, Georgia O’Keefe, AnselAdams, Stein Gertrude andherbrother LeoStein, and Charles Demuth, “Big Bill” Haywood, Max Eastman,LincolnSteffens, Hutchins Hapgood, time. These figures would includeCarl Van Vechten, Margaret Sanger, Emma Goldman, New Mexico. Mabel Dodge. She held her gatherings in New York’s Greenwich Village and later in Taos, discussions. One ofthepremier organizers oftheseevents wasNina Bull’s childhoodfriend where writers,thinkers,andscientists wouldgatheralongwithmore folkfor artists, ordinary would begatherings,usuallyheldinaprivate homeandoftenhostedby awealthy woman, Cultural Connections: The Salon ofMabel Dodge andthe Taos Colony Art preparationmy lackoforthodox forthiscareer” (Bull, 1968). been endorsedby numerous top-level scientistswhohave acceptedmeasacolleaguedespite of communication, Special CollectionsAssistantatMercer University, Macon, Georgia). or two, as shedidnot appear inthe Catalog andProspectus of thefollowing year (personal “fixing to go” (Bull, ina1951article 1951). It seemsthatshewasat Monroe forjusta year our subject.Her fatherwasfrom Georgia, andBull refers tothecolloquialsouthern expression orotherpositive identification,itseemslikelythatthe“Ninato obtainabirthdate Bull” listedis Prospectus” asbeingan“Unclassified” student(Monroe, 1904).AlthoughIhave notbeenable Monroe CollegeinForsyth, Georgia in1904-05.“Nina Bull” islistedinthe“Catalogand boarding school(Leonard, 1976). Education The Attitude ofEmotioninthisbookhas Theory , shesays,“Iamascientist,andthetheory Later shestudied“Divine Science” under Emma Curtis Hopkins. Emma Curtis Hopkins We mentionedabove thatBull wasquitereligious asayoung woman.It isn’t clearexactly Bull was briefly married to Lee Witt, a sheriff and lumber mill owner in Taos (Luhan Mabel Dodge eventually moved to Taos, New Mexico, andestablishedawell-known art It seemslikelythatBull intheseandmetmanyoftheleadingfigures participated ofthe a“salon”In ofthe20thcentury theearlypart wasapopularsocialinstitution. These I have foundnoevidencethatBull obtainedanydegree. In thepreface tothe1968reprint The onlyevidenceofhighereducationthatIhave foundisthatsheprobably attended As achild,Bull waseducatedatprivate schoolinBuffalo Hall andattheRosemary (Luhan, 1935).Many leadingcultural NINA BULL 49 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 50 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis DANIEL J.LEWIS,M.P.H., M.A. shows herpoeticbent. The broadside itselfiselaborateandcolorful. “Credo” here initsentirety becauseitsowell exemplifies inthisperiodand herviewpoint indicatesthatthere isdoubtabouttheexactyear ofpublication.IquoteTheir catalogentry that Ihave foundisintherare bookscollectionoftheNew York Public (Bull, 1915?). Library broadside posterthatsummarizes heroutlookinthisperiod. The onlyextantcopyofthis she heldtheirhandsandspoketotheminasoothing,hypnoticvoice.” lie down hotelbedshekeptfortheminaroom withdrawnshades,while onthecomfortable her presence thanfrom herphilosophyandseemstohave lastedaslong.Her ’patients’ would (1984, p. 134)describesthishealingmethod:“Hopkins’s healingderived muchmore from Life, theidealof Democracy, and overall manifesting atthesociallevel. thrust ofanevolutionary “permeating deepdown cell”, thro every theunfolding ofconsciousness,theUniversal Spirit of quotation andcontainingthemes ofthepower conceptionofhumanlife ofthought, anew In the early 1900s (the exact year is unclear) Bull published “Credo”, a single-page Emma Curtis Hopkins taughtBull tobecomea“Divine Sciencepractitioner”. Rudnick Her feelforaspiritual sidetolifeseemshave stayed withhereven through herscientific “Credo” expresses heroutlookatthisstageof life,beginningwithaNew Testament (James, 1936) (James, contempt fordoubt,fear, worry, statesofmind. precautionary andall nervously andacorrelativeas such,intheconqueringefficacyofcourage,hope,andtrust, faith have hadanintuitive beliefintheall-savingpower ofhealthy-mindedattitudes of the mind-cure movement is an inspiration much more direct. The leaders in this and, finally, Hinduism hascontributedastrain. But themostcharacteristicfeature another theoptimisticpopularscienceevolutionism ofwhichIhave recently spoken; another isspiritism,withitsmessagesof“law” and“progress” and“development”; Emersonianism orNew England transcendentalism;another is Berkeleyan idealism; One of the doctrinal sources of Mind-cure is the four Gospels; another is — whichisDemocracy. —Nina Bull maninthat Bodyandbuildingupthewholeintoorderthro every andbrotherhood Social Bodyshallbesaved byconceptionofSocial anew Lifepermeatingdeep down and buildingupthewholeintoorder andharmony—whichishealth;soalsothe conception of human life permeating hiddenly deep down cell in that body thro every the law; be withoutlimitation,here andnow —where there isknowledge oftheworking of ofmanhood. consciousness ofselfandalltheterriblesufferingglory fromthinking themselves the apart Whole; slowly thro longagesunfoldingtowards whichlieseven nowfreedom andmastery atthecentre ofhisown being; own selftobeonewithGod, theUniversal Self, andenterintothekingdomof loneliness unspeakableintoahigherorder ofconsciousnesswhere heshallknow his renewing allthingsvisibleandinvisibleby itselfbecomingthem; Credo AND IBELIEVE thatastheregeneration ofthehuman bodydemandsanew I BELIEVE thepower ofHuman Thought over to allconditionsoflifeonearth AND SOALSOIBELIEVE inthebeastsandplantsrocks, notyet AND THEREFORE IBELIEVE inMan, whoisslowly advancing thro painand I BELIEVE IN GOD, the Universal Spirit of Life, ceaselessly creating and “If thoucanstbelieve, allthingsare possibletohimthatbelieveth” and sexeducatorMargaret Sanger: appear thattheirrelationship transformedfrom oneofrivals tooneofcolleagues. Ely Jelliffe Trust holdsthecopyrightonBull’s bookTheAttitude ofEmotionTheory . It would of Nervous andMental Disease andpublishedmanyofBull’s academicpapers. The Smith not appreciative of Bull’s approach. Jelliffe later became the founding editor of the Journal a psychoanalyst, Smith Ely Jelliffe. Bull insisted that Dodge stop seeing him, and Jelliffe was did actuallyembark forLondon. what shehadbeentaughtby Hopkins. It isnotknown whothis“doctor” wasorwhethershe London” (Ellis, 1998,p. 626). This suggeststhatBull wassearching forsomethingmore than and wasgoingto“study ofco-ordination somesort healingstuntundersomedoctorin apparently become“intensely interested latest therapeutic fashion” in behaviorism, the very Hopkins atthispoint.By shehad themid-1920s(whenshewasinhermid-forties), andthatsheconceived thehealingasinvolvinga healingart somekindof“integration”. integrating otherpeople” (Moore, 1974,p. 404). This shows thatBull wasactively practicing Emma Curtis Hopkins. In about1925, D.H.Lawrence wrote that,“Nina isasbusyever re- Her Interest inPsychotherapy andintheBody of permanence,andthesemenhave asubstantialfollowing.” and Teilhard deChardin both attemptedtobringthefactsofchangetogetherwithdream its discovery ofevolution, hasscoffedatpermanenceuntilratherrecently, whenL.L. Whyte writes, “Some religions …have invented different kindsofheavens… But science,proud of career. In thepreface tothe1968reprint ofTheAttitude ofEmotionTheory (1968),Bull and Fuller, 1950,p.120). into the body…Now you know that N.B. has a naked skin and a muscular eroticism” (Stein Mabel Dodge describesanevening thatsheandBull control advocate spentwithbirth For awhile,Bull wastreating heroldfriendMabel Dodge whileDodge wasalsoseeing I donotknow how closelysheheldtotheteachingsandhealingstyleofEmma Curtis I previously mentionedthatBull hadbeentaughttobeaDivine Sciencepractitionerby Leo Stein tellsussomemore: “Take thecaseofNina Bull andthegettingofconsciousness Rudnick 2008,pp. 119-120,brackets inoriginal) to interpret andexpress thelanguage ofthespirit’s inallitsparts pleasure. (Luhan and — with the body so illumined and conscious that it would a seriousundertaking be able until itshouldbecomesensitive andalive throughout, andcomplete. She madelove into delimiting ofittothesexualzones, thespreading outandsexualizingofthewholebody Then she taught us the way to a heightening of pleasure and of prolonging it, and the the soul.Margaret Sanger madeitappearasthefirstdutyofmenandwomen… from life,insteadofameanstothatgreat end,the development oflife,andthegrowth of forbidden somethinginmyfeelingaboutitandexperienceof it thatmadeseemstolen Love Ihadknown, andpleasures oftheflesh,but usually there hidden hadbeenacertain never known itbefore asasacred andatthe sametimeascientific reality. quiet, andunfoldedthemysteriesmightinessofphysicallove, it seemedtous we had all aboutthepossibilitiesinbodyfor“sex expression,” andasshesatthere, serene and talkwithheroneevening —justthethreewonderful ofusatdinner—whenshetold her, andreleasing somethingnew andbasic.Nina andI,Iremember, [Wilcox] hada It was in talking to her at home in my sitting room that I really got something from NINA BULL 51 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 52 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis in poetic form her view onchildrenin poeticformherview andchildren’s education. The following isanexcerpt: Work inEducation dedication toherissignificant. inherently mutuallyexclusive. Given Bull’s involvement withbothreligion andsocialism,the toone’sas contrary religion. The bookisananalysisofwhetherMarxism andreligion are the lastextremity” or“a friendasfarthealtars”, meaningafriendintheextreme except dedication page contains the Latin phrase “Amicus usquead aras” which means “a friend to was anactivistanarchist ontrialforadvocacy ofdraftresistance (New York Tribune, 1917). p. 6). “winsome temper” whileyet notcompromising herposition(Brooklyn Daily Eagle,1914, of his followersimpose the oratory on a peaceful congregation” by praising Nina Bull for her was in Queens County jail, gave evidence of his “repentance to of his rashness in undertaking Express, 1916). ofthetwentieth century.part Social Activism DANIEL J.LEWIS,M.P.H., M.A. 1928). and Provenzo, 2009) and would later write a book about her experiences as such (Lewis, there andDewey’s Hammettbecamethefirstheadmistress student, Mary Lewis, (Provenzo Dewey toconvincehimestablishaschoolinBuffalo. The Park Schoolwasestablished the “Woman’s Who’s Who ofAmerica” whichwascopyrightedin1914(Leonard, 1976). of itsdate. We doknow, however, thatitdatesfrom before 1915becauseitismentionedin thrust. evolutionary idea ofahiddendimension,connectedtotheDivine, whichunfoldsandreveals itselfinan In the early 1900s Bull authored a brief pamphlet, “As Little Children,” that expressed In Union themid-1950s,shecontributedtoAmericanCivilLiberties (Liberty, n.d.). A 1915bookaboutreligion andMarxism (Spargo) isdedicatedtoNina Bull. The Bull tothejudgeinEmma wrote Goldman aletterofsupport case.Emma Goldman reported in1914thatBouck A newspaper White, asocialistactivistandministerwho Bull ofpeacein1916(Buffalo wasonethemanysponsorsofamassmeetinginsupport Bull wasquiteactive intheSocialist movement andsocialactivismgenerallyintheearly Nancy Romalov describes theschool: In 1911,Bull contactedthephilosopher, psychologist andeducationalreformer John We donotknow theexactdateofthiswork. There isnoindicationinthepamphletitself A themeinthiswork reflects athemethatis present for Bull throughout herwork: the the chickens,and marketing oftheeggs. enterprise entailing thebuyingofseed,keeping ofaccounts,raisingand tending of third gradeare achicken businessonalargescaleand makingmoneyatan running involved intheirnormalschooldayactivities…On agiven daychildren asyoung as Here are two hundred ormore schoolchildren, through twelfth kindergarten grade, New powers forms,new hiddeepwithintheold.(Bull, 19??) Unfolding andrevealing endlessly anddrawingoutofthought, The leadingforth Man’s copyofGod’s planofevolution – A process forEternity itself, – So Education viewedaright,becomes work” (Rosett, 1939,Acknowledgments). neurology inwhichheacknowledges her“for inconnectionwiththis hervaluable services Woodstock (Gross, 2005, p. 205)andhadSocialism incommon.Rosett wrote abookon her inneurology, butitseemsthathebecameamentortoher. They were neighborsin approach andherlaterstudiesinneurology. and behaviorism,beingascientificapproach, wasthebridgebetween herearly Divine Science Perhapsbe objectively observed. Bull’s interest inhelpingpeoplebrought hertobehaviorism, opposed tothepsychoanalytic thatcould not stancethatassumedinternalmentalconstructs behaviorism. Behaviorism wasbasedonascientificstudyofobjective behavior, andwas practice andneurology. Asmentionedbefore, by 1925Bull hadbecomeinterested in why shetransitionedfrom herDivine Sciencepracticetoresearch inneurology. thereafter,she diedshortly before shepublishedthatstory. in arealm where mostpeoplewere noteven aware ofitslack” (Bull, 1968).Unfortunately meonacompellingsearch fortruth oftheunusual experiencethatstarted publish thestory (1951), that“Ibegantobecomeascientistinmyearlychildhood,andsomedayexpect Becoming aScientist andBull,(Vigil 1943). American writer, journalist,and publisher, andwrote anintroduction totheseselections Daily Freeman, 1939). She translated a selection of the works of ConstancioC. Vigil, a Latin 1939, shewasscheduledtogive atalkaboutthesocialbackground ofMexico (Kingston to theeditoraboutAbraham Lincoln’s policytowards Mexico (Buffalo Express, 1916b).In Interest inLatinAmerica conception ofdemocracy” (Bull, 1918). of the school as a whole can only be met by educators imbued with a highly spiritual adults, andtheproblem ofhow tofulfillthesedutiesand theorderyet preserve andharmony the individualneedsofeachchild.She says,“Children’s needsare asindividualthose of teaching”, andaddresses thetension betweenthe order preserving of theschool and meeting Bull metaneurologist namedJoshua Rosett. Idonotknow ifhewasthefirsttointerest My intuitionisthatperhapsbehaviorismwasthelinkbetween herDivine Science Bull trainingin neurology inthe1930s.Icanonlyspeculateastohow undertook and Bull stated,inthepreface Attitude tothe1968reprint of“The ofEmotion”Theory Bull appearstohave hadaspecialinterest inLatinAmerica.In 1916,shewrote aletter In a1918lettertotheeditorof the New York Times , Bull writesaboutthe“newer lesson. (Romalov, 1988) andbotany;thepreparation ofa chemistry Thanksgiving celebrationyieldsahistory of cooking, for example, is directed toward discovering the basic principles of both science are studiedincloserelationship tothechildren’s work. The practicalactivity At the same time, traditional subjects like English, history, world geography or garden thatwillbecomethesummerfoodsupply… of “Pinafore.”performance Eachspring,thechildren planorplantalarge vegetable ...At anearby pond,children are busybuildingraftstobeusedinanupcoming NINA BULL 53 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 54 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis make myselfsmaller by pullinginmyshoulders,hunching myback,andclenching my Let menotdraw attentiontomyself. Letmenotopenmyselftoteasing andunkindwords. I childhood andmuchofmypresent daysocialinteraction. wanting toreveal myself. This isfamiliar. It ofthefeelingtonemuchmy partakes and self-esteem. myself with a wider range of choice of social behavior and a subjective sense of confidence differentiate mymotorattitudeof densesocialdefensiveness andinthiswayempower attitude. Afixed patterngrows intoarangeofpossibilities. The Bodying Practice is a way to work with oneself by voluntarily differentiating motor for nourishingself-regulation and working withone’s selfandone’s subjective state. a motorpattern(andnotvice-versa), theBodyingPractice protocol provides astructure incrementally andwithprecision. Since, according toBull, subjective statesbeginwith attitude) sothatthepatternbecomesvivified.Once itisvivified, itcanbedisorganized Clinical Application: Formative Differentiation Attitude ofBodily muscularpattern. for adeliberateandmanagedwaytowork withthatparticular motor attitude.Once themotorattitudeisrecognized, thepracticeprotocol provides astructure The Formative Bodying Practice by thesubjectrecognizing starts hisorherembodimentofa focus narrowly onthefirsthalfof Step 1:“Recognize asomaticpattern.” absorb andunderstand Keleman’s language. For our present purpose, however, I want to DANIEL J.LEWIS,M.P.H., M.A. explains: andthenmovestheory beyond it. Formative Psychology. Inpracticalsense,Formative avery Psychology beginswithattitude Attitude andFormativeTheory Psychology I pullin,justasdidinmychildhood. Letmenotbeseen.embarrass myself. “outI feeluncomfortable, ofsorts”, awkward, notwantingtobeseen, nervous, I offerthefollowing accountofhow Ihave usedtheBodyingPractice toformatively Once themotorpatternisrecognized, onecan increase itsform(intensifythe The somaticpatterntoberecognized isexactlywhatBull callsthe“preparatory motorattitude”. There is a lot of information packed into those five steps, and it requires some time to The practiceprotocol consistsoffive steps: Formative Psychology makes useofaprotocol calledthe“BodyingPractice”. Keleman The neuromuscular modelofBull’s isembodied withinKeleman’s attitudetheory 1. 3. 2. 5. 4.

increments. (Keleman, 2007) G tocontainthepulse. a boundary W pausing between eachdecrease. D Assemble R ecognize asomaticpatternandmakemuscularmodelofit. ive shapesandusethemforsocialpersonalactivities. durationtonew isassemble themuscularpatternindistinctstagesby decreasing intensity, ait forapulsing,swelling shape. Then give itanedgeofrigiditytoform a continuum of shapes by increasing muscular intensity, pausing between Nina Bull’s Legacy

newspapers andotherpublications overnewspapers theyears. Here isoneofmyfavorites: Poetry website ishttp://www.theparkschool.org. ideas ofJohn Dewey, andthrived. It hassurvived iscelebratingitscentennialthisyear. Its The Park SchoolofBuffalo world inparticular, way. inanew characteristic motorattitudeempowered metorelate tomyselfandtheworld,social have merely waved “hi” andcontinuedwalking.My formative differentiation ofmy enjoy my conversation with them. I am uncharacteristically social. An hour ago I would I encounter some fellow students sitting at a table.I invite myself to join them and vulnerable tobeingoverwhelmed by theoutsideworld,especiallysocialworld. off from theworldandmyown body, andnotsoporous thatIamdisorganized and in myselfthatfeelslikeanoptimaldensity:notsodenseIcompletelycut and de-densifying,inout,updown, contractingandexpanding.Ifindtheplace stronger sensationsthanIhadexperiencedbefore. Iexperimentwithmyself, densifying density thatIhave created formyself. Then Ipauseagain,andwait,noticeeven the sensationstodevelop. When I’m ready, Idoanotherround ofdisorganizingthe in mybodythatIhadnotnoticedbefore: tingling,warmth,pleasure, pulsation.Iallow disorganizing mydensityatinybit.Pausing totakestock,Ibeginnoticesensations ofmaking myself dense. I am still “densifying”,my effort but not quite so much. I am up alongthedensitycontinuum.Again,Ipauseandtakestock. make contactwithanybody, becausethatwouldbedifficultfrom thisstate. away. Iamanchored inmydensity. On theotherhand,it’s agoodthingIdon’t wantto stock. Ifeelsolid.impenetrable.My andself-consciousnesshasgone nervousness legs andfeet.By now Ihave mademyentire skeletalmusculature denser. Ipause.take mypelvis, my upperarms,neck,throat, myshoulders,head,trunk, invoking theself-protective patternthatIhadformedinmychildhood. me, worldsbuildup, teardown, andbuildupagain.Iamvoluntarily anddeliberately extensors are bothactivated, sothere isnoapparent externalmovement. But inside only slightly. This ismovement similar, inaway, toisometricexercises. Flexors and mightnoteven noticewhatIamdoing,becausemyfingersandpalmsmoveobserver it deliberately, precisely, withmyhands. andwithintention.Istart fists. This isthemotorpatternthatIrecognize. I have discovered approximately adozen poemsofBull’s that appeared invarious The Park School thatBull infoundingandbasedontheeducational wasinstrumental asIleaveAfterwards, theclassroom andwalkdown thehalltowards thelobby, Now IbegintoundowhatI’ve justdone.In thetiniestofstepsIwithdrawfrom After a moment I do it again. In a slow, managed way I move myself one more step I letmyhands“teach” therest ofmybody. Step by smalleststepIinvolve myforearms, With thetiniestofmovements Imakethemsolid,thick,dense,impenetrable.An But I am no longer a child.Now, as an adult, I know what I am doing, and amdoing NINA BULL 55 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 56 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis DANIEL J.LEWIS,M.P.H., M.A. analysis towards asecond career as aclinician/researcher. He is currently transitioning from along career incomputer programming and data him to studies with Charlotte Selver, John Heider, Michael Kahn, and Stanley Keleman. program of John FKennedy University. His lifelong interest insomatic psychology led BIOGRAPHY historians ofbodypsychotherapy willagree withthisassessment. influenced otherpractitionersandtheoristsas well. Only timewilltell whether future of Gindler. It isincorporatedinthedevelopments ofStanley Keleman, andperhapshas an approach thatcomplementsthe energetic approach approach of Reich and the sensory psychotherapy. Bull’s model emphasizingtherole ofthemotorattitudeprovides aroot for adds Elsa Gindler, statingthatReich andElsa Gindler represent twodistinctroots ofbody on thepioneeringwork of Wilhelm Reich andhisstudents.AliceK.Ladas(Prengel, 2007) other better-known pioneers. Young (1997)andEiden (1999),forexample,focusprimarily approach topsychotherapy yet isdistinctlydifferent from approaches basedonthework of of body psychotherapy. a fully body-centeredis a paradigm that supports Attitude theory and isradicalinitscritique: sensibility, Christianity, unfoldingofconsciousness, senseoftranscendenceandevolutionary is anine-pageprose poemaboutchildren andeducation.It issuffusedwithBull’s spiritual Email: [email protected] Daniel J. M.P.H., Lewis, M.A.,is arecent graduate of somatic the psychology I wouldliketosuggestthatBull hasbeenunderappreciated intheliterature ofthehistory Another poemofnoteis“As LittleChildren” (Bull, 19??),mentionedpreviously. This The Place ofNina BullPsychotherapy ofBody intheHistory A termforthisslow subtleformofmurder… Well may we speak of“crime” asnonetooharsh Into theaverage mansocommonplace, And well-marked individuality, That turnstheaverage child,sofullofpromise …O whenwe thinkofso-calledEducation, In nottheirs. therichbeautyofanart Mingling thesimplersongsofotherbirds All brooding joys, wingedhopes,andsoaringprayers, inwordsThou dostdivineandutterforth No mockerthou,butaninterpreter. Upon thygoldenmorning-heartedness; Thy namebutillbefitsthee—isaslur Gray singer, ofthesong-rangelimitless, The Mockingbird (National Audubon Societies, 1915) Luhan, M.D. (1935).Lorenzo inTaos. New York: Knopf. Luhan, M.D., &Rudnick, L.P. (2008).Intimate memories: The autobiography of Dodge Mabel Luhan, M.D. (1933).Intimate memories. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co. is always (n.d.). unfinished Liberty business.Liberty 36th annual thereport of American Civil M.H.(1928).AnLewis, adventure with children. New York: Macmillan. Leonard, J. W. (1976).Woman’s who’s of who Abiographical America: of contemporary dictionary Kingston Daily Freeman (1939). August Lectures To Feature Noted Folk At Woodstock. Kingston Psychotherapy Journal, 6(1),20-21. Keleman, S.(2007).The and Practice of Methodology Formative Psychology. The Body USA James, W. (1936).The varieties of religious experience: A study in human nature. New York: Herrick, C.J. (1954, Jan 10). Letter from Nina to Bull C.J.Herrick. Archives of C. Judson Herrick, Herrick, C.J. 11).Letter from (1950,December Nina to Bull C.J.Herrick. Archives of C.Judson Gross, M.(2005).740Park: The the story of world’srichest apartment building. New York: Eiden, B. (1999)The Body History of PsychotherapyOverview. – An Counseling News –The Bull, N. (1968).The attitude theory of emotion. New York: Johnson Reprint. Bull, N. (1962).The body and its mind: An introduction to attitude psychology. New York: Las Bull, N. (1955).The mechanism of goal orientation theand manner of its disruption. of Journal Bull, N. (1951).The attitude theory of emotion. New York: Nervous and mental disease Character Bull, Dual N. (1938).The of Fear. The Journal of Psychology, 5,(1),209-218. Bull, N. (1918).New Ideas of Teaching. The New York Times, September 20,1918,p.12. Bull, N. (1915?).Credo. Riverside, Hillacre The Conn: known Bookhouse. only copy surviving is W.Bull, Cornelia. [Nina (19??).As Bull] little children. Buffalo, N.Y: O. UlbrichCo. Theonly (n.d.) Buffaloah Ansley Wilcox Mansion / RooseveltTheodore Inaugural Site. Retrieved June 12, ExpressBuffalo Lincoln (1916b). and Mexico. Buffalo Express,Morning March 16 or25,1916. ExpressBuffalo Express, (1916a). Buffalo 7,1916 April Brooklyn (1914).The DailyEagle,BrooklynDaily Eagle New York,page 14,1914, October 6. REFERENCES Luhan. Santa Fe, NM:Sunstone Press. Union.Liberties Union,Liberties July 1,1955to June 30,1956.(n.d.). New York, N.Y: American Civil women of Unitedthe States and Canada, 1914-1915. New York: American Commonwealth Co. Daily Freeman, July 26,1939,page 6. Modern library. Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas. Herrick, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas. Broadway Books. Cambridge University Press. psychotherapy.html D. Ellis, (1998).D.H. Lawrence, dying game, 1922-1930. Cambridge: body-psychotherapy.org.uk/component/content/article/1-site-articles/3-integrative-body- Training,Voice Counseling of Americas Pub. Co. Nervous and Mental 5(1). Disease, monographs. rarein the department books of New the York Public Library. known extant copies of work this are Buffalo inthe (New York) and New York City libraries. 2012 from http://www.buffaloah.com/a/del/641/hist/index.html January August 1999.Retrieved 5,2012from: http://www. NINA BULL 57 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 58 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis DANIEL J.LEWIS,M.P.H., M.A. Wallace, D. H. (1989). The Ansley Wilcox House and furnishings:its RooseveltTheodore Young, Psychotherapy: C.(1997).Body Its and history present day scope,an address to the Vigil, Forest C.C.,&Bull, N.(1943).Seeds. Hills, N.Y: Americas Pub. Las Co. USABPJ (2007).Stanley Keleman. TheBody USA Psychotherapy Journal 6(1),5. Stein, L.,&In Fuller, E.(1950).Journey into the self: Being the letters, papers &journals of Leo Spargo, J. (1915).Marxian socialism and religion: Astudy of the relation of the Marxian theories to Rudnick, L.P. (1984).Mabel Dodge Luhan: New woman, new worlds. Albuquerque: University of J.Rosett, (1939).The mechanism of thought, imagery, and hallucination. New York: Columbia Romalov, N.T. (1988).Progressive Education: Two Contemporary Views. The the Lion and Program of sixty-seventh the annual convention of American the Psychological Association: education. of foundations Provenzo, E.F., Renaud, J., &Provenzo, A. B. (2009).Encyclopedia of the social and cultural Prengel, Somatic S.(2007)Interview withK.Ladas. Alice Perspectives on Psychotherapy, Ogilvie, M.B., &Harvey, J. D. (2000).The biographical dictionary of women science:in Pioneering Niagara Falls Gazette (1930January 27).Ansley Wilcox, FamedLeader, Buffalo Succumbs to New York Tribune (1917).The New York Tribune, June 27,1917,p.6. National Audubon Society. (1915).Bird-lore: An illustrated bi-monthly magazine devoted to Moore, H.T. (1974).The priest of love: A life of Lawrence.D. H. London: Heinemann. Monroe (1904).Monroe and Catalog College Prospectus 19041905.Mercer University, Jack the Interior,the National Harpers Center. Park Ferry Service, Inaugural National Historic Site, Buffalo, New York. Harpers Ferry, WV: Dept.U.S. of 2012 from http://usabp.affiniscape.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=11 European Association Psychotherapy for Body Congress, Rome,June 1997.Retrieved 13, Stein. New York: Crown Publishers. the fundamental principles of religion. New York: B.W. Huebsch. New Mexico Press. University Press. Unicorn. 7, 333-468. September 3-9,1959,Cincinnati, Ohio. (January 01,1959).American Psychologist, 14, 2007. (mp3 audio stream). Available from URLhttp://somaticperspectives.com lives from ancient times to the mid-20th century. New York: Routledge. Illness. p. 11 Pa: D. Appleton &Co. studythe and protection of birds ...Official organ the of Audubonsocieties. Harrisburg, Tarver Macon, Collections, Special Library Georgia. 12(1), 141-146. ThousandSageCalif: Publications. Oaks, November © Author andUSABP/EABP. Reprints [email protected] Volume 11,Number 2,2012pp59-73Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN2168-1279 International BodyPsychotherapy Journal TheArt andScienceofSomaticPraxis is definedasfollows: different disciplineshave beguntoshare acommonground. Typically, cognitive psychology psychotherapy have beenattwoendsofacontinuum.More recently however, these and consciousness are not only language-based and only in the brain, but also very muchand consciousness are notonlylanguage-basedand onlyinthebrain,butalso very the brainaround. More radicalthanthat is theideathatself-concept, memory, cognition becoming increasingly clearinthesefieldsthatthebodyisnot there simplyjusttocarry whereby thebody isnow being included asaformative force indevelopment. It is what Goldman and Vignemont call “a spectrathatis haunting the cognitive sciences”— treatment. photos ofapatientshowing physicalchangesduringsixmonthsofbodypsychotherapy description ofbodypsychotherapy’s uniquecontributionstopsychotherapy atlargeand a comparisonwithbodypsychotherapy aswell asreferences tocases. There isthena verbal andcognitive therapies to includethebody. This trend will behighlightedvia Traditionally, thedisciplines ofcognitive, socialandselfpsychology, andbody This paperisaboutashifting paradigmwithincognitive, socialandselfpsychology— Submitted 10May 2012;received inrevised form16August 2012;acceptedSeptember 2012 Reich, Schore, Pagis Key After anintroduction tobodypsychotherapy, there isadiscussionofthetrend in role istostandinforspecificfeatures orstates ofaffairs.(Anderson,2003, p.2) idea that cognition centrally involves be accounted for in terms of the manipulation of symbols. First and foremost is the Simply put,cognitivismisthehypothesisthatcentralfunctionsofmind…can the mind.(Goldman & Vignemont, 2009,p. 154) being merely anoutputdevisefor the commandsgeneratedby abstractsymbolsin Mental operationsare largelydetachedfrom theworkings ofthebody, thebody computer, manipulatingabstractsymbols onthebasisofspecificcomputations. this approach, highercognitive functionsare analogous totheoperationsofa For decades,thereigning paradigmofcognitive sciencehasbeenclassicism.On words: bodypsychotherapy, embodiedcognition,self, self-reflexivity, In SupportOfBodyPsychotherapy Introduction Will Davis Abstract representation…whose systemicor functional IN SUPPORT OF 59 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 60 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis association from apatient whilebeingmassaged.She pointsoutthat it wasnotunusual of thebody’s role inearlypsychoanalysis. Waldekranz-Piselli refers toFreud noticing free body intransactionalanalysis, Cecilia Waldekranz-Piselli (1999)offersaconcisehistory energetic functioning. same for body, mind, and emotions. They are three forms of an underlying, more primary the molecularstructure ofH2O.Reich’s conceptoffunctionalidentityhassuggestedthe these three are different representations—different energystates—ofonereality, parallelto to emotions;itismore real likethebody, butalsoelusive likethepsyche. Yet we know that This isthewaybodyappearstous:inform,contactable, present. Water couldequate more itseemstoslipaway. Ice wouldappear asthemostsolidrepresentation, themostreal. that whatwe callthepsyche exists,butwe tograspit,the cannotseeitandthemore we try analogy further, we couldsaythatsteamrepresents theelusive spiritorpsyche. We know emotions are understoodtobethree transformationsofanunderlyingunity. To the carry three transformations—ofthesame thing.In theReichian sense,psyche, somaandalso us differently. But we know thattheseseeminglydifferent thingsare in factthree forms— reaction maybethattheseare three different thingswithdifferent thataffect properties underlying organizingprocess. For example,ifwe thinkofsteam,waterandice,ourfirst body andmind“functional identity”; twoformsofthesamethingthatwork by thesame between idandego,between sensationandreason. He callsthisrelationship between earlier. Reich grounded interpretive psychotherapy in thebiological; there isno split contends, butare infacttwoformsofthesamething—thefunctionalunitymentioned mind notonlywork togetherinbothillnessandhealth,asthepsychosomatic approach tofocusonbothbodyandmindconcurrently.therapy itisnecessary the therapeuticprocess. Therefore, theunderstandinginbodypsychotherapy isthatin the present experience, resulting in interference patterns within relationships and within The bodyandthemind,working together, repress thepersonalpastaswell as anddistort historical, physicalrepresentations ofrepressed painfulmemoriesandpsychic resistance. Emotions, beliefsandearlyexperiencesare allstored inthemusculature andare the mind, butalsostored inthebodyby whathecalled“muscular armoring” (Reich, 1961). ofthepatientisnotmerely registeredunderstanding thatthepersonalhistory inthe interactive aspectsofthewholehumanbeing. rather thanahierarchical relationship. Boththemindandbodyare functioningand the body reflects the whole person and there is a functional unity between mind and body ofmind-bodyfunctioning. involves anexplicittheory The underlying assumptionisthat Reich. The European AssociationforBodyPsychotherapy statesthatbodypsychotherapy integrated positionwithbodypsychotherapy. the disciplinesofcognitive, socialandselfpsychology are now moving towards amore with examplesfrom bodypsychotherapy andpatientcases,thispaperaimstoshow how By includingreferences tocurrent research incognitive, verbal andselfpsychology, along “embodied”. Embodiment has beenamainstayofbodypsychotherapy from itsbeginnings. WILL DAVIS Originally, psychotherapy wasmore body-oriented.In onincludingthe herarticle The secondofReich’s (1961)ideasthatIwouldliketohighlightsuggestsbodyand Two mainideasofReich’s are representative ofbodypsychotherapy. One isthe Body psychotherapy isadistinctbranchofpsychotherapy rooted inthework of Wilhelm Common Ground psychotherapies are integratingthebodyintotheirconceptsandtechniques. has grown over theyears. At thesametime, agrowing numberofcognitive and verbal relation andalterationsinthetraditionalmodelsoftherapeuticrelationship. patient brought upquestionsofinvasive activities,theriskofsexualizingtherapeutic Andfinally,unsubstantial athemeformanytherapiststosupport. theissueoftouching personalities andpsychopaths. Athird reason wasthatthe“energy” concept wastoo pathologicalbehaviorsinsomecharacterstructures, likehysterics,borderlinesupporting out” ofemotionalstates,withaccompanyingmovements, wasattimesreproducing and problems ofearlydisturbance,borderline andtrauma.Asecondwas thatthe“acting “breaking through” muscular contraction was limited and potentially dangerous for returned totraditionalmethodsbecausetheybecamedisenchantedforvarious reasons. 1960’s. Also,manypsychotherapists whowere using body-orientedtechniqueslater Reich’s legaltroubles intheUnited States themodalityalmostdisappeared by theearly body inhealingthemind. Ferenczi andPaul Schillerasearlypsychoanalysts whorecognized ofthe theimportance doing psychoanalysis tobringupevents from thepre-verbal past.She alsoincludesSandor cited in Waldekranz-Piselli, 1999,p. 3).Groddeck usedaforceful massage techniquewhile psychological defenses and that the pre-oedipal and preverbal important” past is very (as the writingsofGeorge Groddeck where hecomments:“…thephysicaldefensesre-enforce at thattimeforpsychotherapists totouchandeven massagepatients.She alsorefers to motor pattern is asomaticbelief:primitive, nonverbal, script conviction.“Affect-motor if itcouldbeverbalized wouldbe: “Ishouldn’t behere.” For Waldekranz-Piselli thisaffect- The tensedmusclesandtheheld respiration ofanaffect-motor belief, becomepart which I stop breathing still. and hold myself very This is not a good place to be” (1999,p.8). quiet. Iseemymotherandwant herattention.She looksangry. There isastormcoming. Piselli is thenplaysoutthedeveloping experienceofthechild as:“Iamplaying,everything irritated themotherbecomes andthemore aggressively sherejects thechild. Waldekranz- with her. The mother isdistractedandthemore thechild demandsattention,themore 9 month-oldchildwhoisplayingwhenthemotherenters the room andthenseekscontact discussed later.) and discover somaticcounter-transference issues”. (Somatic counter-transference willbe It is valuable for the therapist to be aware ofher own affect-motorschemas “to diagnose script. 3. basedonchangingaffect-motorpatterns.4.Therapeutic effectiveness ispartly patterns. 2. The combinationofverbal beliefsandaffect-motorconvictionsperpetuatethe himself basedonfourprinciples:1.Part ofthescriptisbasedonunconscious affect-motor the patient’s script by including how thepatientphysicallyandemotionallystructures verbal psychotherapy. isthatthetherapistcanhelpto changeThe hypothesisofherarticle astheStageThe Body Setting fortheScript Transactional Analysis,Cognitive Psychology, Self Psychology, Social Psychology W Nevertheless, there wasarevival by theendof1960’s andbodypsychotherapy One reason forthedisenchantmentwasrealization thatthebasictechnique of Despite thispromising beginning,bodypsychotherapy wasquestionedanddueto Along withcasestudies,sheelaboratesherprinciples thetheoretical exampleofa aldekranz-Piselli’s (1999)isoneexampleofhow article thebodyisincludedin Integrating Into theBody Verbal andCognitive Therapies:

IN SUPPORT OF 61 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 62 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis essential. Pagis contributes thatthetraditionalexplanation ofselfisone“inwhich the of bodilysensations” (p. 265). a “framework forembodiedself-reflexivity, whichanchorstheself inthe reflexive capacity reflexivity beyond thenotionofadiscursive, abstract,andsymbolicprocess” (language)to Pagis’ aimindelineatingself-reflexivity assuchisto “extend ourunderstandingofself- object…”(p. subject andtheobserved himself, 266). simultaneously beingtheobserving psychotherapy: “Self-reflexivity refers totheconsciousturningofindividual towards because thedescriptionofself-reflexivity described by Pagis iscommonlyseeninbody Michal Pagis’ “Embodied Self-Reflectivity” (2009). interest Thispaperisof particular Embodied Self-Reflexivity elicits more stereotypic words. that stereotypic movements activate the stereotyping oftheotherandstereotypic behavior this behaviorelicitedmore stereotypic thoughtsaboutoldpeople.His conclusionsare speak instereotypic wayssuchas moving likeanoldperson.He foundthatimitating activates cognitive materialrelevant tothemovement. Mussweiler hadsubjectsactand ofthemselves”views (p. 829). the influenceofallkindsperceptual, motor, andproprioceptive experiencesonpeople’s reason, and body and experiencethey postulate an“embodied selfconcept” that“embraces the selfconcept” (p. 829).In order toovercome thisperceived splittingbetween mindand has focusedoncognitive representations motorstatesin andpaidlittleattentiontosensory concept isgrounded inthebody. “Until recently,” theyoffer, “most selfconceptresearch the originalhistoricscene. patient’s bodyandthenaskforspecificmovements andeven verbalizations that reproduce systemic familytherapy. In bodypsychotherapy, itisnotuncommontopositionthe psychotherapy and other dynamic therapies such as psychodrama, Gestalt therapy and event” &Koole, (Schubert 2009,p. 829). This concepthasbeenutilized widelyin body becomesfacilitatedwhenbodilypostures duringrecallmemory are similartotheoriginal states inducesbodilyfeedbackthatprimesmemoriesandexperiences.“Autobiographical motor states.Activation ofonestateproduces activation ofanother. Manipulating body p. 828).Social situationsare “entrenched” (registered inthebody)andincludesensory- systems andare grounded intheirphysicalcontext. There is‘embodied cognition’” (2009, “research shows thatsocialconceptsare processed incloseinteractionwithsensory-motor and thetwoare independentofeachother. But theirdefinitionofcognitionisdifferent: usually compared toacomputerwhereby thebrainissoftware, thebodyhardware, &Koole, (Schubert 2009,p. and Koole 828).Schubert pointoutthatcognition is self” as “…anabstractcognitive representation thatisformedthrough language…asymbolic factor inthedevelopment oftheselfaswell ascognition. Typically, self-conceptisdefined The Embodied Self it(1999,p.support 38). beliefs are by whichthebodysetsstageofScript” theinstruments andcontinueto WILL DAVIS Along similar lines, Mussweiler (2006) has shown that representation of a movement &KooleSchubert (2009)postulatethattheformationandmaintenanceofself- In cognitive andselfpsychologies we seethesameshifttowards thebodyasa viewing I W n the classical description of the self, the physical dimension is not considered ithin social psychology, thebody influencing self-conceptis represented in

inference from anyideaofitself, butthrough direct contactwiththatexperience” (p. 267). which immediatelyrecognizes andasagiven itself…notbyfact,nor observation by philosopherMerleau-Ponty: “At theroot ofallourexperiences,we find,then,abeing dance” (p. 266). To thislist,Iwouldaddbodypsychotherapy. Pagis refers tothisquote by waysof practicethatincreases awareness ofsensations,suchasmeditation,yoga and feeling thebodyinwhichrelation withoneselfunfoldsthrough acorporalmedium whereby self-reflexivity isembodiedandinwhichit “a process based predominately on become axiomaticinsociology”, according toPagis (p. 266).Pagis offersinsteadamodel consciousness cannotbeachieved directly through experience—a“linguisticmonopolyhas oneself or to others” (p. 266). Aninternal conversation isneededto objectify the self. Self- relation withoneselfunfoldsthrough asymbolicmediumby wayofpracticestalkingto systems. (Pagis, 2009, p. 268).Sheofsymbolsand isofferingtheideaofanonverbal theory of symbolsandsystems]process thattakesplacethrough anonverbal, embodiedmedium” (Pagis, 2009,p.268). “Somatic self-consciousnessisasemiotic[semiotics beingthetheory This impliesthat“certain kindsofmeaningdonotrequire thematizationorverbalization” require interpretations; theyare already interpretations themselves” (Pagis, 2009,p.268). As inMerleau-Ponty’s conceptualization,“they are notjust free-floating sensationsthat (p. 267). sensationsare meaning totheself. interpretationsThese secondary thatcarry p. 267).Not onlydowe sensetheworld,but alsowe “sense ourselves sensingtheworld” message regarding therelationship between theorganismandobject” (Pagis, 2009, or repulsion. The somaticmapistherefore aninnersensethat“conveys apowerful order sensations, the individual senses the present situation and responds by attraction This second-order mapismadeofsensationsproduced by thebody. Through thesesecond- whenever theselfentersarelationship withanobject,asecond-order mapisproduced. producing anunconscious“map” ofinnerstatesthatgives theorganismstability. Yet, (p. 267).For systemconstantlymonitorstheorganism, Damasio, thecentralnervous self” the body, emotions and the self and in his discussion of the “implicit self” hesupports the body, emotions and theselfinhisdiscussion ofthe“implicitself” demonstrates that neuroscience has demonstrated some aspects of the relationship between about others.In hisbook,TheNeuroscience ofHuman Relationships (2006),Cozolino these unconsciousinsightsare judgments peoplemake thebasisofmostimportant “cognition withoutinsight” (ascitedin Waldekranz-Piselli, 1999,p. 38).For Berne, these experiencesmustbestored inthebody. inutero, itmakessensetoreconceptualize intotheconclusionthat this vocabulary “self” them through thecognitive process. But sinceforanobjectrelations theoristthere isno years oflife. These early experiencesare stored in“self states” duetoaninabilitystore content oftheUnthought Known arisesfrom experiencesinutero through thefirstthree toputintowords.intuitive orfeltsenseofbutstruggle According toBollas,muchofthe anything thatwe know, butcannotconceptualize (1987). These are thingsthatwe have an psychoanalyst ChristopherBollascoinedtheterm,“Unthought Known” toindicate Referring totheresearch oftheneurologist AntonioDamasio, Pagis callsfora“somatic Another exampleofanearlier, nonverbally basedsenseofselfiswhatEric Berne calls Ther

e are earlierdescriptionsofabody-oriented, non-cognitive senseofself. The Neurology, Psychoanalysis, Transactional Analysis,Robotics Integrating From theBody Other Disciplines: IN SUPPORT OF 63 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 64 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis bits persecond thatarrive ontheretina…only 10,000bits persecondmakeittothe system. “Of inputreaches 10 billion thecentralnervous littleofexternal sensory that very events. Previously, thisintrinsicactivity wasconsidered background noise.He pointsout that itmaybethewaybrain organizes memoriesandvarious internalsystemsforfuture to anyexternalevent” (p. 31).Raichlecallsthisthe “default modenetwork” andsuggests by only5%,while“60to80%ofallenergy usedby thebrainoccursincircuits unrelated responds consciously!Engaging inconsciousactivityincreases brainenergyconsumption with itselfandconsuming20 timesthebrainenergythatisutilized whenthebrain p. 28). Viewed from theoutside,whatseemslikeinactivity isactuallythebrainnetworking activity is occurring in thebrainwhena person is sittingback and doingnothing” (2010, herself—a self-to-selfrelationship. the socialself-with-otherrelationship, shecouldcontactthestateofbeinginrelation to in apatientreporting, “An In getting past extreme presence intheabsence of myself”. (as cited in Anderson, 2003). An example of this state is reflectedout, it “recognizes itself” again reminiscent ofReich’s functionalidentity(Davis, 2005). AsMerleau-Ponty points nor somatic but both at the same time, before the split into the somatic andpsychic realms, endopsychic selfismore thanaself-reflective Thisselfisneitherpsychic “somatic self”. within, andexistsapriori,before experienceofthe“other”. In thisformulation,the It ispostulatedthatthere isasenseofselfthatspontaneouslyarises“endopsychic self”. mental representations! added). Andersongoessofarastostatethatthere isnoproof thathumanseven form controlled by theactingbodyitself, by an‘Ican’ andnotan‘Ithinkthat’’” (p. 103,italics content orformby anautonomousmind.In addition,theuseofsuchrepresentations ‘is are therefore ‘sublimations’ ofbodilyexperience,‘possessedcontentalready’, andnotgiven agent inthecourseofitsongoingpurposefulengagementwithworld.Representations representation alwaysoccurinthecontextof, andare therefore structured by, theembodied “Embodied Cognition:AFieldarticle Guide”: “Merleau-Ponty arguesthatperception and aformofcognitive embodimentinAnderson’sis againcalledupontosupport (2003) Artificial Intelligence, which deals with programming robots andcomputers.Merleau-Ponty both positive andnegative experiences. They are acceptedastheyare. to intellectualize it,rationalize it,toexplainitandespeciallyjustifyit. forThis istrue sides ofthesamecoin.Because themeaningisinherently “known”, there isnoneedtotry this level, it is to talk about theit. less It’simportant obvious that these two themes are two less. There seemstobeadirect ratio:themore theexperienceofselfison important right forhim.Pagis pointsoutafteraperiodofsuchprofound experience,thepatienttalks talk aboutit,understanditortoexplainme.He “knew” itwell enoughanditwas can’t explainit.Anyway, it’s more tomethanitisyou.” He important hadnoneedto rooted in the body. For example, at the end of a session, one patient of mine said, “Oh, I calls thisthe“known andunremembered” (pp. 128-29). generates aphysiologicalreaction before we are consciousofwhatisbeingprocessed. He and relationships. He pointsoutthatthespeedofamygdalainprocessing information (pre-cortical) and it is these memories thatshapeouremotional experiences, self-image Berne’s position.According toCozolino, thevast majorityofmemoriesare unconscious WILL DAVIS Brain research by Marcus for thisstate.“A Raichleofferssupport great dealofmeaningful This body-based,nonverbal, unconscioussenseofselfcanbereferred to asan S All ofthisindicatesthatthere isanimmediaterecognition ofadeepersenseself urprisingly, forourshiftingparadigm ofembodimentinthejournal we alsofindsupport

1 ability to feel theother. It iscorrelated withmirror neurons. It isavegetative process, notacognitive one. throughout thewholebody. as theresearch above motorsystemand probably hasindicated,withinabroader sensory represented, itisembodied.It isembodiedandorganized by rightbrainfunctionsand, without logicandreason, withoutlanguageandsymbolization;hisself-experienceisnot until around 5years old. The conclusionisthatthechildmustlearntoregulate himself and symbolizationsdonotcome“online” untilafter18monthsanddonotdominate first 18 months of life, the right brain dominates. The left-brain functions of logic, reason regulation isthebasis of all later relationships. He pointsoutthatupuntil at leastthe systemthatReichnervous emphasized inthe1940’s. Schore (2006)writesthatearlyaffect connection to thelimbicsystemandis concerned with theevolutionarily earliervegetative right brainisconcernedwithaffectandtheleftlogic. The right brainhasadirect of neuropsychiatrist Alan Schore on the rightbrain’s role inemotionaldevelopment. The emotion ismore thanconsciousregulation. important (2006) implicitselfandSchore’s (1999)understandingthatunconsciousregulation of also verifies Berne’s thatpeopleare view makingmostlyunconsciousdecisions,Cozolino’s world” (p. 31). theideasofself-reflectiveThese datanotonlysupports state,but inputsreaching itfrom theoutside sensory about theenvironment inanticipationofpaltry visual cortex… The findings suggested that the brain probably makes constant predictions emotional state. Developed earlier, aReichian conceptof this isvegetative identification. transference”, whichare emotional reactions withinthetherapist’s bodyaboutthepatient’s the patientandbringsup conceptof”somatictransference” and“somatic counter- the therapist’s bodyandemotionsindealingwith asubtle,unconsciousinteractionwith unconsciously inthetherapeutic relationship. “deregulated biologicallyprimitive emotions” (Schore, 1999,p. 7)thatare actedout rage, terror, disgust, shame, and despair—are nonverbal. It is these nonverbal, body-based cognitively complexthanKleinindicatedandmore body-basedandsensoriaffective. Klein’s emphasisoncognitive-based fantasies.Research reveals thatinfantstatesare less p. 5). acting, nonverbal, spontaneousemotionalcommunicationwithina dyad” (Schore, 1999, identification) continuestobeusedthroughout thelifespanas a process ofrapid,fast orprojective developmental mechanism(eitherprimary and affectallrelationships. “This early, body-based,emotional,nonverbal communication systems continue throughout life component here interest. isofparticular Similar toCozolino, Shore maintainsthatthese psychobiological states between the right brains of the mother and child. The “enduring” that are essentiallynonverbal. They are early, yet enduring,intra-psychic transmissionof identification are highlyefficientsystemsofsomaticallydriven, emotionalcommunication andprojective identification. 1999 paperonprimary andprojectiveFor Schore, primary The par In apersonalcorrespondence from September 2006,David Boadella describedvegetative identificationasthe Another exampleofthegrowing ofthebodyinpsychotherapy importance istheresearch As a further endorsementfortherole ofthebody inpsychotherapy,As afurther Schore emphasizes According toSchore, current developmental research Melanie doesnotsupport Schor ticular classesof‘primary’ emotionsthatinterested Klein—excitement, elation, e incorporatedthesefindingsfromofrightbrainfunctioningintohis theview Alan Schor

e’s “Primitive Mental States” IN SUPPORT OF

1

65 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 66 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis WILL DAVIS no discontinuitybetween animaland human. modelofdualism.Astherethe Cartesian isnoseparationbetween mindandbody, there is them” (2003, p. 106).Anderson,asDamasio andReich have alsodone,isarguingagainst essence thatseparatesusfrom otheranimals;rather, itplacesusonacontinuumwith suggested, reason doesnottranscend ouranimalnature. Andersonagrees, “It isnotan life—evolutionarily primitive mechanismswhichcontrol perception andaction.AsReich same perceptual andmotor activities thatwebuilt on the very see in“lower” forms of given environment” (ascitedinAnderson,2003,p. 95). For Brooks, reason is evolutionary, from them a substrate of capacities and systems for meeting our needs and coping with a creatures, human beingsare largelycontinuouswithourforbearers andwe have inherited instead studyintelligencefrom thebottomup, function.“As asan evolutionary evolved suggests thatratherthanthinkofcognitionasatop-down modelofintelligence, we should Anderson offerstheoppositepositionthrough thewritingsofRodney Brooks. Brooks symbols that]…standinforspecific…statesofaffairs” (Anderson,2003, p. 93). Instead, symbols. “Foremost istheideathat cognitioncentrallyinvolves representation [basedon idea thatthecentralfunctionofmind—thinking—isbasedonmanipulation physical body(1987). David Boadellaemphasizingthatlifeexperiencesare locatedandaccessedwithinthe is called“grounding”, aBioenergetic developed by conceptfurther bodypsychotherapist acting beings” (Anderson, 2003,p. intelligence 92).Embodiment inthefieldofartificial activity…and suggeststhatthinkingbeingstherefore beconsidered firstandforemost as approach focusesattentiononthefactthatcognitionisahighlyembodiedorsituated intelligencetherein artificial hasbeen a re-thinking of thenature ofcognition…Thisnew robotics, inasurprisingway. andyet Andersonbeginshisarticle “For perhapsfifteen years “embodied psychotherapy”. & Larson as cited in Schore, 1999, p.10). This is more than an embodied self. This is in ‘specific sensationsand/orfeelingskinestheticallyperceived by thetherapist’” (Havens the patienthasdescribedinhisorhersandthatpsychotherapeutic resonance isexpressed striking evidenceofsuccessfulempathyistheoccurrence inourbodiesofsensationsthat can take them back again as his own. Havens and Larson comment, “Perhaps the most and “metabolize” theseemotionsforthepatientwithinherown bodysothatthepatient explore andexperiencetheseemotionswithinasafecontext. The therapistmust“hold” projected, “nonverbal emotions” ofthepatientwhereby thepatientcanvicariously identification, there mustbea “psycho-biological holding” by thetherapistofdangerous, Quoting LakoffandJohnson, Andersondrives homehispoint: This is a radical change from the traditional model of cognition, founded on the ofthebodywithinOne fortheimportance wouldprobably notexpecttofindsupport Schore emphasizes thatthisempathicstateisnecessary. Concerningprojective understand reason we mustunderstand thedetailsofourvisual system,ourmotor and move around also create ourconceptualsystemsand modesofreason. Thus, to embodiment. The sameneural andcognitive mechanismsthatallow ustoperceive structure ofreasonstriking claimthatthevery itselfcomesfrom thedetailsofour This isnotjusttheinnocuous claimthatwe needabodytoreason; rather, itisthe Artificial Body Artificial Intelligence andthe context andcontext—lifeexperiences—evolve outofandare stored inthebody. representations fortherobot, istoolimited. There isnorelevance becausethere isno preverbal experiencescanberegistered, Mitchell writes, to prefer holdingherown baby atarm’s length. To tounderstand how unconscious, try held atarm’s lengthby hermother. The patientthenunderstoodwhyshe,asamother, seemed both herarmswere stretched outstraightinplastercasts.Asaresult, thepatienthadbeen ofwhenshewas ababy: her motherhadbeeninanautomobileaccidentand a lostmemory Attachment toIntersubjectivity (2000).Mitchell recounts acasewhere hispatientrecovered content” (Schore, 1999,p. 2). This changeisrepresented inMitchell’s Relationality: From role ofthecommunicationinternalaffectstatesandprocess, ratherthancognitions and clinical andpsychobiological modelsofprojective identificationare now stressing thecritical both a communicationofcontentandcognitionto ofaffectstates.“Thus, towards contextandhow thepatientfeels abouthimself. There isachangeinemphasisfrom psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis ismoving from focusingoncontentandbiographicalmaterial ishappeningtomenow?” (Davis, 2010,p.the embodiedhuman,itisquestion:“What 8). Anderson is arguing that starting from thetopdown,Anderson isarguingthatstarting merely creating symbolsand Schore (1999)pointsoutthatthere isalsoasignificantshifttowards thebodyin ishappening?”ForThe left-braindominatedrobot ismerely askingthequestion:“What system andthegeneralmechanismofneuralbinding.(2003,p. 107) meaning. (Davis, 2010,p. 8) a table,onthefloor. Embodiment, whichprovides acontext,istherefore to crucial context andhave relevance fortheagent. Then onecansitanywhere: inachair, on on explicitrules. The conceptofsittingmustbegrounded inthebody, beina sitting onemustknow whatitfeelsliketobesittingbecauselifeisnotonlybased related tohisbody, heonlyhasShore’s left hemisphere ofthebrain. To understand cannot fullyunderstandtheconceptofsittingbecausehedoesnotpossessamind stone outsidebecauseinhismindsittingisrelated tochairs. This meansthatarobot gotothechairandsitonit.Samecertainly problem; arobot wouldnever sitona robot wouldbehelpless.In facteven by sayingtotherobot ‘Use thechair’ hewould A humaninthissituationwoulduseanearby chairtobreak through thewindow. A are closed,we cannotescape. The onlywaytoleave wouldbetobreak outawindow. meaning. Let’s takeanexample. We are situatedinahousethatisonfire. Alldoors An assumptionfortheconceptofembodimentisthatwithoutcontextthere isno really believe thatthebaby whosemother’s armswere incastsclearlyperceived comes toaccounting forstorieslikethewoman withoutstretched arms.Do we that isexternal becomesinternal.But theseexplanationsseem strainedwhenit These termsare oftenclinicallyuseful,accompanyingwaysin whichsomething internalization, internal objects, introjection, incorporation, identification, etc. theorists have comeupwithawidearray oftermstoaccountforthesephenomena: Something outsideofushasbeenstored insideofus.How did it getthere? Analytic Psychoanalysis Intersubjectivity andtheBody: IN SUPPORT OF 67 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 68 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis WILL DAVIS that thebabiespreferred thepre-recorded totheoneread tothechildafterbirth. story by thesameauthor. themothersreadbirth, outloudanother story It wasdemonstrated study, pregnant outloudandthereadings womenread were astory recorded. Afterthe Loewald’s argumentthatearlyexperiencesare stored askinestheticmemories.In their mind. for laterlanguagedevelopment. There isnosplittingofpreverbal andverbal, ofbodyand is imprintedintheprenatal stateinthebodyandremains withthechild formingthebasis uniform experience” (ascitedinMitchell, p. 8).For theexperienceoflanguage Loewald, not perceive words, butisbathedinsound,rhythm,etc.,asaccentuatingingredients ofa experience withinthemother-childfield. While themotherutterswords, theinfantdoes included…he isimmersed,embeddedinaflow andparcel ofaglobal ofspeechthatispart the expectationthathewillgraspwords, butasifspeaking toherselfwiththeinfant p.6). For there Loewald, is no ambiguity. mother speaks to the infant, not with “The that for Stern, the development of language is a “double-edged sword” (Mitchell, 2000, the advent oflanguagesomethingisgainedbutalsolost.Mitchell writes cited inMitchell, 2000,p.8). The infantresearcher Daniel Stern’s positionisthatwith density’ in which feelings, perceptions, others, self are of a seamless unity” all parts (as separation between preverbal and verbal. “Language is a key feature of the ‘primordial arguesthatthere Loewald islanguagewithinthewomb—thatthereLoewald. isno these early, nonverbal, body-based experiencescanbeaccessed, experienced in the present speech develops. Andthese experiencesare “enduring”. In abodypsychotherapy approach, experiencesarecortical registered inthe brainandthebodybefore theability toreason and be understoodinthetraditional cognitive, language-basednarrative. It shows thatpre- nonverbal state:positive andnegative experiencesthatregister intheorganismandcannot setting, butalsothenonverbal. In fact,theresearch quotedabove isreferring tothe years, beenworking withnotonlythepreverbal experienceswithinthepsychotherapeutic the laternarrative” (p. xxxv). Despite thisattitude,bodypsychotherapy has,formany of theselfstates:“…there isnodirect route tothesubjective level experienceotherthen who hasdoneasmuchanyone inthelastyears toestablishanearlierdatefor thecreation problem in psychotherapy—working through preverbal experiences. Even Daniel Stern, to thepsychotherapeutic process. distinct advantages tobody-oriented psychotherapy thatmakes significant contributions Mitchell alsoquotestheinfantresearchers DeCasper andFifer whoseresults illustrate ofMitchell’sA largepart book drawsfrom thewritingsofpsychoanalyst Hans In otherwords, Mitchell isharkening totheUnthought Known. The discussionoftherelationship between the bodyandcognitionfocusesonaclassic Despite thepotentialproblems ofbodypsychotherapy already mentioned, there are undifferentiated. (Mitchell, 2000,p. 22) other, butaskinestheticmemoriesofexperiencesinwhichtheselfandotherare assume thatsuchearlyexperiencesare notstored asimagesofaclearlydelineated identifying withthatimageofaseparateother?It seemsmuchmore to pervasive sophisticated defenseprocess, establishedthatimageasaninternalpresence, later the relevant features ofitsmotherasobjectsoutsidethem,andthen,through a Including inPsychotherapy theBody changes inbreathing patterns,eye contact,voice qualityandmovements. The “problem” anda tighteningin specificmuscles,lossofconcentration, suddencoughing orsneezing can literallyfeel hisresistances. They ariseinthe body asmuscularandvegetative changes: the patienttoexperiencehimself. For circumstances, thepatient example,undercertain psychotherapy ismosthelpfulinreaching thispre-verbal, pre-relational, body-based self. experience, it is a movement towards something—the somatic-based sense of self. Body based senseofselfthatisexperienced. It isnotamovement away from someoneorsome self-reflexivity there isnotonlyamovement inward, butthere isaprofound somatic- inward thattoooftenhasthequalityofwithdrawingfrom “reality”. In Rogers andin the object,creating mental/object representations. Allofthesetermsimplyamovement self: internalization,introjections, identification,incorporation, withdrawing libidofrom psychotherapy isinundatedwithdevelopmental termsreflecting amovement inward tothe this as “reparative withdrawal” (Schore, 1999, p. 15).In fact, as Mitchell pointed out, In therapy, AnnaFreud coinedtheterm“benignregression”. AlanSchore refers to the baby wasinactive mostofthetime,Melanie Kleinusedtheterm“alert inactivity”. and were mostlyseenasaformofwithdrawal. In the1950’s whenitwasthoughtthat reflecting thismovement inward, buttheseconcepts were usedinamore limitedway a bodypsychotherapy modelof Rogers’ principle (Davis, 1999). There are many terms the patient’s experienceofherselfwithintherelationship. It isalsopossibletowork with moving awayfrom theemphasisonrelationship, andmoving inward andfocusingon than thesocial/relational self. CarlRogers’ client-centered therapyisagoodexampleof able toidentifythemselves inamirror. The pointisthatthere isadeepersenseofself pre-cortically. For example,somebirds have thatdonothave beenshown acortex tobe activity.located incortical Asindicatedalready, research impliesthatasenseofselfexists become thepersonshealready knows thatsheis. When thepatientsays,“Irealize Ialwayswantedtobesomebody”, sheisacallingoutto on direct socialinteraction,apreverbal, unconsciousautonomoussenseofself emerges. experience; theembodiedself. Because thisbody-based,earlysenseofselfisnotdependent She re-connected withanearlier, denied,unconscioussenseofselfrooted inthebodily implicit self, andDavis’ endopsychic self. It emergedwithcontent inthecognitive realm. Damasio’s protoself, Stern’s emergentself, Schore’s Pagis’ “bodyasapre-discursive self”, come from arationalthoughtprocess. It camefrom thebody’s preverbal, body-basedself: sense ofselfcomefrom? How couldsheformulateitsosuddenly, soclearly?It didn’t content; there was coherent verbalization. But how could she know this? Where did this I alwayswantedtobesomebody!”In thiscase,shewasableto“sublimate” herpreverbal At theendofatherapysessionshestoodupandsaidtonobodyinparticular, “Irealize that with her, there wasanoverall senseofdistanceandvagueness asifshewasn’t really there. specific roundedness. She was37,livingwithherparents andgrandparents, and,intalking formlessness. There wasnodefinitionorcontours tothebody, onlyageneralized, non- when shespokeorlooked at me. This qualitywasrepresented inherbody in asexless panic attacks,hadnowork, noromantic relationships andhadadreamy, farawayquality intellectual formulationofverbal discoursebetween patientandtherapist. of experiencesbuttheydonotnecessarilyhave tobeorganized andexplainedinthenormal adult stateinasafeenvironment, andthereby “known”. Sense canbemadeoftheseearliest A secondreason toincludethebodyinpsychotherapy isthatitprovides wayfor anew Cognitive andsocialpsychologies have alwaysviewedtheselfaslanguage-basedand An exampleofthispointisfrom apatientofmine.She wastakingmedicationfor IN SUPPORT OF 69 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 70 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis WILL DAVIS need a man, I need myself”. The patienthadsurprisedherself. She wassurprisedby her need aman,Imyself”. available tothepatient.One woman,whosemarriagewasbreaking up, declared, “Idon’t was a“queen”. Working withthebodyinpsychotherapy makesanothersource ofinformation itwasn’tAnother womanreported feelingsillybecause sheknew butshefeltthat true, resources. The womanquotedabove who“found” herdesire tobecomeherselfisanexample. having children ornot—were basedonfear. he saidthatrealized thatallthemajordecisionshemadeinlife—career, marriage, came up. He feltthefear, outinfearandattheendofsession heheard himselfcrying patient canfeelwhatheissayingitbecomesmore trustworthy. In onepatient,deepfear becomes more real; it’s not an intellectual concept or a distant memory. And when the she nolongerhad tobeafraidofit.She couldmove onin herlifedespitethisloneliness. was deeploneliness inherlifethatsheacknowledged—gave itaplace—and asaresult, sad experience ofdeeplonelinessinasession, shereported, “Icanlive withthat.” There always created anover-dependence, toleave. Aftera profoundly whichcausedherpartner relationship toohard withaman,denyherself, topleasehim.Her andtry low self-worth She relationship. wasaloneandlongedtobeinameaningful Herwastogetintoa history emotions in a safe manner can be in liberating. her A life.patient of mine was frustrated enough. Emotions are tobeknown, notjustunderstood,andexperiencingpowerful therefore control. Intellectually understanding anemotionishelpful,buttoooften,not of orvictimized by theiremotions. The patientthenhasmore consciousintegrationand get in contact with emotions and to “befriend” them, so that they are no longer afraid a great dealofourfeelingsandrelationships. dominated leftbrain.But ashepointsout,thisresults inunconsciousemotionsdirecting ofrightbrainregulation ofthelogic- importance ofemotionswithouttheparticipation our emotions,whichusuallymeanstorepress them.Schore’s research hasshown the unconscious andgenerallyseenasnegative andeven dangerous. We are taughttocontrol psychotherapy. But asemotionsare asimportant indirecting our lives, theyare too often the impassehasbeenresolved, acombinationofbodywork andtalkingishelpful. without challengingthepatient’s defensesormakingthemfeelwrong orinadequate.Once happens, itispossibletofocusonthebodyfindawaygetthrough theimpasse comes toanimpasse. The therapeuticdialoguebeginstocircle ordissipate. When this the body, therecognition ofwhatishappeningtomenow. present momentunderstandingofwhatishappeningandthatthiscanonlycomethrough ofthe theimportance based communicationsystemthatisusedthroughout lifesupports who onewas.Schore’s positionof“a rapid,fast-acting”, unconscious,nonverbal, body- psychotherapy model’s to understand who one is by understanding conception oftrying is amore direct experienceofwhooneiswhengrounded inthebody, asopposedtothe and “flashbacksare alwaysinthepresent andtotalsystemexperiences” (p. 229) There that “memories networks donotage; theyremain insubcortical intheiroriginalform” and thefirst-personsense.Cozolino pointsoutinNeuroscience andPsychotherapy (2002) Embodied experiencekeepstheselfinpresent time,informsitinthepresent moment event andtheunderstanding,makingexperiencemore trustworthy, genuine,andreal. O Therefore another advantage ofincludingthebodyinpsychotherapy istohelppatients And lastly, healthyrelationships role inbody withouremotionsplayanimportant Another reason working withthebodyisbeneficialthatoften verbal interaction A third reason isthatcontainedbodyexperiencesdeletethetimelagbetween the n theotherhand,patientcanalsofeelherdeniedorundiscovered potentialand

self. emotion ofbeing loved comefrom? How withoutthe didhemanagetorewrite hishistory in thebodyis the physicalrepresentation ofthislack. good, substitutemothering,and sofeltunloved hiswholelife. The undernourishedquality the shockoflossmother, andtheresulting contraction,hecouldnotacceptthe “bad” stepmother. Or itcouldbethat thestepmotherwasa“good” mother, but,becauseof of hismother. It couldbeacombinationofthe lossofhismotherandtheappearancea I couldseesome“story” likethatinhisbody. There wasdeprivation. It couldbetheloss that sheloved me.” was doingtomewere becauseshedidn’t love me.Now Iunderstanditwasherwaytoshow because I realize now that my stepmother loved me. I always thought all those things she intensifiedintoadeep sobbing.the crying a mat,Icontinuedtowork onhisSpinalis muscleswithourgentletouchtechniqueand physical work thatIhaddoneallweek, hebegantocry. Ashelaythere onhisstomach continued thewholeweek. The lastsessionoftheworkshop, whileIwasdoingthesame He reported thatthephysicalwork feltgood,butthere wasnothingtotalkabout. This totalkaboutthesessionwithingroup.opportunity Eachtime,hehadnothingtosay. of thebodyrepresents thedeepholdingwithin.At theendofeachsession,there wasthe psychotherapy understanding,thecontraction,hishistory, isheld. The thinverticality each session,working gentlyonhisbackandespeciallyalongthespinewhere, inabody this caseinvolved littleverbalization andalotofphysicaltouch.Basically, Ididthesame

experiences thatare alwaysinthepresent andare totalbodyexperiences. never released. His undernourishedqualityisthebody’s representation ofthepre-cortical Whatever happenedtohimyears agoisstillhappeningnow inthepresent. The shockwas discussed earlier, what happened inthe past is still a livingprocess within the patient. experiences inthebody’s tissue. Technically, “frozen” isnotthecorrect word because,as quality ofmypatientrepresents this“frozen” theregistration ofthepre-cortical history: distance. is heldupandthensuddenlydropped ashort The thinandundernourished Moro reflex, thebodyanditcanbeseenwhenachild thiscontracting reflex pervades early environment. In anyearly, shockingcircumstance, thebodycontracts.Known asthe understood tobetheoriginalcontraction,asachild,shockand/orcoldandunloving, of earlywarmthandcaring. There wasauniformcontractionthroughout thebodythatis In thebody, theundernourishedqualityofthinnessrevealeddo itmyself”. thelack seen psychically in therestricted socialcontact,thelonerquality, thesensethat“Ihave to The distant,coldeyes reflected ofpeople ingeneral. hisdistrust Theearlydisturbancewas draw anadequaterepresentation ofthatperson. into thepatientandinintegratingtheseinsightswithwhatisunderstoodverbally, onecan traps. But, when applied correctly, looking at the body, the therapist cangainsomeinsight patient inhispastandwhoheistoday. Aswithanycategorizingsystem,there are flawsand In bodypsychotherapy, we “read” thebodyforinformationastowhathadhappeneda I Where did that memory andtransformingrealizationWhere comefrom? didthatmemory Where didthe We hadnever discussedhisstepmother. Ididnotknow thathehadastepmother. But When we talkedattheendofthissession,hehadsomethingto say:“Iwascrying He wasayoung, silent,thin,undernourished,boyish lookingman,whokepttohimself. After 25years, Iamtouchedwhenrecall apatientwhosuffered from earlydeprivation. n a residential workshop, I did nine body psychotherapy sessions with him that in A Case Study

IN SUPPORT OF 71 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 72 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis WILL DAVIS Photos reproduced ofsubject withexplicit permission and reorganized hisconceptofhimself:Iamlovable. there inthebody. He went into“default mode”, adeepmovement backtotheembodied, someone pressing pointsonhisback? The answer tothesequestionsisobvious; itisall discursive love-object, element,tore-structure aprimary whilelyingonhisstomachwith training forwork, livingseparatefrom parents andenteringalove relationship. There are alsoconcurrent changesinhispersonallife:lesssubstanceabuse,additional psychotherapy. It isclearthatthe structure haschangedaswell astheoverall sense of self. APPENDIX audience’” (Davis, 2010,p.2). unity withinpsychotherapy. “As brainisthebody’s Damasio pointedout,‘The captive The bodyandmindare deeplyinterwoven. Asaresult thebestapproach isabody/mind of developmental part themes, emotions, beliefs and the therapeutic process.is a necessary should berephrased. It shouldinsteadbe:whynotincludethebodyinpsychotherapy? It SEPTEMBER 2008 These photosshow thephysicaldevelopments duringsixmonthsofbody From thediscussion it seemsthatthe question of including the body in psychotherapy

DECEMBER 2008 Conclusion

MAR CH 2009 Davis, (2005).Theendopsychic self.Paper presented attheInternational Biosynthesis Congress, Davis, W. andCharacter. (1999).Anintroduction totheinstroke. Energy 30(1),79-94. Davis, J.(2010). The growing ofembodimentinsocialcognition. Unpublished importance paper, Cozolino, L.(2006).Theneuroscience ofhumanrelationships. London,England: W.W. Norton and Cozolino, L.(2002).Neuroscience andpsychotherapy. NY, USA: W.W Norton andCompany. Bollas, C. (1987). Boadella, D.(1987).Life streams. London,England: Routledge &Kegan Paul. Anderson, M.(2003).Embodied Cognition:Afieldguide.Artificial Intelligence, 149,91-130. REFERENCES Body Psychotherapy. He lives withhiswifeandtwochildren inthesouthofFrance. Psychologists andPsychiatrists and theScientific Network ofthe European Associationfor Body Psychotherapy. He isamemberoftheScientificCommittee Italian Society of BoardAdvisory fortheJournal ofEnergy andCharactertheInternational Journal of the instroke andoftheplasmaticoriginsearlydisturbances.He isontheInternational Analysis andisconsidered oneofthemajorresearchers inthefieldsoffunctioning in Europe andbefore thatworked inAmericaandJapan. Will developed Functional therapy andinvarious alternative healingmethods.He conductstrainingworkshops psychology degree andwastrainedinneo-Reichian Radixwork, Encounter Groups, Gestalt BIOGRAPHY Goldman, A.,de Vignemont, F. (2009). Is socialcognitionembodied? Trends inCognitive Science. European AssociationforBodyPsychotherapy. (n.d.).Retrieved from www.eabp.org. Stern, D. (1985). Schubert, T., &Koole, S.L.(2009). The embodied self:Making afistenhancesmen’s power-related Schore, A.(2006).Paper Presented at the IVInternational Biosynthesis Congress. Lisbon. Schore, A.(1999).Clinicalimplications ofapsychoneurobiological model ofprojective identification. Ryan, R.M.andBrown, K.W. (2003). Why we don’t needself-esteem:On fundamentalneeds, Reich, W.(1961). Raichle, M.E.(2010).Dark energyofthebrain.Scientific American. 302(3),28-34. Pagis, M. (2009).Embodied self-reflexivity. Quarterly. SocialPsychology 72(3),265-283. Mussweiler, T. (2006).Doing isforthinking!Psychological 17(1),17-21. Science. Mitchell, S.(2000).Relationality: From attachmenttointersubjectivity. Hillsdale, New Jersey: The Waldekranz-Piselli, C.(1999). What dowe saybefore we sayhello? The bodyasthestagesettingfor Lisbon, P Alber Company. England: Free Association. Email: [email protected] Website: www.functionalanalysis.de Will Davis (1943)isanAmericanwithmore than35years experience.He hasa self conceptions.Journal ofExperimental SocialPsychology. 45,828-834. Primitive Mental States, 1999, Vol. III,S.AlhanatiEd., ESFPublisher. contingent love, andmindfulness.Psychological Inquiry. 14(1),71-79. Analytic Press. 13(4) 154-159. the script.Journal of Transactional Analysis. 29(1),31-48. psychology. New York, USA:Karnac. t-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Seminar Soziale Kognition. 1-12. ortugal. The interpersonal world of the infant: a view from psychoanalysis and developmental The functionoftheorgasm.New York, USA: The Noonday Press. The shadow of the object: Psychoanalysis and the Unthought Known. London, IN SUPPORT OF

73 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 74 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Past – The Wave oftheFuture”. 1 © Author andUSABP/EABP. Reprints [email protected] Volume 11,Number 2,2012pp74-93Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN2168-1279 International BodyPsychotherapy Journal TheArt andScienceofSomaticPraxis ROBERT HILTON, PHD own particular needs, so it is certainly true formetoday. true own needs,soitiscertainly particular My own prejudiced andunconscious call whatIdoRelational Somatic Psychotherapy. designed tousethisrelationship astheprinciplemodalityofhealing. Ieventually learn[ed]to hadthisatmomentswith LowenI certainly butBioenergetic therapyatthattime was not and thatsomethingIfoundto beamutualhealingtherapeuticrelationship withmytherapist. realized, muchasLowen didwithReich, thattheydidnotholdup. Ineeded something else andlife-changingexperienceswithLowenmind. Ialsohadwonderful butover timeIalso hisownthe conceptofgrounding asawayofsupporting processes ofintegrationbodyand changes, even the orgasm reflex, did not hold up. He developed Bioenergetics and introduced charismatic influenceofwho Reich wasandhistransference tohim. He realized thatthese as apatientof Wilhelm Reich. But hediscovered thatthesechangeswere largely due tothe own attachmentstyle” (p. 136).AlexanderLowen reports tohave hadlife-changing experiences that suitstheirown proclivities... specifically, their own capacityforintimacy/autonomy, their pickthemodality paper,in hiswonderful “Therapists “Bioenergetics inSearch foraSecure Self”, present. Ihopethiswillgive ussomedirection forthefuture. that goal.Iwillbedrawingoninsightsfrom thepioneersofpastaswell asresearch from the it issohard toachieve andsomesuggestionsaboutthedirection we needtotakeaccomplish and mind.”Iwanttodirect ourattentiontoward whatthatgoalofintegration looks like,why our techniquesandmodalitieschangebutgoalremains thesame:integrationofbody of BodyPsychotherapy”. The brochure statementregarding mypresentation says,“Over time Keynote address at theUSABPConference in Boulder, COonAugust Pioneers ofthe 10,2012entitled“The future ofbodypsychotherapy. andHilton’spoetry own anecdotes.Hope isproposed forahumanistic,sympathetic and Peter Levineare allgiven mention,sandwichedbetween illustrationsborrowed from Guntrip, Ronald Fairbairn and Wilhelm Reich, aswell asDonald Kalsched,Dan Siegel trends of thought in the field. Alexander Lowen, Lewis, Robert Donald Winnicott, Harry historical theoriesthathave informedtoday’s bodypsychotherapy andcontemporary Thus, just as it was true ofthepioneers ofthepast,thattheydeveloped theoriesbasedontheir Thus, justasitwastrue I wantto begin by a Bioenergetic quoting Bob Lewis, trainer and psychiatrist who reminds us Good morning. The title Everof my presentation this morning is “The Changing Constancy The EverChangingConstancyofBodyPsychotherapy Key Presented atthe2012 USABP Conference, thiskeynoteaddress outlinesboth words: history, poetry, Reich, Winnicott, Siegel Received andacceptedAugust 2012 Robert Hilton, PhD Abstract

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forward tothemoment ofmeetingwhenheplaced hishandoverforward mine” (p.178). unacknowledged (p.118). drive And, “This waswhatpropelled Stuart’sand himself” therapy andnowwonderful eagermindwasready todo what itwasborntodo—toconnect withothers in his. There wasa deepandopenconnectionbetween us” (2010,p. 117).He laterstates,“Stuart’s realizing thathismindwasinmine.Ifeltdeeplymoved by feeling,forthe firsttime,thatminewas they would have picked up the resonance between us. Just as Stuart had been moved to tears at there now seemedtobe a ‘we’ intheroom. If we hadbrainmonitors onhand,Ithink everything. This wasagoodsession’” (p. 117). you somuchfor brought hesaid,‘Thank hislefthanduptocover ourclaspedhands,‘Thanks,’ Stuart, he rose from hewrote,thechair, “When hecameover tomeandshookmyhand,then to know before Idie.” Then, Dan wrote abouttheendofasessionmonthslater. Referring to but inlife,Ibasicallyfeelnothing.really don’t know whatpeopleare talkingabout.I’d like a breakthrough whenonedayintherapyStuart said,“Iknow peoplesaytheyfeelthisorthat… help himfindintegrationbetween thetwohemispheres wasgoingtobeachallenge. Dan recalls did notneedtobethere. He hadlived allofhislifeinthelefthemisphere ofhisbrainandto 92-year-old manwhosesonbrought himinfortherapy. Stuart wasdepressed butinsistedhe I referred to anaccounthegives inhisbook,Mindsight (2010),ofworking withStuart, a Dan for our Bioenergetic last October Conference. of interviewing In ofthat interview one part whom you allknow asoneoftheforemost researchers todayinneurobiology. Ihadtheprivilege research. In regard tothisquestionIwould like torefer toaconversation IhadwithDan Siegel but I am well acquainted with those who have and the results of their work. Perhaps that is my central focusforthenextconference.” My answer toherquestionis,“No, Ipersonally haven’t”, attention toresearch andthesciencethatunderliesourwork. I’m goingtosuggestthatbethe question, “Have you doneanyresearch onyour work? We tobringinmore are alsotrying doesthisintegrationlooklike?” this conceptby askingthequestion,“What change, thegoalremains thesame—theintegrationofmindandbody. Iwant tobeginexploring caption reads, “No, there willnotbeaquestionandanswer period.” favorite New Yorker has a Jesus-like cartoons figure standing on a hill addressing a crowd. The right.” However, ofmyown thenarcissistic part characterdoeshave toadmitthatoneofmy master whathewasgoingtodoaboutthis. The masterlookedathim and said,“Maybe he’s toevangelize hisfellow andconvert Christianity wasbackandtrying monks.He askedthe to andhadbeenconverted the masterandtoldhimthatamonkwhohadleftmonastery where Jack Kornfield wasstudyingtobea Buddhist monk. One dayafellow studentcameto butbadmasters.”2 thantocareimportant forideas,whichcan be goodservants as well asmypatients’. agree states,“To Icertainly whenhefurther care forpeopleismore us.” Iwouldaddthatmytheoriesare thebestIcandotoconceptualize myown experience simply thebestwe candotodateconceptualize theexperiencesofourpatientspresent with us if our theoretical to change for ideals too remainlong. stagnant and impervious is Theory in hisbook,Psychoanalytic Theory, Therapy andtheSelf, issomethingwrong with states,“There changed, butforthattohappenwe mustfirstacknowledge our own prejudices. Guntrip Harry to hear. This doesnotmeanthatwe cannotbeinformedandhave our opinionschallengedand work. And whatyoucolored choosetohearmesaythismorningislikewise by whatyou want andacknowledgeperspective largelydetermineswhatIchoosetoobserve asrelevant from their Dan thenstates,“Ican’t really putwords towhathappenedbut—halfayear intotherapy— In my correspondence with Ann Ladd regarding my presentation important she asked a very I mentionedinmystatementastothepurposeofspeechthatwhileourtechniques It wouldbegreat ifwe all couldhave theattitudedisplayed by themasterofmonastery THE EVERCHANGING 75 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 76 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis ROBERT HILTON, PHD Wild Geese”, goal” (Winnicott, Winnicott, Shepherd, &Davis, 1989,p. 87). cannot absolve usfrom ourpainfultaskofgettingstepby stepawayfrom ignorancetoward our already have beendealtwithby theworld’s poets,butflashesofinsightthatcomefrom poetry forotherswhoworkis new inpsychotherapy. Naturally, init,itwill ifwhatIsayhastruth “It ismypurposehere formeandwhichperhaps tostateassimplypossiblethatwhichisnew isindeedawisesource ofknowing”that theheart (2010,p. 167). “Long before researchers begantounravel theseneuralmechanisms,poetsandchildren knew final testandproof, forwhichallotherwork ismerely preparation.” Andtoquote Siegel again tous,theultimatetask, being: thatisperhapsthemostdifficulttaskhasbeenentrusted p. 44). The great German poetRilkehassaid, “For onehumanbeingtolove anotherhuman adventure, oflivingare theexcitement beyond one’s andtheglory visionandreach” (1976, isliketakinganoceanvoyagea closedheart lockedintheholdofship. The meaning,the is noeasytask.But iftheobjective isnotgained,theresult istragic. To gothrough lifewith goal wasclear. He writes,“Bioenergetics andlove. aimstohelpapersonopenhisheart This Now, isnotnew. thisobservation For AlexanderLowen, oneofourpioneersthepast, of this love. In fact, Dan Siegel and Jack Kornfield give seminars on the neurobiology of love. capacity toshare inlove ourhearts andtobedrawntoward physicalcontactwiththeobject has donetheresearch thatvalidates whatwe doasbodypsychotherapists.” the first time I heard him speak 15 years ago, I turned to“This man Virginia [my wife] and said, and thewaywe create meaninginourlives” (Siegel, 2010,p. 43).Ilatermentionedtohimthat input from the body forms a vitalsource of intuition and powerfully influences our reasoning thatprocessnetwork informationandrelay ofnerves dataupward tothebraininskull.Such response thatmoved himtocontactDan. Dan hasalsowrittenthat“the hasanextensive heart he callsuponabody-orientedpsychotherapist toassistinthetherapy. own boundarieswhenthepatientneedsmore with, physicalcontactthanhefeltcomfortable hesitated foramomentandthensaidyes itwasandinkeepingwithhisunderstandingof opinion issuchphysicalcontactanaturalfulfillmentofthislimbicdrive forconnection?” He imply thatconnectionisnotjust in limbicresonance butalsoin actual physicalcontact. In your (March 25,2012)canhelpus. “painful anddifficulttask”? then I ask, referring back to Winnicott’s and Rilke’s, comments, what makes this goal such a We now know whatourgoalis,toquotetheopeninglinesfromOliver’s Mary poem“The However, along this line, I want toquote another of my favorite pioneers, Donald Winnicott: Research demonstratesthattheeffectofintegrationbodyandmindistoregain the Dan’s client’s expression was not simply an intellectualacknowledgement butaheartfelt After quotingthispassagetoDan, Ithenaskedhimthefollowing question:“Here you Perhaps intheNew anarticle York Times by Diane Brain Ackerman ofLove” entitled“The If thegoalofintegrationistoonceagain “letthesoftanimalofourbodylove whatitloves”, love whatitloves. You onlyhave toletthesoftanimalofyour body for ahundred repenting. milesthrough thedesert, You donothave towalkonyour knees You donothave tobegood life. In theend,whatwe paythemostattention todefinesus. How you chosetospend great discoveries ofourera:thatthebrainisconstantly rewiring itselfbased ondaily A relatively fieldcalledinterpersonalneurobiology new drawsitsvigorfrom oneofthe Eliot in the opening lines of his famous poem, “The EliotWaste intheopeninglinesofhisfamouspoem,“The Land”, saysitthis way. be extremely painful. The frostbitten handneedswarmth and yet thewarmthbringspain. T.S. from theagonyofaloneness,butforthosewhohave beendeprived ofitaschildren itcanalso completing thattask.Isolation cancreate terror anddisintegration.Contactcanbringrelief lifethreateningfrom further expressions ofneedandpain. loving contactwithourselves andothers,itisalsowired ourbodiesandpsyches topreserve least. So while the brain is wired, as Siegel says, “To do what it was born to do”, namely to make association withtheneedforcontactmothercanbeextremely threatening, tosaythe andmother.his orherbirth For othersandmyselfwhohave beentraumatized aschildren, an Only oneintenofmyclientshastheresponse andsecuritywhenremembering ofcomfort the pain,horror andlonelinessthatitfeltwhenthere wasnosuchresonance asdescribed above. remembers whatsuchcare feltlikeandtriestofinditagain,mustalso andcomfort remember oneness withmotherfelt,andlongsforitsadultequivalent.” Therein liestherub. If thebody or aknowable exit. they are both the condemned and the jailor. Always, it is a place that has no windows or doors attic orcellar. For others,itislikebeinginthebackward ofamental hospitalorajailwhere as theyare indifferent ways.For some, it islikebeingalive inacoffin,orlockedawaythe move out,andtheotherto stayastheyare. Different clients describethisconditionofstaying out to meet me nor can they let me in. They are stuck between two opposing forces: one to ortest or denythatforwhichtheysodesperately long. Itfrustrate feelsasiftheycannot come needed it allow meto make contact with them, it willnot be long until theymust pull away and We are alldestinedtoseekcontact,andtheintegrationofmindbodyisdependenton bodyremembers whatthat paragraph,“The And thensheaddsatthebeginningofanew As atherapist,Iknow thatwhenclientswhohave beendeprived ofcontactwhenthey self-regard allbegininthiscrucible. andchoiceofsweethearts baby’s firstattachmentsimprintitsbrain. Thepatternofalifetime’s behaviors,thoughts, face, andvoice. Thanks toadvances inneuroimaging, we now have evidencethata semaphores, themothersaysallaninfantneedstohearcommunicatingthrough eyes, so permeableitdoesn’t matterwhosebodyiswhose. Wordlessly, relying ontheheart’s show isthe internal bond that belongs toneither alone, a fusion in which the self feels Brain scansshow synchrony between thebrainsofmotherandchild,butwhattheycan’t caregiver astounds. whosewizardry primary a fluxoffaces,shadowy imagesanddreams, butmostofallapowerfully magnetic bristling sensations,rawemotionsandthecuriousfeelingstheyunleash—weird objects, pathways basedonitsodysseyinanalienworld.Aninfantissteepedbright,buzzing, Every great love neural affairbeginswithascream.blazingnew thebrainstarts At birth, delicate circuits thatshapememories,emotionsandultimatesouvenir, theself. arebrain—but most important theintimate bonds that foster or fail us, altering the the irreplaceable hoursofyour lifeliterallytransformsyou. Allrelationships changethe A littlelifewithdriedtubers. in forgetfulsnow,Earth feeding Winter keptuswarm,covering Dull roots withspringrain. Memory withdesire, stirring Lilacs outofthedeadland,mixing April month, breeding isthecruelest THE EVERCHANGING 77 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 78 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis ROBERT HILTON, PHD what happenstoachildwhoislefttoolongwithoutcontact.He said, Reich gave the following example: and therefore withouttherewards orsatisfactionfrom hisorherabilitytolove andbeloved. painandabuse.Saidfrom further anotherway, forlife thechildlearnstolive withoutaheart Instead, thenegative impactofneglectortraumaactivates anumbing, isolating“protection” of theinfant’s thatis,thefree heart: andpositive reaching forandconnection withanother. and breathing” (1960,p. 147).It is thespontaneousexpression appearsthatwhatgetscrushed aliveness ofthebodytissuesandworking of body functions,includingtheheart’s action selfcomesfrom the true expression oftheheart. “The Winnicott madeasimilarobservation. has beenbroken withtrauma.” If so,the missing“root” couldbetheopenand spontaneous thepersonwhoseheart to andfrom thetraumatized the“life[of] child,hesaiditpreserves caretaker” (Guntrip’s parent) thatblocksaccess internal saboteur ortheinternalized persecutory (1996), provides ahinttoanswer thequestionofwhatitisthatlost. Referring tothe“tyrannical people butwe mustalwaysactasifsuchalossisnotpermanent.” to Winnicott’s Dan Siegel, hesaid,“Perhaps statement whileinterviewing heisrightforafew and causesustosubstituteshame,demonicrageself-hatred initsplace?” When Ireferred and recovering istheroot that whatwaslost?I ask, “What Winnicott saysispermanentlylost selfwith noreal ground forhisorherbeingandnohopeofreturningin afalseorpersecutory to substitutes by identificationthepersonalityofhispersecutors” (1961, p. 424). to say, “In order topossesshimselfofanegostrong enoughtolive by, herejects himselfand ego isbasicallyweak, perhapsthatonehashardly gotanegoatall” (1969,p. 174).He goeson arise outofhavingtocopewithlifewhen one feelsthatjustisnotareal person, that one’s aredeprivation andtraumawhenhestates,“There no fearsworseordeeperthanthosewhich clients who,over theyears, have madeupatleasthalformypractice. or equallydevastating traumasofanotherkind. formytherapist This hasbeenespeciallytrue deprivation, but as I mentioned before, I and most of my clients have experienced either this Donald Winnicott, theBritish pediatricianandpsychoanalyst, gives anotherinsightasto Speaking towhatismissing intheclientandhow ithappensfrom anenergeticperspective, Donald Kalsched,theJungian book,TheInner analyst,inhiswonderful World of Trauma Does this mean that someone so deprived of appropriate contact as a child must forever exist Guntrip, speakingtothisissueprovides anotherperspective astotheresults ofsuch According to Winnicott, the vast majority of babies do not experience this quantity of root whichcouldprovide continuitywiththepersonalbeginning.(1982,p. 97) ‘recovery’ from x+y+zdeprivation againpermanentlydeprived ababy ofthe hastostart a for lifetheknowledge from experienceofhavingbeenmad.Madness here simplymeans deprivation. around withthem This meansthatthemajorityofchildren donotcarry We must assumethatthevast majorityofbabiesnever experiencethex+y+zquantityof the acuteconfusionalstatethatbelongstodisintegrationofnascentegostructure. become organized todefendagainstarepetition of‘unthinkable anxiety’ orareturn to that thebaby hasexperiencedabreak inlife’s continuity, sothatprimitive defensesnow minutes themother’s return doesnotmendthebaby’s altered state. Trauma implies not becomealtered. But inx+y+zminutesthebaby hasbecometraumatized. In x+y+z is soonmendedbecausethemotherreturns inx+yminutes.In x+yminutesthebaby has capacity tousethesymbolofunion ceases. The baby isdistressed, butthisdistress is awaymore thanxminutes,thentheimagofades,andalongwiththis,baby’s [For thebaby,] The feelingofthemother’s existencelastsxminutes.If themother breakup ofwhatever mayexistatthetimeofapersonalcontinuityexistence.After

“Richard Cory” (1897): to avoid ourdeadness” (4 is aphrase:“We deadenourbodiestoavoid ouraliveness andthenwe pretend tobealive (5 self” by whatReich called“substitute contact” andwhat Winnicott wouldlatercallthe“false all protecting abroken heart. This estrangementfrom theworld(4 like touchingahotstove andrecoiling back. The result isdeadness,apathyandinflexibility, reachingimpulse doublesbackonitselftostopfurther andexplorationofthatgoal(3 integration through expressing (2 and life is frustrated his heart ( of Reich’s originalformula. patient from integration. This isthewayIdescribethisconcept,whichmyadaptation constitutes theelusive residue ofthearmor. Andthis“contactlessness” iswhatkeepsthe 3 ), aninnerisolationeven whenthere isanabundanceofsocialcontact.In Bioenergetics 1. LifeImpulse Cleanfavored andimperially slim. H We peopleonthepavement lookedathim: Whenever went Richard down Cory town, The diagramshows how theoriginalimpulse(1 From anenergeticperspective, Reich concludesthat“psychic contactlessness” e wasagentleman from sole tocrown, insight intotheresidue. (1971,p. 311) both whathadbeenwarded offandwhatwarded itoff, we stillhadnoconclusive functional unitywiththeperson’s specificcharacter. while we understoodIn short, aggregate ofdefenseforces whichmaintainedtherepression; thesetwoformeda demands whichwere directed toward the outer worldstoodinoppositiontoan theoretical concept of the armor was correct: an aggregate of repressed instinctual elusive residue existed.Here theanalystwasfacedwithadifficultproblem. The character reaction formationsseemedtobecomplete,there wasnodoubtthatan and from theanalyst.Even astheanalysisofactive defenseforces andofthe “narcissistic position” andthathewasextremely clever inconcealingitfrom himself One had the feelingthatpatientrefusedofhis withthelastreserves topart were achieved, anindefinable residue always remained, seemingly beyond reach. completely broken down, even afterfar-reaching breakthroughs ofvegetative energy We graduallycametoseethat,even aftertheformalmodesofbehaviorhadbeen ). There isalayer ofpsychic structure between thesetwoopposingforces (1 3. Internalnegativity further expression or “recoil”blocks 4. Internalblock: dead zone ). Edwin ArlingtonRobinson aptlyillustratesthisinthe poem

) inthepersonmoving toward 5. Falseselfmakes substitute contacts ) and the energy of that 2. Environmental THE EVERCHANGING ) iscompensatedfor Negativity ). It is ) and 79 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 80 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis ROBERT HILTON, PHD (1971), originallypublishedin1933. Reich. This vignetteappearsin the chapteroncontactlessnessinhisbookCharacter Analysis Levine andSiegel). Ibeginwithacasevignettefrom oneofthesepioneers of thepast, Wilhelm past (Reich, Lowen, Winnicott, Guntrip andFairbairn) andpioneersofthepresent (Kalsched, that have beenhelpfultomeinthisquest. These insightscomemainlyfrom pioneersofthe once again“letthesoftanimalofourbodieslove whatitloves.” we were borntodo. To grieve whatwe didn’t getsowe cankeepandenjoy whatwe have. To and thuslive thelifeofourbodies,tofindintegrationbetween bodyandmind,tofulfillwhat and severity oftrauma. We hopetofacilitatetherecovery ofspontaneityinourlives andtheirs recognize thatthesetwoforces comefrom thesameroot andhave beensplitby various kinds them find relief from being captured between these two powerful forces of love and survival. We others andthusbegintoreclaim theirlives. We are allexploringamultitudeofwaystohelp them toriskonceagaintheexperienceandexpression ofthatbrokenness tothemselves and their connectionwithown Discovering broken heart. awaytocontactthemwouldallow our clients.Again,Ibelieve thatthiscontactlessnessisevidenceoftheclients’ dissociationfrom this morning as body psychotherapists exploring ways to make contact with this experience of lies rageandshame. We now know thatbeneaththat:thepainofheartbreak. We are allhere I wouldlike to contribute to our exploration by sharing with you some of the insights This poemclearlydemonstratesthatunderneaththe“narcissistic position” ofthepatient Went homeandputabulletthrough hishead. And Richard Cory, onecalmsummernight, Andwent withoutthemeat,andcursedbread; So onwe worked, andwaitedforthelight, To makeuswishthatwe were inhisplace. In fine, we thoughtthathewaseverything grace: Andadmirablyschooledinevery And hewasrich—yes, richerthanaking— “Good-morning,” andheglittered whenhewalked. But stillhefluttered pulseswhenhesaid, Andhewasalwayshumanwhentalked; And hewasalwaysquietlyarrayed, the work difficultbutnot impossible. accompanied by awarding off ofanyhelp:astubbornattitude isassumed. This makes him inspiteofhisinabilityto openhimself. This desire ‘to beunderstood’” isusually the opinionthathedoesnotwant to. In secret, hehopesthattheanalystwill understand inhibits him.He doesnotknow thatheisnotabletoexpress himself, butisusuallyof some reason orother, however, hecannot.No factofhavingtotalk doubt,thevery worse. totheanalyst.ForThe patientofcoursewouldliketo talk,toopenhisheart do noteliminatethedisturbance ofthepatient’s abilitytoexpress himselfbutmake it his inner impulses. Urgingto articulate and persuading intensify the stubbornness; they or persuadingthepatienttotalk. The patient’s silenceisusuallytheresult ofaninability completely alientocharacteranalysisovercome suchsilencesby urging, demanding character resistance, e.g.,intheform ofastubborn,apprehensive silence.It is During thetreatment, andreticence charactertraitssuchasreserve becomeacompact (resentment atbeing pressured to express himself). (an “inability” or“a constrictionofthethroat musculature”), andaninterpersonal resistance to talkinhibitshim”. He haspsychological resistance (stubbornness), aphysicalresistance hisimpulses”probably hasan“inabilitytoarticulate andfinallythat the factofhaving “very resistance”: whathecallsa“stubborn apprehensive silence”. He thensaysthatthepatient todoso,whydoesn’timportant heor whycan’t he?Reich pointsoutthathehasa“character relationship thatcanmakethemwell again”(Guntrip &Hazell, 1994, p. 401). it isbadhumanrelationships thatmake peopleemotionallyill,itcanonlybeagoodhuman make himfeelreal, integratedandauthenticinhisworld.AsGuntrip important, wouldsay, “If child’s longingtobeseenandrecognized asareal primary person. He seeksaresponse thatwill “the totheanalyst”, clientwouldliketoopenhisheart isbothreal todayandcarrieswithitthe attempts torespond towhatheneeds. So, combiningReich and Winnicott, thesimplephrase, preoccupation”, deeplevel, whichmeansthatsheisidentifiedwiththeinfantand,ata very right momentissomethingthemotherabletodoonlyifshe isinastateof“primary maternal at therightmoment” (pp. 238-239). This placingoftheobjectatrightplaceand motherplaces theactualbreast justwhereThen hesays,“The theinfantisready tocreate, and created by theinfantover andover againoutoftheinfant’s capacitytolove” (1982,p. 238). forthe child’sto share withthemotheriscrucial itsheart wellbeing. He says,“...thebreast is arehis heart “wired todo”. another person as an expression of his being. He to do what both his brain and was trying to theanalyst. This wasnotanidseekinggratification,butaperson seeking contactwith of thepresenting object:namely, thetherapist.He simplysaidhewouldliketoopenhisheart to maintainanenergeticequilibriumandreduce basicanxietyby contactingtheenergyfield object.self-nurturing muscular contractionorgratifyaninstinctualimpulseusetheanalystasinternalized did notsaythispersonneedstoexperienceanorgasmreflex orridhimselfofsomechronic mind andbody. This isareal personwantingtomakecontactwithanotherreal person.Reich toanotherperson,sharehis heart theessence ofhimself, torecover theintegrationofhis to theanalyst.”Aswe have beendiscovering, impulseinthepatientistoopen theprimary patientofcoursewouldliketotalk,openhisheart begins withsuchasimplephrase:“The Now we cometoaninteresting anditisso If the patientwouldliketoopenhisheart part. For anotherpioneerofthepast,Donald Winnicott, therecognition ofthechild’s impulse He alsodidnotdepersonalize itby sayingthattheorganismofclientwasattempting Reich character trait of resistance describesa certain and how towork with itbut he has noawareness; thisconstrictionchokesoff“emerging” excitation. (p. 318) trait of silence is caused by a constriction of the throat musculature of which the patient and isolationofhisattitudes,hegraduallybeginstotalk.In mostcases,thecharacter the conditionofrigidity. Afterseveral days,oratthemostweeks, ofcareful description eventually he grows restless. This nascent restlessness is the first movement away from his affectbeginstostir. againstthem Atby intensifying hissilence,but firsthestruggles expecting any immediate changes, the patient readily feels himself “understood,” and in describingthepatient’s attitudestohiminasimpleandprecise manner, without reason forbeingstubborn.If nowdisarmed ofanycontemporary theanalystsucceeds way, thepatientisrelieved ofthepressure of“havingto” talk;atthesametimeheis tocommunicate. Ininhibition and,forthetimebeing,candowithouthisefforts this technique,” theanalystconsolespatient,assuringhimthatheunderstandshis Instead ofurging,persuading,oreven resorting tothewell-known “silence THE EVERCHANGING 81 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 82 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis ROBERT HILTON, PHD child isreturned tothemotherwhere itmayexperienceacoldnippleorno milkatall.He says, by theheels,slapped,andthentakenfrom themother. If aboy, heiscircumcised. Later, the disappointed again.Nevertheless, allthewhileheisdesperateforreal contact. is hisformofsaying“no” toanyone whotriestohelphimsinceheunconsciouslyexpectsbe protection ofthisprimitive selfhasnow becomehismainpreoccupation. His “stubbornness” to do,hemetsuchpainfuldisappointmentthathadclosedown andprotect himself. The going onhere? The obvious inthepast,ashewasborn answer isthatwhenheopenedhisheart him inthepresent. Reich says,“For somereason or other…he cannot[openhisheart].” What’s Fairbairn expressed thisprecarious situationforthechildinobjectrelation termsasfollows: Myneed tosurface. self-organizationwithits“no” maintainedit.Anotherpioneer, Ronald a child,Ikeptthatdeprivation present through thephysical contraction againstallowing my determination ofmy“no”. Isoonrealized thateven suppliesas thoughdeprived ofnurturing secondary tosuch trauma,thechildisleftwithout ananchorforhisprimitive self.secondary Since his bottom atleast he coulddie,buthere hecan’t dieand can’t stopfalling. Winnicott believed that terror of“falling forever”—like steppingintoanelevator shaftwithno bottom. If hecouldhit self-organization and the possibility of returning to an unintegrated state. He experiences the by internal chaosandthethreateningOverwhelmed external world,thechildfacesalossof many toppingsasshecouldhandle. I drove hertoourfavorite frozen store yogurt where Iboughtherwhatever shewantedwithas experience an unlivable anxiety. I immediately said to Virginia’ mother, “Hazel, come with me.” a primitive libidinalneedthusguaranteeingIwouldnotlongforthe breast andthereby re- at the intensity of it. It any desire was my internal saboteur crushing I might have for satisfying I didnotexpress, thatsaidinasadistic manner, “No oneneeds anythingsweet.” Iwasshocked dinner simplysaid,“Ineedsomethingsweet.” There wasavoice insideme,whichthankGod internal saboteuruponthelibidinalego” (p. 115). technique ofusingaggression tosubdue libidinalneedthusresolves itselfintoanattackby the a maximum of hislibidinal need” (p. 114).He that “the thenmakestheobservation child’s Reich, speakingabouthow this“no” firstdevelops, describeshow ababy isborn,heldup He goodreasons even containsorinhibitshimself forsomevery thoughtheygreatly limit When I first started myadventureWhen Ifirststarted in Bioenergetics, Iwasamazed attheintensity and Winnicott againreminds usthatanxietyis not astrong enoughword forthisstateofbeing. I was reminded of my own “internal saboteur” when Virginia’s mother several years ago after Fairbairn goeson tosaythatthechildlearnsuse“a maximumofhisaggression tosubdue (Reich &Eissler, 1967,p. 29) develops, thebig“NO”ofhumanity. Andthenyou askmewhytheworldisinamess. Words can’t express it.Here beginning,thespitedevelops. Here, inthevery the“no” We get itoutoftheiremotionalstructure, outoftheirbehavior, notoutoftheirwords. words, you understand,butthatistheemotionalsituation. We getitoutofourpatients. much.” It cries.Andfinally, itgives up. It gives upandsays,“No!” It doesn’t say “no” in hold onto…It can’t cometoyou andtellyou, “Oh, listen,I’m sufferingsomuch, This poor child, poor infant, tries always to stretch out to find warmth, somethingto psychical death.(1952,p. 113) belittled…[or] at astill deeper level, anexperience of disintegration and of imminent the depreciation ofhislove, shameover thedisplayofneedswhichare disregarded or need, heisthreatened withthesingularlydevastating experienceofhumiliationover object, [sherejects himallthemore]and if, ontheotherhand,heexpresses libidinal If ontheonehandheexpresses aggression, heisthreatened withlossofhisgood frozen andterrifiedprotoplasm. Free theprotoplasm and thepsyche willfollow.” happens tothebioenergyof body. Allofthepsychological conceptsare predicated upon what ishappening.He mightsay, “I aminterested inphysiology, inwhatIcanmeasure, inwhat psychic adaptationsithastocreate tosurvive.” environmental failure and what happens inwardly to the developing self of the child and what agony thatachildfeels.Iwould liketoemphasize, however, thepersonalmeaningofthis you say. So Isaytoyou thismorning:“Bear withme,we willgettothat.” some ofmycolleagueswillsay, Idon’t wanttoknow what Winnicott says,Iwant to know what between Winnicott andReich. Iquotethesetwopioneerssomuch,especially Winnicott, that would approach thismaterial,touse Winnicott’s term,from mysplitoffintellect. I andfeelmy bodyinthechairandmyfeetonground. Otherwise, I hadtostopandcry order tocontinueintegratethismaterial.AsIwrote thispresentation Ifoundthatattimes for thoseofuswhoidentifywiththeseexperiences. We needtobreathe andmakecontactin (1967,p. 35). through itmyself” about himself, “It isterrifically painfultobealoneandalive atthesametime. That’s hell.Igo meaning intheworld. Without it,heloseshisbasisfornormalityandislost.AsReich said With “good enough” mothering,hecanstaywiththisbiologicalblueprint forhisexistenceand a matteroftheshapeandfunctioninghisorherown body” etal.,1989,p. (Winnicott 264). objects. life. This alsomayresult inthelossofsensereal anddiminishedcapacitytorelate to results inthe“failure ofindwelling” orthefailedpossessionofitsbodyasahomeforpsychic “cephalic shock”. Winnicott wouldsaythat the childdevelops a“split off intellect” which premature resources asplitinthepsyche occurs. These splitstatesare calls whatBobLewis to provide safetyforitsexistence.AsIhave mentioned,whenthechildisforced tousethese thereby doesnotforce thechildtoprematurely calluponitsown immature psychic resources its body. It can onlydothatwhentheenvironment provides suppliesand adequatenurturing he callsthe“lossofpsycho-somatic collusion”. For Winnicott, theinfant’s taskistoinhabit goes on to mention other possible agonies that arise from environmental failure such as what psychic hidingandthemuscularcontractiongotogethercannever beseparated. Winnicott the impliedstatementof“NO”. Winnicott emphasizes thepsychic self. hidingofthetrue The like thedevil,whichwasbothshockingandrelieving. had ofmyselfwastobelikeJesus butIsoonfoundoutinmytherapythatwasmuchmore intheconsciousnessofimage oftheperson.” unconscious andnolongerparticipate ego andaffective expression oftheself. Over time,theconstrictedbodilysensationsbecome domain of hell.In this process a devilisborn. The process breaks theorganismic unity ofthe rejectedloss thatdeniesthepleasure bodilypleasures oflife,hesays,“The create theirown which tobuildhisidentity. To resolve this,thebesthecan,resorts to“self-holding”. mother isunabletoprotect himandprovide egoforhim,hehasnoground upon anauxiliary Winnicott mightreply, “Unfortunately itisnotthateasy, for, asyou know, physiology and Reich interesting, mightrespond butitispsychology. that allofthatisvery It isideasabout At thispoint Winnicott couldsaytoReich, “Itotallyagree with you about theprimitive In reference tothematerialwe have statedthusfar, Icreated dialogue thefollowing imaginary I wanttostophere foramomentand have ustake inwhatIhave beendescribing,especially Winnicott says,“…atthebeginningchildhasablueprintfornormalitywhichislargely Reich seesthisintheshrinkingofbioplasmandresultant musculararmoringand I remember whenIwasfirst in Bioenergetics. Ihadbeena ministerand there theimage I Lowen commentsinhisbook TheBetrayal, whenspeakingofthiskind oftheBody THE EVERCHANGING 83 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 84 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis job inthosedays wasnottounderstandthepatient butforthepatienttounderstand himself “understood”. This was quiteunusualforthesebeginning daysofpsychoanalysis. The analyst’s have achancetofindtherapeuticprocess ofmutual healing. therapeutic modalityworks forawhile.It iswhenitstopsworking thatthetherapistand client “Techniques are whatwe useuntilthetherapistshows up.” Ialso likethecommentthatevery threaten areturn oftheunlivable statesdescribedby Reich or Winnicott. Ilikethe expression, or withoutfirstexperiencing thetherapist’s empathicawareness andunderstanding, isto Therefore, to break down theseconstrictionsby anymeanswithoutknowing theirmeaning, his constrictionandinhibitions. Through them,heprotects pain. from his broken further heart or releasing himselffrom thegripofnotbeing abletospeaksincehisformofself-possessionis person. Experiencing thiscaring,positive regard iseven more thanopeninghisheart important act. The patient needsthetherapisttocenterhisattentiononhimasavaluable, interesting surrender anytherapeuticpreconceptions astohow thingsshouldbeand/orhow heshould this parent figure isnow intouch withhis(thepatient’s) underlyingneedandiswillingto It isawayoffeelingsafeinthepresence ofaparent figure. It is testingtoseewhatdegree originally acknowledged isnow reasserting itselfintheformofhisresistance. of integrityortherighttobeasheis.In otherwords, theself-need,needthat wasnot him because,whilehewantsthehelp, hewantssomethingeven more andthatissomeform needs the therapist to share his own first. heart Having to talk to please the therapist inhibits change insteadofhimchangingfortheworld.He needsthetherapisttoadjusthisneed.He establish whathedidnothave asachild:thatis,therighttohave theworldcometohimfora as hehasalwayshadtodoandhisanswer tothisis“NO”. to With this“NO”,heistrying prodding isexperiencedonceagainasademandthathemustadjusttotheenvironment, to ourclientinthepassageabove toopenhis heart. whoisstruggling between thesetwopowerful pioneerswhorepresent dualrealities inmyown life.But now back over theprimitive agonythatwe andourpatientssuffer.” todohereare atthisconference, trying findashared languagetoexpress ourpersonaldistress to terms, this finding of a shared language is the developmental process. Maybe that is what we have alsosaidthatthepsyche andsomahave tocometermswitheachotherandthiscoming ego needsasapsychology emergesoutoftheimaginative elaborationofphysicalexistence.’ I inhabit itsbodyandthatfortheinfantthere are firstbody-needs…and they graduallybecome neurosis wassomatic” (Reich &Eissler, 1967, p. 69). greatest thingthateverwasthediscovery thatthecore happenedinpsychiatry “The ofthe psychology. But henever forgotthathewasasomaticist.” Then, anactualquotefrom Reich: man whoworked withthebody. Then hediscovered theunconscious.So heswitchedover into in and not look at how to get out of the box. Don’t forget that Freud began as a somaticist, as a dynamic ofbioenergyasthefoundationlifeandgetlostdescribingpsychic box we are just damagedprotoplasm.” again even heart though he is unable to do so. He needs to be understood. He is a person, not in thepassageabove. He toexpress isalive andinhibitedbutheisalsoapersonstruggling his psychology cannotbeseparated. The personismore thanthebody. Take forinstancetheclient ROBERT HILTON, PHD Interestingly, inthepassagewe’re exploring, Reich understands thepatient’s need tobe In thisregard, Ibelieve, “resistance” isthewrong word. It isratheraformofself-organization. Reich commentsthaturgingandpersuadingonlyintensifythepatient’s stubbornnesssince All ofthis,course,isjustmyimaginationandattempttofindashared language “Yes,” Winnicott mightreply, “Ialsoagree, forasI have already said,‘...thechild’s taskisto “Yes”, Reich couldsay, “You know Iagree withthat.Ijustdon’t wanttolosethebasic slogan, afterthe Holocaust reads “Never Again”). in isolationfrom reality. They function“as akindofinner Jewish Defense League” (whose also redoubles toprotect pain. himselffrom hisefforts further understands himbutisactuallynotpresent toreceive himandhisopenheart. Therefore, he he hasbeenfooledbefore andswore atthattimenever tobeseducedagainby someonewho are now beingprovided by thetherapist,mayhelprelieve histerribleloneliness.However, back intotheenvironment where hehopesthat theoriginalsupplieshelostasachild,and between twoformsofself-organizationorexpression isemerging. Thus, there movement isnew again. toopenhisheart painful struggle with hisown needs,nottheleastofwhichistohave someonerecognize himandrespond tothe enough” waytoencouragehimgoonbeingwhoheis—namely, apersoninhisown right his bodyand(3)stillunexplored, environment thecapacityofhisnew torespond ina“good be understood,(2)toconfront theinhibitionsthathave becomechronic musculartensionsin with hismindandbody. Now heseesthat hisfreedom isdependentonthree factors:(1)to character attitude,hehaswantedtobefree toexpress andthereby hisheart findintegration with thisattitude;namely, thatnooneunderstandshim.However, beneaththisfalseselfand in theworldonlythrough inhibitingself-expression. He alsohasabeliefsystemthatgoesalong around thetraumaandpainofpast.He hasdeveloped hissenseofselfasonewhocanbe environment, he faces his own to let go. internal struggle For years, he has organized himself beginstoemerge. heart presence, thepatient’s underlyingneedtomakecontact andfindintegration by expressing his received. andnarcissistic Having suppliesfrom foundsomeself-nurturing Reich’s attitudeand sign ofthe“real” selffor Winnicott, thespontaneousgesture thatneedstoberecognized and onReich’sany direct bodilyintervention hisaffectbeginstostir. part, This wouldbethe first he begins to let go of off some unwanted of intrusions, the tension in his body. And, without butwhatishelpfulhownot particularly hard you are trying.” sessions askedifhethoughtitwashelpful.He lookeddown andthanrathershylysaid,“No, choke off your love as I hadtodo as achild?” I wasdoing EMDR witha client andafter three I neededyou sodesperately. Canyou opentomewhen I say‘NO’orwill keepyouryou heart tocontactmeasIcameupagainstyourto comeupagainstmy‘NO’your ‘NO’ when efforts represents environment), “Ineedyou thepotentiallynurturing towantunderstandmeand nothing elsecanprogress. In essencethepatientunconsciouslysaystotherapist(whonow needofthepatientandthat,iftherapistdoesnotmeetthis, to beunderstoodistheprimary “need tobeunderstood” wasseenasaprimitive narcissistic defense. Winnicott wouldsaythat the analystsatthere forhoursordaysatatimewaitingthis“resistance” torelease. In factthe and fortheanalysttostayoutofway. This meant, forinstance,ifthepatient did notspeak, These inner defenses become a tyrannical caretaker that attempts to keep the personal spirit Donald Kalsched,putsitthisway: Reich that,asthepatient’s observed affectbeginstostir, hissilenceintensifies. Thebind However, now thatthepatientnolongerhasareason forholdingbackbecauseofthe When thepatientdoesnothave hisintegrityorward toholdonhimselfpreserve which thispersonalspiritishoused (suicide).(1996,p. 3) go toanylengthprotect theSelf—even tothepointofkillinghost personalityin core of personality is unthinkable. When (outer) defenses fail, archetypal defenses will a self-care system that attempts his to preserve soul or spirit…the violation of this inner person in his life where he could once again experience his primitive terror. He develops Once achildistraumatized hewillgotoanylengthnot“link” upwithanother THE EVERCHANGING 85 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 86 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis ROBERT HILTON, PHD and regain forlife. ourintegrationofmindandbodythusaheart words as he explores meaning of life in thebody: this hownew to webe real all struggle people suggest onewaytowork withthistransitionthatmanyofususetoday. Iwantyou tohearhis expression intheworld?He ofhisheart doesnotprovide specificanswers tothisbutdoes begin tothawfrom thefrozenness ofhischaracterandbegintobebornanew, torecover the taken, Reich question;namely, new explores whatwasthenavery how doyou helpaperson means “to beborn”. On thefollowing pageinCharacter Analysis from whichthispassagewas of theorganism-person-real selfas“nascent”. Nascent comesfrom theLatinword nasciwhich rigidity” (1971).Reich word usedanimportant when hereferred tothisspontaneousmovement nascent restlessnessReich is the first movementcommented, “This away from the condition of vulnerable position whenone’s chiefpositive response hastocome from oneself.” Icannot has togetaresponse from somewhere. But it’s psychologically dangerous. One very isinavery some ofthatwasindispensable tohiscontinuing.”AndthenSharaf sayssopoignantly, “One to give ittohimself:‘Iamgreat, Ihave broken through. IrankwithGalileo, Newton, etc.’ But “Insame article, lateryears whenReich wasnotgettingthatkindofpositive feedbackhehad his self-esteemandawareness ofthemagnitudehiscreativity.” He goesontosayinthis Reich received inthe1920’s wasextremely tohiminthe senseofstrengthening important andCharacter positive response publishedinthejournal Energy in1977,“The in anarticle am quite alive, amInot?sparkling, yes?”But itwashisbiographer Myron Sharaf who said personal hellofbeingalive andaloneatthesametime. Yet hecouldsay, “You seemenow. I like asteamengineabouttoexplode.Ihave already referred toReich’s statementabouthisown but itisanothertolove andbeloved. Reich referred toFreud asamanwhowaslove-starved loss ofintegration,asensenotbeingreal andafearofnonexistence.It isone thingtobealive again, you know whattheunderlyingterror is:disappointmentsinlove thatleadtosplitting, Reich, however, that as the patient intensified his constrictions, he grew observed restless. So whenthisnascentstirringbeginsinthepatientandthenyou watchhimtightenbackup innocence thathassuffered toomuchsoon.”(Kalsched,1996,p. 5) In thisway, whatisleftofthisprematurely Iwillpreserve amputatedchildhood—of (addiction), orpersecuteittokeepfrom hopingforlifeinthisworld(depression). soothe itwithfantasy(schizoid withdrawal),ornumbitwithintoxicating substances this happensIwilldisperseitintofragments(dissociation),orencapsulateand suffer thisbadly!Never reality…before againwillitbethishelplessinthefaceofcruel “Never again”, saysourtyrannicalcaretaker, “will thetraumatized spiritofthischild potent causeofinternaldying. disappointments in love. These disappointments constitute the mostfrequent and most utterly useless.” The road between vitalexperiencinganddyinginwardly ispaved with forunderstandingandgrowsappeal, untilfinallyhegives upthestruggle numb:“It’s for understandingoftheinexpressible psychic condition.In vain thechildmakeshis desire canbeexpressed andarticulated. The childmustfindsomeotherwaytoappeal experiences ofchildren results feelingand from thefactthatatanearlyagenotevery other persondoesnotunderstandmeanyhow”… oneofthemosttragic Certainly this was:“What’s ofcompeting,sacrificing,even ofloving? theuseoftrying, The had torepeat mechanically:“It’s useless,it’s utterlyuseless,”etc. The meaningbehind revealed. One patientforexampleexperiencedthetransitioninfollowing way. He to theoscillationfrom oneconditiontotheother, strangeinnermodesofbehaviorare vitally alive tobeingutterlyfrozen; andif, inthetreatment, we payminuteattention …if we allow the patient to re-experience of transition from the precise being history which is called “The which iscalled“The Tree” (2008),containsthefollowing lines: leave forboarding school,hewoulddohishomeworkinaspecialtree inthegarden. The poem, her. When hewas67,wrote apoemthatrepresented atimeinhislifewhen,before hewould himself asachildandhow hehadtogive uphisown spontaneousaliveness inorder torelate to tried to take care of the environment him: namely, that had hurt his mother. He writes about its own nest.” Winnicott, ontheotherhand,foundhissubstituteby developing afalseselfthat I did was to put my eagle’s“What egg in the nest of chicken eggs. Then I took it out and gave it child-like narcissistic grandiosityasasubstitute.Referring tothepsychoanalytic society, hesaid, his chest,threw hisheadbackandsaid,“It specialpersontobeGod onshakylegs.” takesavery expression slowly ofpaniccrossed hisfaceandthenvery resolutely herose up, puffedout of himselfwiththereality ofhisvibratinglegs.He lookeddown athislegsandforamomentan began tovibrateandthenhadhimrisefaceme.Iaskedhow heputtogetherhisimage help himwiththischaracterattitude.Iworked withhimby havinghimbendover untilhislegs grandiosity and narcissistic illusionsabouthimself. Ithoughtthatagrounding exercise might I wasworking withamanwhosawhimselfasMoses-type figure. He obviously hadalotof When IwasbeginningtopracticeBioenergetics andrathernaïve aboutthiskindofposition, to holdonto.” Iamalsoreminded ofthedifficultygivingupone’s “narcissistic position.” help but be reminded of thebaby Reich described as “trying always to find warmth, something what ismissing isclearrecognition ofthetherapist’s role here—to important receive and suppliesbeingprovidedtake advantage ofthenurturing by thetherapist. In bothscenarios, of theclientwashiddenandunable to block assuchbutratheremphasizes that the“real self” symptom. Winnicott, ontheother hand,mightnotbeaware ofor payattentiontothethroat is aphysicalmanifestationof his attempttoprotect pain. himselffrom further throat musculature” butby thepainhehasexperiencedatnotbeingloved? The throat block “‘emerging’ excitation”, andthat thecharacterattitudeisnotcausedby the“constricted toshare notjust hisheart, Why doesheleave outhisinsightsaboutthispersontrying of whichthepatienthasnoawareness; thisconstrictionchokesoff‘emerging’ excitation.” cases thecharacterattitudeofsilenceiscausedby aconstrictionof the throat musculature mind aswell asinherarms. child. Such holdingissomethingthatincludesthewaychildheldinmother’s formative experienceinthechild’s life:thewaymother, inthefullestsense,“holds” the that itspeaksoftheabsencewhatbecamein Winnicott’s developmental theory, the Reich ended up having to try tosupplyhisneedloveReich endeduphavingtotry andbeloved by maintaininga Reich seemstolosethepersoninhispassion for theBioenergetic explanationofthe At theendofourpassage,Reich returns tothebodyofclient. He comments,“In most Adam Phillips, inhisbookentitledWinnicott (1988),writes,concerningthispoem, To enliven herwasmy living tocure herinward death toundoherguilt tostemhertears I learnedtomakehersmile asnow ondeadtree Once stretched outonherlap her Thus Iknew weeping weeping Mother below isweeping THE EVERCHANGING 87 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 88 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Abram, Winnicott saysthat: the “root ofcontinuity” couldbepermanentlylost,alsoprovides afirstclue.Asparaphrased by Jan significant dangerifitshows upatall. What’s tobedonewith allthis? Winnicott, whilestatingthat blockade stemsfrom resulting abroken heart inasensethatthereal selfisunwanted,flawed orin inlifeandrelationshipsout andparticipating inarewarding, satisfyingmanner. We alsoknow this is somehow involved inthis—thattheclientwiththisblockadehasamajorproblem inreaching resulting despairandhopelessnesssoprevalent inlaterlife. We know that ablockadeoftheheart we doopenup? may be“good enough”, andlove itdoesnot guarantee thatourheart willbeacknowledged even if open hisheart? Where doesthatleave ussincewe cannolongerbeinfantsand,whiletheenvironment turned tohelpingthemother. Where to does thatleave ourclientinthescenariowhere heistrying capable ofhelpingothersfindandlive theirhiddenself, seemstostaypermanentlyunknown and can bedone.Once atree hasgrown crooked, you can’t straightenitout.” grownups. andhumanbiology. Isaythisasapersonwhoisratherexperiencedinpsychiatry Nothing the unspoiledprotoplasm. It’s thatclear.” He alsosaidregarding therapy, “Nothing canbedonewith it’s nouse. Therefore, Igave itup. There isnotuseinanythingbutinfants. You have togoback to helphere andthere. But from thestandpointofsocialproblem, thementalhygieneproblem, isnouseinindividualtherapy.had thistosay:“There No use.Oh, yes, goodusetomakemoneyand alive whenIdie” whichIbelieve washiswayofsaying,“Please save mefrom myfalseself.” AndReich he provided forothers? Toward theendoftheirlives, Winnicott hadthisprayer, “Oh God! May Ibe that Reich spokeaboutandthatnoonehadever provided for. Is itwhat Winnicott triedtoreach as but wonderifthishiddenandunknowable selfisnotinfactthatbaby withits“NO”tohumanity andultimatelyunknowable:inarticulate perhapslikeanembodiedsoul” (1988,p. 3).Icannothelp presence ofsomethingessentialaboutapersonthatwasboundupwithbodilyaliveness, yet remained in fact,unfound” (1963,p. 187).According toAdam Phillips, Winnicott the “…wasasserting still feltthat“each individualisanisolate;permanentlynon-communicating,unknown; lead toreal change. caused himallofthepainandconstrictioninfirstplace,hisopennow woundedheart—will awareness andwork onhisphysicallimitationsofselfexpression; andbeingavailable toreceive what him incompleteandalone.Only through combiningallthree—understanding himasaperson; is to have you receive with hisactionstoshare with you) and participate his open heart stillleaves and free theconstrictionsinhisbodybutnotbeavailable fortheunderlyingcontactattempt(which feeling thatsomethingiswrong withhim.He screams andfeelseven emptier. To understandhim is also to leave to make contact with his heart, him again but not to understand that he is trying and yet not free. To free theemergingimpulsesby working onthemusculature (suchasby screaming), constrictions andmakecontact. There mustbesomething wrong withhimsinceheisunderstood respond appropriately tothe“nascent” openingofthisclient’s heart. ROBERT HILTON, PHD We’ve lookedatthebleaklandscapeofearlytraumaanddeprivation andknow more aboutthe Reich gave upandturnedbacktotheunspoiledprotoplasm ofthebaby and Winnicott, although Winnicott withallofhisemphasisonthe“good enough” motherandthe“holding environment” If only“understood”, tofree theclientisleftinhisstruggle himself from his chronic muscular processed. (1997,p. 25) willarisefortheoriginal trauma tobeexperiencedand thus hope thatanopportunity probably forthefirsttime. Thisholdingfacilitatesthe patienttouncover theunconscious analytic settingprovides the potentialforthepatienttoexperienceaholdingenvironment, yet-experienced traumathathappenedat thetimeofanearlyenvironmental failure. The Regression todependence mayoccurintheanalyticsettingasawayofre-living thenot- marvelous book,Wakingmarvelous the Tiger , states, contact hesayswasabletostayinhisbodyandallow ittorespond totheshock.Peter inhis said, “Yes”, thatwhatheneededforhertodowastouchhimandtalkhim. Through this woman doctorhappenedtobenearby andcameover andaskedhimifshecouldbeofhelp. He car andthenontotheground. While lyingthere consciousherealized hewasinshock.A own traumaofbeinghitby acarinanintersectionandbeingthrown uponthehoodof for thisinterview, IlistenedtotheonePeter Levinegave. In hisinterview, Peter mentionshis factor inpsychotherapy.” can be reborn. It is evident that it cannot be forced to a premature a most important birth, self” stresses“Winnicott thesecret hopeofonedayfindingconditionsinwhichthehidden ‘true and vigorous growth onceitisfreed from fears. Therein liestheultimatehopeofpsychotherapy. Winnicott, statesthatthe“regressed libidinalego” capacityforspontaneous retains theprimary the client the truth ofthe painwhichtheclientmaynot yet embrace. Itthe clienttruth bridges thegapbetween She didnotsayaword butIsawthepainshefeltthat Ihadtoasksuchaquestion. if itwouldmakeanydifference toherifIdidnotmakeit.stillremember thelookonherface. not theiregosortherapeuticstance. Iremember onedaywhenindespair Iaskedmytherapist cleverness ordestroy oftheirbodyresponding withmywithdrawalbecauseitispart tomeand and deathstruggle. They must bring something toour encounter that Icannot create with my therapists. Ineededtoexperience thattheywere moved withinthemselves inregard tomylife tragedies, adeepfeelingofshame,Ineededtoknow thatmypainmadeavisceral impactonmy Since Ididnotfeelasifmadeanimpactonmycaregivers and theresult was,amongother this word is“viscera”. How one’s innerorgansare affectedby aresponse toanother is compassion. which isusedtodescribeone’s lungs,liver etc. inner organs:theheart, The Latinderivation of introspection. Compassionissomuchmore. The word compassion comesfrom aGreek word experience ofcompassion.Compassionismore thanempathy. For Kohut, empathyisvicarious be intheirbodiesasasafeplacesotheprimalshockcanprocessed. kindofinterpersonalrelationshipour clientsneedfrom usaparticular thatwillallow themto safe placetoretreat tothatdoesnotalsoconstituteapsychic death.For thiskindoftrauma, bodies causesthemtorelive aprimalshockratherthanrelieve it.For theseclients,there isno talking aboutinvolves theterror ourclientshave ofbeingintheirbodiesatall.Being intheir voice to help him stay in his body. The kind of early developmental trauma we have been I was interviewed by SergeI wasinterviewed Prengel fortheUSABPwebsitemonthsago. afew In preparation Developing Guntrip, thisthememore, Harry firstapatientof Fairbairn andthen As we have already mentioned,thereason compassion issoessentialthatit demonstratesto The first thing I needed and I realized my clients need in this kind of relationship is the With Peter’s shocktraumainvolving thecaraccident,heneededtouch and areassuring traumatic events. (1997,p. 10) therapist tohelpthemwork through withtheir theissuesthathave becomeintertwined people whohave ofa experienceddevelopmental traumaneedtoenlistthesupport that are with thoseofshocktrauma.For similartoandoftenintertwined thisreason, dynamics thatproduce themare different, andneglectcanresult cruelty insymptoms guidance through criticaldevelopmental periodsduringchildhood.Althoughthe the psychologically based issues that are usually a result and of inadequate nurturing may sufferfrom “developmental trauma”. Developmental traumarefers primarilyto ongoing abuseaschildren, ifthe abusewasinthecontextoftheirfamilies, particularly overwhelm our capacities to respond effectively. In contrast, people traumatized by Shock traumaoccurswhenwe experiencepotentiallylife-threatening events that THE EVERCHANGING 89 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 90 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis function” (1958,p. 170). has beenfreed through analysis isconsciouslydirected atthetask of improving thepresent day Structure, analytic therapyoccurswhentheaggression which turningpointinevery states,“The my therapists in order for it to be humanized. Lowen, in his book, have usedthisragetodeadenourselves isreleased. Ineededmyragetobeseenandmirrored by This canonlyhappenwhenour intenserageattherejecting object is acknowledged and how we mourning ishow internalpsychic structure isbuiltand how thearchetypal world ishumanized.” life thatherself-care systemhadcutherofffrom.” Kohut process ofnormal saysitlikethis:“This trauma” (1996, p. 27).Referring toaclient,hesaid,“She wouldalsohave tomournalltheunlived inabilityto mournisthesinglemosttellingsymptomofapatient’sKalshed states,“The early have facedtheirrageandshame,cantheybegintogrieve withoutthefearoftotal emptiness. root of theirbeginningthrough the compassionatetherapeuticrelationship, which means they traumatized clientscannotgrieve thelosstheyexperience.Only whentheybegintorecover the compassion. The road toward thatgoalalsoinvolves thecapacitytogrieve ouroriginalloss. The being abletoacceptandgrieve mybroken heart. my motherandnarcissistic positionofbeingsuperiortoher. Allofthiswasbasedonnotyet over myown head. To allow myselftobeforgiven by myclientIwouldhave torelease myrageat thing she had done. The Damocles sword I held over her head for forgetting about me was now I saidallshecouldhave donewastocommitsuicideandleave anotedeclaringwhatterrible once askedwhatmymothercouldhave donetomakeupmeherforneglect.Immediately, allow myselftobeforgiven. Then ofcourseitallcamebacktomeaswhatwashappening.I meby sayingitwasokay.I wassodistraughtthattheclientbegantocomfort to struggled Itruly Icared.knew However, myselfinsomeway. forthefirsttimeinmylife,Ifeltasifneededtohurt not terriblydisturbedby myforgetting. We hadbeenworking togetherforalongtimeandshe Apologizing wasnotenoughforme. The clientacceptedmyapologyandwasdisappointed but back tomeandIapologized profusely. However, Ialsoexperiencedaprofound senseofshame. I didnotremember tocallher. When shecameforhersessionthenextdayitofcourseall cell phoneinthosedaysandthusthere wasnoeasyaccessby whichtoreach her, butthepointwas: Imadeamentalnoteofitthenforgotaboutit.didnothave a literally leavingtogotheairport asking metocallherback.Her motherhadjustdiedandshewantedtotalkme.Since we were Icheckedmyphonemessages.Onroom myvoicemail togotheairport wasacallfrom aclient atmyowncrushing hand.Many years ago,Iwasinanotherstateandbefore leavingthehotel experienced it,Iwantyou toremember rightnow thatyou are notalone. self. ofyour true crushing of broken-hearted But forthoseofyou intheaudiencewhodoorhave shame, thatIwouldratherdiethanseelook.hopenoneofyou hastoexperiencethatkind and seeaburdened, resigned lookcomeacross theirfaces.Itold Virginia, withmyheadbowed in real. Isaidamafraidtolookupfromvery thisweak andneedypositionatthefaceofmycaregivers of loving care. But withher, Itoldherwhatwasfeelingandwhileitnottrue itwas nevertheless I curiouslyfoundmyselfwithmyheadbowed andhavingdifficultylookingather. She wasthesoul for 75-year-olds. Anyway, Iasked Virginia tocomeandsitbesidemetoldherwhatIwasfeeling. I wentvulnerable and dependent. Up home I was feeling very until then I had been the poster boy said,“Wenurse pointingtotheimageofblockageinmyheart callthisthewidow maker.” When negativity. Five In years ago,atage75,Ihadtwostentsplacedinoneofmyarteries. thehospital, healing oftheshametheyhave notbeenabletoresolve andwhichhasbeenthebasisoftheirinternal andtheprimitive egodefensesandthuslaysafoundationfortheclientstoapproachthe heart the ROBERT HILTON, PHD The ultimategoalofworking through therageandshameofabuseistobeable have self- However, Ialsoneededtounderstandandaccept thewayinwhichIperpetuatedshaming Physical Dynamics of CharacterPhysical Dynamics refurbish thisdisplay withfresh flowers. She continuedthisforseveralI weeks whenoneday dead flowers and, keepingthegoldtwistedtwig fordecorationalongwith theevergreens, would of thedecoration. been completelypaintedgold and wasusedaspart Virginia threw outthe continued tolive. Alongwiththeseevergreens wasadeadtwistedtwigofsomekind thathad holidays, when the original flowers had all bloomed and died, the evergreens in the arrangement winds, stormsanddroughts oflife. blossom inthespring.Even the crookednessthrough becomesaproudthe testamentofsurvival still crooked trees, butwe have discovered thateven crooked trees, given theproper care, can we have discovered thatourmutualcaringhasmade usreal toeachotherandourselves. We are when theyare foundandfeellessconstricted. AsmyclientsandIhave facedourlimitations, or known buttobeavailable toreceive withthemintheiropenheartedness andparticipate as atherapisthasnotbeentowork withmyclientsenergeticallyorto helpthemfeelfound even ifitmeantpainforthem. to beingwillingopentheirhearts The hardest forme part process thelove, andthedisappointmentthatwasoverwhelming tomeasachild. the body.” This meansareturn tomyadultbodyinthepresent, whichnow to has thesupport recognizes totheself—asorganofconsciousness,notmaster itsrole asasubservient impossible. Surrender doesnotmeantheabandonmentorsacrificeofego. It meanstheego a surrender ofthenarcissistic ego,onecan’t surrender tolove. Without suchsurrender, joy is Lowenmy narcissistic egotomybodyandheart. statesinhisautobiography(1995),“Without has alwaysbeenwaitingthere as anexpression self. inmyheart ofmytrue Ihadtosurrender And whenloved today, ofmy love, itmeantfacingmypsychic deathasachildinservice which again forherand,beingheld by theother, toletmyself fall intomydeepestunrequited longing. love. This meant to allow the rage and bitterness held in my jaw to soften and my arms to reach to love mymotherandlive through thepainandshamethatshewasnotavailable toshare that This meant finallythat Ihad tohave toallow thecourage borne outof support myinfant heart then ourown actslikeapowerful heart magnettodrawourmind backtoexpressing ourlove. wanted you to know yesterday.” Lowen’s perceptive is a very response dream.” to me was, “That sentiment.” ItoldAlthedream, andthensaid,“It seemsthatyou triedtotellReich whatI to his grandfather.” Reich’s response is no place in this therapy was, for “There that kind of he triedtoexpress hislove toReich. He even said,“IsaiditinGerman likeachildwould head “yes” andsaid,“Okay.” That nightIhadadream where Al[Lowen] wastellingmehow said, “I love you and I want you to take this to your grave. Do you understand? He shook his I reached upfrom thetableandgrabbedaholdofhistiebrought himdown tomeand but mainlytoown myown loving nomatterwhatthepain.IhadasessionwithLowen where my body’s longingtodowhatitwasmeantdo—toonceagainshare withanother, my heart identify withmyresistance orthepower ofmy“no”. Ihave alsoneededtobewillingfollow meets mindandthetwofallinlove.” theseindividualsare reallypeople, “What lookingforispsyche, orsoul—theplacewhere body to inhabitwhatwe have beenguarding. To quoteKalschedspeakingofseverely traumatized sunlight. What you have foughtsohard tokeepalive isnow yours toenjoy. We have achance dissociation tocontact. The “I”you have beenprotecting by hidingcannow comeoutintothe soma for the spontaneous expression of your life and love—it is a way to free yourself from A few years A few agoatChristmastime, Iboughtacenterpieceforthediningroom table.Afterthe As aclient,Ineededtherapistswhowent beyond providing a“good enough” environment oftheotheractslikeapowerfulThe heart magnet todrawusbackintoourown and hearts, In summary, I have needed a resonating relationship. I have needed to acknowledge and Being loved isnotenough.It provides safetytorejoin your body, toreunite psyche and THE EVERCHANGING 91 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 92 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Eliot, T. S.(1922).TheWasteLand. New York: Horace Liveright. Abam, J.,&Karnic,H.(1997).Thelanguageof andguidetounderstanding Winnicott: adictionary (2008). Poems andotherworks: D. W. Winnicott andMasaud Khan.Psychoanalytic REFERENCES Somatic Psychotherapy, aseriesoflectures andessaysspanning35years ofhiswork. throughout Europe, theUnited States andSouth AmericaandistheauthorofRelational where, as an emeritus faculty member, he lectures at their international conferences. He teaches Association forBodyPsychotherapy andtheInternational Institute forBioenergetic Analysis Association, theCaliforniaAssociationofMarriage andFamily Counselors,theUnited States Analysis where he continues to be a senior trainer. He is a member of the American Psychological University inLaJolla. In 1972heco-foundedtheSouthern CaliforniaInstitute forBioenergetic at the University of California at Irvine and San Diego, and the United States International He hasbeeninprivate practiceinOrange County, Californiafor44years andhastaughtcourses BIOGRAPHY my own mother. But forgives measitforgives whethershecouldsaythemornot,myheart her. alone forsolong.Ihopeyou canforgive me.” These are thewords Iwouldlove tohave heard from me. Ididn’t know how tolive withthepain.Please forgive meforforsakingyou andleavingyou who you are andreceiving mylove.” you Isaynow forstayingwith tomyown “Thank heart. and grow, notby your analysis of myproblems or by your skillasa body therapist, but by being being real yourself.” They have alsosaid,asIdidtomy therapists,“You have helpedmeblossom said, “You have helpedmeeven whenyou didn’t thinkyou were. You have helpedmebereal by However, thepower ofoursimplehumaninteractionwillalwaysbeessential. will thusinformusastohow more precisely tointeractwithvarious formsoftraumaanddistress. to discover andbrainit system,heart thedelicatedetailsofinteractionournervous ofwhatweverify doasbodypsychotherapists. theimportance The future, Iamsure, willcontinue ofthebodyinpsychotherapy.the importance The researchers inneurobiology todaycontinueto were ofnaturehearts andthepersistenceoflifetoexpress touchedby themystery itself. We bothsimplystoodinawe forneitherofusthoughtthere hadbeenanylifethere at all.Our nourished thistwigandatinygreen from underthelayers shootwascomingforth ofgoldpaint. pointed outtoherthatthedeadtwigwasalive. The weeks ofwateringtheotherflowers hadslowly ROBERT HILTON, PHD his work. Northvale, NJ:J.Aronson. perspectives, 5(2). Email: [email protected] Robert Hilton, Ph.D., iswidelyknown inSouthern Californiaasa“therapist’s therapist”. So you many times for my not clients giving haveup on me.” And they have said, “Thank also The pioneersofthepasttookenormouspersonalandprofessional riskstobringintotheopen Is thatwhichwasthebeginning.(Four “LittleGidding,” Quartets, V) lefttodiscoverWhen thelastofearth Through theunknown, remembered gate And know theplaceforfirsttime. Will betoarrive where we started And theendofallourexploring We shall notceasefrom exploration I believe that T.S. Eliot wasrightwhenhewrote, Reich, W.(1971). Reich, W., &Eissler, K.R.(1967).Reich speaksofFreud. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Phillips, A.(1988).Winnicott. Cambridge,MA:Harvard University Press. Oliver,Dream M.(1986). Wild Work Geese. In (p. 14).Boston,MA: The Atlantic Monthly. Lowen, A.(1995).Joy: thesurrender tothebodyandlife.New York, NY: Arkana. Lowen, A.(1976).Bioenergetics: The revolutionary therapy thatusesthelanguageofbodyto Lowen, A.(1958).Thelanguageofthebody. New York, NY: CollierBooks. Guntrip, H.(1961).Personality structure andhumaninteraction; thedeveloping synthesisof Fairbairn, W. R.D.(1952).Psychoanalytic studiesofthepersonality. London,UK: Tavistock Eliot, T. S.(1943).Four New Quartets. York: Harcourt Brace. Winnicott, D. W., Winnicott, C.,Shepherd, R.,&Davis, M.(1989).Psycho-analytic Winnicott, D. W. (1982).Playing andreality. New York, NY: Routledge. Winnicott, D. W. (1963).Communicatingandnotcommunicatingleadingtoastudyof Winnicott, D. W. (1960).“Ego Distortion in Terms of True andFalse Self,” in The Maturational Siegel, D.J.(2011).Mindsight. (1sted.).New York: Bantam Books Trade Paperback. Robinson, E.A.(1897).Richard Cory. In L.Untermeyer (Ed.),Modern American Poetry. New R.(2007).BioenergeticsLewis, insearch ofasecure self. TheClinicalJournal oftheInternational Levine, P. (1997).Waking thetiger:Healing trauma. (1sted.).Berkeley, CA:North Atlantic Kalsched, D.(1996).Theinnerworld oftrauma. London,UK:Routledge. Guntrip, H.,&Hazell, J.(1994).Personal relations therapy :thecollectedpapersofH.J.S. Guntrip, H.(1969).Schizoid phenomena, object-relations, andtheself.New York, NY:

Y I Giroux. heal theproblems ofthemind.New York, NY: Penguin Books. nstitute forBioenergetic Analysis, 135-163. Publications. explorations. Boston,MA:Harvard University Press. London: Hogarth, 1965,pp. 179-192. opposites. In:certain The Maturational Processes and theFacilitating Environment. New York: International UPInc., 1965,pp. 140-152. Process andtheFacilitating Environment: Studies inthe ofEmotional Development.Theory Books. Guntrip. Northvale, NJ:J.Aronson. International Universities Press. psycho-dynamic theory. New York, NY: International Universities Press. ork, NY: Harcourt, Brace andHowe. Character analysis.(3ed.).New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, andGiroux. THE EVERCHANGING

93 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 94 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis © Author andUSABP/EABP. Reprints [email protected] Volume 11,Number 2,2012pp94-118Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN2168-1279 International BodyPsychotherapy Journal TheArt andScienceofSomaticPraxis MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG furthers mymethodology.furthers approachesThis ongoingdialoguecontinuestooffermenew tomy professionals onaninternationallevel, Ifindmyprofessional experientialknowledge and supports experience asateacherandtherapist. From mystudiesandexchanges withcolleaguesandother of ourselves andourself-regulation whilefunctioning—perhaps even thriving—underpressure? expanded consciousness.How dowe integrateourhyporesponsive intoourunderstanding parts especially inrelation tohigh-intensity aspectsoflife:stress, trauma,aswell asexperiencesof because itisofteninvisible,doesnotdemandattention. development, ithasbecomeincreasingly clear tomewhataradicalstrategygivingupreally is in me—andhow closelytheywork together. Notably, duringmypersonalaswell asprofessional resources. The conceptshave personallyhelpedmetograspthedynamicsamongthree aspects contain patternsofgivingup(hyporesponse) andofcontrol (hyperresponse), andreadily available of thetheory. and hyperresponse, intoBodynamicAnalysisascore bothofwhichwouldgetexported concepts Bernhardt &Isaacs, 1997;Fich &Marcher, 1997;Jørgensen&Ollars, 2001;Brantbjerg, 2005;Brantbjerg, 2007). Erik Jarlnæs, Sonja Fich, Marinanne Bentzen, Merete Holm Brantbjerg, and,since1994, Ditte Marcher (Bentzen, Several people contributedtodeveloping thesystem:Lisbeth Marcher, Ollars, Lennart Ellen Ollars, Steen Jørgensen, 2 1 Translation toEnglish by Tania Christensen,Joel Isaacs &Merete Holm Brantbjerg Bodynamic Analysisisabodypsychotherapy systemdeveloped inDenmark andfounded by Lisbeth Marcher. that occurindailylife. consequences ofhyporesponse inthetransitionsbetween thedifferent levels ofarousal and muscleresponse patternsare addressed andspecialattentionisgiven topotential stress. Interconnectedness between higharousal states—bothhyper-andhypoarousal— through that,lower oftheselfindifferent theriskoflosingcontactwithparts phases of up energyandprecision indosingispresented asastrategytomodifyhyporesponse and, (giving up)—andhow thesetwodefensive strategiesinteractandeasilypolarize. Building muscle response ispresented—regarding bothhyperresponse (tension)andhyporesponse The thoughtsIpresent are inthisarticle basedonmore than30years ofprofessional Today mywork revolves mucharound bringingthisinvisiblestrategyintoawareness, very Early onwhenIstudiedrelaxation therapyin1975-1978,Iwasintroduced tothetermshypo- arousal states,transitions Key addressesThis article therole ofhyporesponse instress management. The conceptof words: stress management,hyporesponse/giving up, buildingupenergy, 2 These concepts have proven significantinhelpingmeunderstandhowI tobevery Hyporesponse: TheHiddenChallenge in CopingWithStress Merete HolmBrantbjerg Abstract Preface

1 in anactivitythatwillbuildpresence insteadofexhaustion. These are thebasicskills thatare to tolerateandmaintainalevel ofpresence. It takespractisinghow tofindalevel ofdosing dynamic atwork inthephenomenonofburningout. reinforces thegivingupmechanism. This isavicious cycle insight to anessential that offers new easytooverlookvery thebody’s signalsthatwork by absence—whichasaconsequencetypically have given updon’t demandattentioninthewaythat,forinstance,tightshoulders would.It is Hyporesponse challengingwhendealingwithstress is particularly issues,becausetheareas that of presence thateachindividual,bodyarea, andeachmuscleiscapable of. ofadaptingor“dosing”muscles—and theimportance physicalskilltrainingtotheexactlevel understanding ofhypo-andhyperresponse aspsychological copingstrategiesrepresented inthe method whenworking withstress- andtrauma-related issues. The keytothismethodisthe a day-to-daylevel. work by deepeningmyunderstandingofandabilitytointerpret thephenomenaIexperienceon one hasreached one’s limitandone’s innerenergyanddirection are slippingaway. avoids feelingpressure ortheimpulsesandactivitiesthatgowithit.One doesn’t noticewhen giving upeven more, growing distant,andlosinginnerfullnesspresence. That wayone pressured, beitexternallyorinternally. One response topressure canbetodefendoneselfby begin withandtheskillsthatare mostoftengiven upare thosewe disconnectfrom firstwhen stress—the hyporesponsive strategy. The areas ofthebodythathave thelowest level ofenergyto can manifestitselfastrouble sleeping,difficultyfinding rest,etc. to stress, oftendisplayingprominent sympatheticinnervation. We seeorexperiencehow stress etc. This approach isunderstandablegiven howsystem(ANS)reacts ourautonomicnervous too much tension, and as a state from which people need to learn to relax, find inner peace, majority ofstress literature highlightsstress asaninternalstatecharacterized by theholdingof impulses linkedtoagiven muscle. and impulses.Neutral response corresponds with the individual’s free access to emotions and hand corresponds withgivingup, withdrawing,losingenergy, andrelinquishing emotions and psycho-motor impulselinkedtothemuscleinquestion.Hyporesponse ontheother others, LillemorJohnsen’s 1976). (Johnsen, terms hypo-andhypertony formed by LisbethMarcher (Ollars, 1980;Bentzen, Bernhardt &Isaacs, 1997)withinspirationdrawnfrom, among training. Muscle response isameasure ofpresence orfullnessinthe muscles. The termshypo-andhyperresponse are & Isaacs, 1997).Muscle response isnotequal tomuscletoneinaphysiotherapeuticsensenorlevels ofphysical 5 4 3 Brantbjerg (2007)andBrantbjerg (2008). presence, fullness, sensinglife. be identical. The term“energy” inthiscontext doesnotcorrespond withphysical power, metabolism,etc.,butwith sense ifahandshake isenergized ordistanced/lackinginenergy. Without “energy”, adeadandlivingbodywould or levels ofpresence andfullnessinourselves and inothers.It isvisibletousifabody more orlessfull. You can impossible todefineand itisaphenomenologicalfactthat yet inmyview we are abletophysicallysense “energy” The term”energy” isused synonymouslywithpresence inthisarticle andfullness.Energy isdifficult,almost The conceptsofmuscleresponse are developed withintheframework ofBodynamicAnalysis(Bentzen, Bernhardt Dosing isacore conceptinresource-oriented skilltrainingasamethod. elaboratedin The conceptisfurther Learning how torelax doesn’t changethisdynamic. To changeitrequires learninghow For some years now I have specialized in using the “resource-oriented skill training” (ROST) Yet, whatdoesn’t get it’s dueattentionisanother, more hiddenphenomenonincopingwith Hyperresponse ortension is well known and well documented as related to stress. The Hyperresponse corresponds withtightness,tension,control, andholdingbacktheemotion 4 Introduction THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 3 5 95 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 96 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis The figurative logic behind this is one, then, of not having to sense the part oftheselfthatone The figurative logicbehindthisisone,then,ofnothavingtosensethe part level ofenergy regardless boththeneedforrest ofsize—and withsupporting andbuilding,maintaininga Improving one’s ability to cope withstress begins with acceptance of one’s inner capacity— weakened wheninastateimpactedby hyporesponse. MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG one lockedin“decisions” expressed aslockedpatterns. context withinwhich,atthisgiven time,theindividualmustfunction. These “solutions” leave resolved insomeway. Muscular givinguporcontrol are possible“solutions” foradaptingtothe the personalexperienceoractingimpulseandsurroundings’ rejection ordenialmustbe socialcontext. be containedininteractionwiththeparticular The confrontation between we are confronted withsituationsorexperiencesinwhichinnerandimpulsescan’t hyporesponse meanstheskilldisappearscompletelyoutofreach ofconscious choice. being impactedby givingup, growing distant,losingenergy, orbeingunabletoact.Astrong (hyporesponse), corresponding withtheindividual’s accesstothepsychomotor function the skillinactionisnotavailable tothepersonsincechoiceisimpactedby apatternofcontrol. tension/hyperresponse whenitspsychomotor functioniscontrolled andheldback.Free accesstouse available toaperson’s consciousnessandfreedom ofchoice. between different levels ofhypo-andhyperresponse. mentioned above—neutral orbalancedresponse, hyporesponse, andhyperresponse—and also fullness andpresence. BodynamicAnalysisdifferentiates among3types ofresponse, as 9 2006; Jørgensen&Marcher 1997;Marcher &Fich, 2010). 8 7 6

developmental phase. muscles (approximately 30)beingimpacted by either hypo-orhyperresponse–all involved inaspecific psychomotor Fich &Marcher, 1997; Marcher &Fich, numberof 2010). Acharacterstructure equals muscularlytoacertain trauma intheperson’s andpresent life.(Bernhardt history &Isaacs, 2006;Jørgensen&Marcher, 1998). difficult accessedpsychomotor skillsinapersonandhypothesis aboutpersonalitydevelopment, characterstructures and response. This muscletest todaygoesby thenameofBodyMap –andformsthebasisforassessmentofeasily in aperson’s body. The testdifferentiates between fourlevels ofhypo-andfourlevels ofhyperresponse andneutral a muscletesthasbeendeveloped whereby musclepalpationregisters thepresence ofdifferent kindsofmuscleresponse principles andtheirimpactsonmuscularhypo-hyperresponse respectively. depending onthelevel ofhypo-orhyperresponse intheactivated muscles.Appendix Aillustratesphysicaltraining stays inourmusclesasanincreased level ofpresence orenergy. generates heat,energy, flow—and whenthisisincreased liveliness isnot released by expression, movement etc,it ”Building energy” refers tothemuscular effect ofworking withslow muscleactivation andrelease. Muscle activation In BodynamicAnalysislockedpatternsare named ascharacterstructures (Bentzen, Bernhardt &Isaacs, 1997; Both “buildingenergy” and“releasing energy” are viewedasphysicaltrainingprincipleswithvarious levels ofimpact Bodynamic Analysishasexplored thelinkbetween specificmusclesandpsychomotor skills(Brantbjerg & Ollars A Giving up in muscles literally means losing access to sensory presenceGiving andtheabilitytoact. upinmusclesliterallymeanslosingaccesstosensory In myexperiencethisaddsavitaldimensiontounderstandingandresolving stress issues. Hypo- and hyperresponse are seenascoping or defensestrategies brought intousewhen On theotherhand,amusclecanbecharacterized by lossofenergy, deadness,lackoffullness A musclecanbecharacterized by “full” presence whenitspsychomotor functionisreadily Muscle response is the term used in Bodynamic Analysis to describe levels of muscular t theSchoolofBodyDynamics,Skolen forKropsdynamik, andlaterwithintheBodynamicsystem’s framework, Hyporesponse asaStrategy andHow itDiffers From Hyperresponse 6 andpresence. What isMuscle Response—Including Hyporesponse? 7 9 8 A muscle can be characterized by Amusclecanbecharacterized by it allwork, etc. of thelockedrole Ifunctioninifbecometooefficient,quick,whilehavingtomake who findthemselves understress. Disconnecting from sexualitythencanbecomeanaspect sexual contact.Inolongersensemydesire—a “solution” Ishare withmanyothers ofmyinnerthighmuscles,resultingparts inmysimplynotsensingtheimpulsetowards My “solution” couldthenbeincreasing myinherent tendencytowards hyporesponse in lead to anger,sensing my sexuality—but also pain, longing, frustration, “impossibility”. a while since I have had timetomakelove tomy husband, sensingmy inner thighswould is notabletohandleinthegiven context.If, busyandithasbeen forinstance,Iamvery and buildingupsexual energyare connectedand inwhichoneseeksstress reduction through sexualrelease. dynamic makingit hard forpeople tofallasleeporfind rest. Adifferent dynamicalso existsinwhichhyperarousal which isthecasein mostofallnormalstress states, itwillbedifficultorimpossibleto letgo. Thisisthesame 11 a contextinthepast(Agazarian,2004). the present contexthe/sheis in whereas beinginalockedrole typicallyisfuelledby oldautomaticpatternsrelated to between functionalandlockedroles. Being inafunctionalrole meansthata person canfilloutthemember role in 10 (translation ismyown): clinical psychologist, Ph.D. andteacherattheUniversity ofÅrhus,here thisview supports hyperresponse as prominent defencestrategies has shifted.Carsten René Jørgensen (2008), to copewithonaconsciouslevel. escape attention. This is a powerful and brilliant strategy for handling what seems impossible Hyporesponse, ontheotherhand,willmakeonedisappear. Parts of onebecomeinvisibleand inputthatwill let usknow thatwesensory are inastateofstress, defenceandlockedroles. is blocked;thefree flow inthebodyissomehow Often thisisthekindof interrupted. tension are allunpleasantandoften painful. They drawattentiontothefactthatsomething impulses inthebodyare usuallynoticeable. Tight shoulders,atightlower back,abdominal unfold, but they are there. Hence, hyperresponse demandsattention: Held-back feelings or are heldbackstillexistinconsciousness. There mightnotberoom inthebodyforthemto the musclesinquestionmaynever have even becomeaccessibletotheindividual. up, is established during childhood personality development, the potential skill connected to they are nolongeravailable. If thehyporesponsive strategy, involving alargedegree ofgiving ofme. express tosenseitwas stillavibrantpart it,itfeltimportant Even thoughitdidn’t changethefactthatIhadahard timemakingroom inmylifeto activation andexperimentalpsychomotor movement Isensedmysensualityandsexuality. exhausted atthemeetingsandwithnosexdrive atall. Within minutesofphysicalmuscle Fich, 2010).It happenedatatimewhenIwasunder massive external pressure—feeling psychomotor skillstogenderandsexuality(Brantbjerg &Ollars, 2006;Marcher & carried inthemuscles. building energyinthemusclesthatgave upisonepathbacktothepotentiallifeenergy oneself sensethatone’s sexualityisstillthere, even understress. Supporting presence by helpful if one wants to reconnect with it once the stress level lowers or if one wants to help Above, Iadded amusculardimensiontothedisappearanceofsexualitywhichcanbevery Sexuality isbasicallyaparasympatheticactivity. If theANSislockedinhigharousal ofthesympatheticbranch, The conceptof”rolelock” orlockedrole isinspired by Systems Centered Adistinctionismade Therapy (SCT). A natural explanation for sexuality disappearing like this is locked states in our ANS In the development of “postmodern society”, the weight between hypo- and This iswhere hyporesponse differsfrom hyperresponse, where impulsesandfeelingsthat Hyporesponse is apowerful strategy. It canliterallyremove optionsfrom consciousnessso I personallyexperiencedthisdynamiconcewhileleadingateamproject onlinking 10 THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 11 . 97 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 98 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis impact theouterevent potentially has. powerfully toapressure from outside.Degree ofouterintensityisusedsynonymously withhow powerful an sensations attached tothese2kindsofarousal. High systemresponding inner intensitycorrelates tothe nervous intensive innerstatecanthusbecharacterized by bothhighdegrees ofhyper-andhypo-arousal andinner 12 MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG whether theimpactisacuteor chronic. all thewaytoexistentialthreat. Another distinctioninrelation toimpactfrom theoutsideis outside anddegrees ofinnerintensity inourresponse toouterimpact. management, Iusetheconcept“intensity” todistinguishbetween bothdegrees ofimpact from we describe how it feels inside to be under pressure (Sørensen, 2007). When I teach stress about stress bothwhenwe are facingabigouterpressure from work, forexample,andwhen What isStress?–Coping With Inner andOuter Intensity (Brantbjerg, 2007;Brantbjerg, 2008). can tolerateissuggestedasonemethodtoprecisely honeinonthehyporesponsive strategy physical exercises tothelevel ofenergyandpresence aperson’s hyporesponsive bodyareas personality. Today, manyformsoftherapyfocusmainlyonapresence-oriented forbuildingup the support buildingpresence,will support containment, focus,andidentity, anddeveloping copingskills. inbeingexpressed,and inneedofsupport let goorrelaxed. go willprimarilytargetahyperresponsive strategy. With hyperresponse, somethingisheldback focusing onemotionalrelease, free expression, defencerelaxation, tension release andletting strategies capableofrelieving theseun-integrated,diffusehyporesponsive conditions. Methods 2000; Jørgensen&Marcher, 1998;Fich &Marcher, 1997;Marcher &Fich, 2010). andfrommy view experiencehave prominent muscularhyporesponse (Bernhardt &Isaacs, personality. Individuals withidentitydisorders—borderline andothersimilarconditions—in Prominent hyporesponse, onthe otherhand,islinkedtostateslackingintegrationinthe Prominent hyperresponse inthe body islinkedtotheclassicneurotic defencestrategies. Degrees of”innerintensity” isusedhere asaconceptdescribing levels ofactivation intheANS.Ahighly Impact from theouterworldcanbescored onascalethatranges fromchallenge everyday Stress isaword that isusedtodescribebothouterconditionsandinnerstates. We talk Resource-oriented skilltrainingusedwithprecise individual dosing thatwilladaptthe A hyporesponsive stateneedsadifferent language,adifferent focalpointwithmethodsthat For treatment purposesitbecomes more andmore ofachallengetoidentifytherapeutic “Neurotic illnesses,”inmyinterpretation, corresponds withhyperresponsive states. other andtaketurnsdominatingconsciousnessintheindividual.(p. 21) where subjectively incompatibleidentityelementsare keptstrictlyseparatefrom each disorders, repression isreplaced withthemore primitive defencemechanism,splitting, and fantasiesmore orlesspermanentlyawayfrom consciousness.In more severe identity is placedatthecore ofneurotic illnesses.Repression keeps“forbidden” activities,needs illnesses (suchasdepression andanxiety). The mature defence mechanism, repression, modern societyandthehumanconditionchangedexpression ofsometheclassic identity disorders (Hohl, 1989).Further, itcanbearguedthathistoricchangesin with suppressed emotions and needs, postmodernity illnesses are much more about To putitcrudely, whilepeopleinclassicmodernitysuffered alotfrom neurotic illnesses How Does Hyporesponse Impact Coping With Stress? 12 this dynamicisbypassed. stress one is notgoodatchangingstrategyorlearning somethingnew. By choosing smallenoughstepsatatime stress isnot activated, whichhappensifthetaskbecomes overwhelming, ”impossible”, pressing, etc.In highinner patterns hasthebiggestchanceforsucceeding whensmallstepsare takenatatime. Through thisstrategy, inner by atotallydifferentThe sameideaissupported approach called“Kaizen” (Maurer, 2004).Changinglocked and tobeableestablishsmallgoals withinthecontextofabiggeroverall goal. skill:thecapacitytoorientinreality,mentions acrucial beingabletoadjustthementalmapfactual reality— survivor”? The bookDeep Survival by Gonzales (2003)provides aninteresting bidtoanswering thisquestion.He 13 some skillsthatare forthemanagementofpowerful crucial impactsfrom theoutside? actively even withsmalllevels ofpressure. What liesbehindthis difference? Might there be by pressure from outside,while otherslosepresence, orientationandthecapacitytorespond are capableofstayingpresent andproactive duringhigharousal andwhilebeingimpacted in otherstheresponse willremain aslow oratleastlower degrees ofintensity. Some people in outerimpactwill,somepeople,release ahighdegree ofarousal intheinnerresponse—and outer system.A context relativelyand with high arousal in the nervous low degree of intensity from the ”survival intelligence”from the”survival containingthereactions released inhighstress). radicality of our coping style (meaningif our coping style is directed from the personality or of intensity will show itself in levels system and of arousalin the in the autonomic nervous This questionparallels thequestionraisedby manypeopleintraumaresearch: whatcharacterizes a”good Different peoplehave different capacities forcopingwithhighintensityimpactfrom an Inner statescanbescored onascalebetween low andhighintensity, where thedegree THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 13 99 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 100 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis factual reality. mental roadmap is crucial for our chance of survival incriticalsituations. for ourchanceofsurvival mental roadmap iscrucial 15 elaboration seeBrantbjerg, 2007. body experience.Concrete body sensingisfactualwithoutinterpretation oremotionalcharge.For definitionsand 14 state. to respond tothem. The sensingofone’s ownasacontainerforone’s bodyserves emotional on theselfsothatonefeelsishere. One isabletoregister one’s body’s signalsand apresencesupport ofthehere andnow. Concrete sensingofthebodywillmaintainafocus centering, grounding, boundaries,containment,orientationandcontactregulation all bothforinnerstatesandinrelationThis istrue toouterimpact.Skills suchasflexibility, tolerate andmanagedifferent degrees ofintensity(Brantbjerg, Marcher &Kristiansen,2004). having body-basedpresence andcopingskillsmakesabigdifference intermsofhow people SkillResource-Oriented Training MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG what kindsofarousal create pressure. uncomfortable How doyou usuallyrespond tothat? levels andkindsofarousal evoke your curiosity, readiness, presence, involvement. What levels and their own distinctstrategiesthatwillbetriggered atdifferent levels of intensity. Considerwhat Reactions toStress andtheMeaning ofHyporesponse conscious stand. it. Within ahyporesponsive strategy, there isnowayofmeetingthepressure andtakinga and dive beneaththepressure,This defensive strategyisawaytotry awayofescaping a hyporesponsive strategy. One ofoneself. copes by distancingoneselforparts as well asmountinginternalintensity. Increased externalpressure willtypicallystrengthen lead totheseskillsbeingweakened by, distancedfrom andvulnerable toexternalpressure soon feedexperiencesofoverwhelm, confusion,emotionaldissociation,needforcontrol, etc. maintaining afeelingofinnersuccess. Weakened centring,grounding orboundarieswill staying proactive whenfacingexternalinfluenceandtoleratinginternalmobilization. these skills. Bodilyskills—combined with consciously staying present—will forma basis for during external as well as internal pressure will be strengthened by training and automating sense ofcentring,boundaries,grounding, etc,,andalsothatpeople’s abilitytostaypresent to cope with different levels of arousal clearly reveals itself with their capacityto maintain a present? It might soundsimplebutformostpeopleitisnotsuchaneasyproblem totackle. mapped-out andwell-used inthebrain(Maurer, 2004;Gladwell, 2005). coping strategieswhileunderpressure, sowe willmakeuseofneuralnetworks thatare already Brantbjerg, Marcher &Kristiansen,2004;Gonzales, 2003). We are notgoodatchanging uses skills that are automated and thereby easily accessible (Siegel, 2004; Gladwell, 2005; control ofactions.One willactautomatically, on“autopilot” —whichmeansthatone reactions intheANSwillintensifyradically, whichwillinturndecrease accesstoconscious Gonzales, 2003directs attentiontohow theabilitytonavigateinfactualreality andthewillingnesstoadjust our The presentation here isbasedonaconceptualdifferentiation between concrete body sensingandemotional My teachingandpersonalexperiencethroughout thelast30years hasconfirmedthat As arousal levels goupwe usewhatever automaticskillswe have available inus.Everyone has Hyporesponse inmusclesthat are connectedtobasicpresence and coping skillswill The weaker theskillsinaperson,lower thearousal level he/shecantoleratewhile My experiencefrom teachingpeoplebasicpresence andcopingskillsisthattheircapacity A hugechallengearisesasintensityincreases insideandaround us:How dowe stay If skillsare trainedandusedoftenenough,theywillbecomeautomatic.Under pressure, 14 Concrete sensingoftheexternalworldaround anindividualwillanchorhim/herin 15 than isgoodfor usorthanwe cantolerate.In theworstcase,thisdynamic iswhatleadsto usually dominate ourexternalaction. This iswhatmakes usabletopushourselves further choices. Andsinceourhyperresponsive holdthemostenergyattheirdisposal, theywill parts pressure.ways tohandleandsurvive None ofthesestrategiesare basedonreality-checked tendtodominate,combining intoalockedstrategy.while otherparts collapse. Others willrecognize how ofthemselves underpressure theylose contactwithparts process ofregenerating willrecognize ofwhatthey went through thedynamicaspart before the this dynamic in some shape or form. Those whohave already “hitthe wall” and are inthe present. They are theyhave dropped notparticipating; out. signal timeforabreak, timetotake notice, timetobreathe, totaketimeoff,etc, are nolonger That wayIamabletobeeven more efficient. Thedownside ofmethat should isthattheparts longer notice that Ihave noroom for pleasure. thatwereThe parts supposedtosense it gave up. pleasure impulses go hyporesponsive.that carry The benefitIget from thisstrategy isthatIno pressure where there are thingstobedoneallthetime.It willdisengageby lettingthemuscles willdefinitelydisengageunderhighlyintense pleasurable tomeishazybeginwith,thispart some reason Ihaven’t allowed myselftimetodothingsoutofpleasure, andifmyideaofwhatis of myself. thatwilldisengageareThe parts thoseleastpresent inmethefirstplace. If for ofme—thehyporesponsiveother parts ones—disengage. Ifight—andlosecontactwithparts For instance,ifIamtoobusyandreact tothepressure by attemptingtofightmywaythrough, more present we canstay, thebetterourchancesare ofmakingreality-checked choices. through, perhapssucceeding—andonceagainreaffirming alockedself-image. The will stayinthepressure withoutmakingreality-checked choices,andattempttofightourway emerge from thesituationswithafeelingoffailure. In adominanthyperresponsive strategy, we hyporesponsive strategy, we succumbtothepressure. We collapseand give up—and often strategy andthemore dependentwe willbeonouralready automatedstrategies.In adominant level andkindofstress you meet. do Iwanttoleave?” where Iamat. Will I stay, meetand match the pressure? Can Icreate a flow, a waytotag along? Or for awhile.Idon’t know forhow long.Iknow Iwillneedabreak atsomepointtorefuel andsense to decideaboutthissituation? What ismycapacity?Iamstillpresent. Istillhave energy. Icangoon overwhelmed Iget.amtired. Iamweak. Ican’t.” have tomakeit.” expectations. Ishutoff,sodon’t have tofeelsomuch.Idon’t wanttobeweak. Imustbestrong. I us hadavoice, theymightsay: able tostaypresent andrealistic whenfacingthepressure we are under. If thedifferent of parts thatgive up,contracting, fighting;otherparts withdraw, thatare becomedefensive; andparts degrees. We allhave ofusthatrespond abalancebetween parts topressure by goingtense, with neutralorbalancedresponse. They are allindifferent statesofbalanceandtodifferent Our hypo-andhyperresponsive engageinasubconsciousdialogueaboutdifferent parts My experienceasaleaderofstress managementworkshops isthatmostpeoplerecognize here is of course simplified. The imagery Usually our morereality is somewhat complex. Usually, themore powerful theexternalinfluence,lessflexible webecomeinourchoiceof How are these3responses balancedinyou? Perhaps thebalancechangesdependingon areBalanced responsivethefacts? “What part: doIneedtoobtainbeable What information istoomuch.Idisengage.hide,disappear,Hyporesponsive “This part: soIcan’t feelhow Hyperresponsive “Ifight,Iamhandlingthispressure. part: Ilive uptotheworld’s andmy own We allhave bothhypo-andhyperresponsive musclesinourbody, nottomentionmuscles THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 101 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 102 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis its fullestandletgo intheend–perhapsusingasound. (See alsoAppendix A.) movement eithertobuildenergyorrelease canbeperformed energy. Releasing energyisamovement extendedto 18 17 16 a feelingofbeingcentred. muscles. This activationone in sensing one’s supports physical balance point and in cultivating towards each other, left knee and right elbow towards each other, and so on, will activate core centring exercises. Doing astandingcross/crawl movement, moving rightkneeandleftelbow are(psoas majorandquadratuslumborum) hyporesponsive, itwillbecomeevidentwhendoing person togosmaller, uselesspower orperhapsspeed.“Do asyou did”, I’ll say, “butsmaller.” feels difficulttosenseatallIinterpret itasasignofhyporesponse, and Iwill recommend the to doseexercises tomatch their innerenergylevel. Every timeanexercise causesexhaustionor will give upeven more. inthebestcaseare engageandthegiven upparts energetic parts leftunscathed,andintheworstcase disengaging from theactivity–leadingpersonbacktoapatternwhere themostpowerful and theriskofpersonbeingoverwhelmedfact you andthehyporesponsive run musclesonceagain willapproachThe given aconsciouslevel upparts andifthephysicalactivityfailstorespect this This meansthatanemotionalprocess willbetriggered by inducingpresence togiven upmuscles. tolerate tobuild.Hyporesponse isnotonlygivingupinaphysicalsense;itpsychological strategy. as activitiesare precisely dosed,respecting how muchmuscularpresence andfullnessthepersoncan as inexercise. Andbodilyactivitydoeshave animpactonhyporesponsive muscles–butonlyaslong the hyperresponsive musclestoletgoandrelax. Anotheroften-addedsuggestionisphysicalactivity So whatcanwe doaboutthese dynamics? Increasing Presence by Building upEnergy asaPossible Strategy anything”. levels ofburn-out ortoonegoingonforyears inthelockedrole of“beingonethatcanhandle MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG to aninnersenseofsuccess. for theindividual.Anexercise dosedprecisely toaperson’s likelylead level oftolerance willvery now onceagaininvitedbackintoconsciousnessby respecting what isatolerablelevel ofenergy building of presence and fullness in the muscle. that was disengaged and givenThe part up is that somethingisgoingoninside! This formofmuscleactivation, however small,initiatesa he/she suddenlyregisters asensingof thebodyfrom within—a slight musclesensingrevealing doing it.Often themagichappenswhendosingmatchesperson’s level ofinner presence and Dosing canberegulated totheextenteven ofmere contemplationofmovement, imagining lifting thelegoffground atallandonlyslightlymoving kneeandelbow towards eachother. strenuous todothisexercise. Alower dosecouldbedecreasing thesize ofthemovement: not release tensionthrough movement, sound,etc increase willmakehyperresponsive beginrelaxing parts ontheirown orbemore free tochoose amount ofenergy, thusraisingenergyandpresence inthebodyasawhole.Often thisgeneralenergy give up. It presence withtheleast tochoosesupporting andfullnessintheparts isanopportunity ofonethattendtotakeoverbetween theparts that lose energyand anddominate,theparts This exercise isdescribedmore fullyinBrantbjerg 2007 ”Releasing energy” isviewedasatraining principleinaccordance with“Building energy.” (See alsonote5.)Agiven For elaborationonthe conceptofdosing,seeBrantbjerg (2007)andBrantbjerg (2008). For muscularsensingofthephysicalbalancepoint example,ifthemusclessupporting In resource-oriented skilltraining,Iwillmeetthehyporesponsive strategyby teachingpeople A commonsuggestion,asmentionedearlier, istoteachpeoplerelax inthesenseofgetting In relation tocopingwithstress, forinsightintothedialogue thisapproach isanopportunity 16 If themusclesinvolved are hyporesponsive, itwillfeeldifficultor 17 18 Combined,thesechangeswill increase aperson’s choose ontheothersimplyceases. out, between thereflex response the brain—the limbic system and brain stem—is interrupted. The dialogue, Siegel points activated. Put simply, cooperation between theprefrontal of andtheprimitive parts cortex Hartzell (2004)namedthisreaction “the low road”, inreference tothewaybrainis that exceed ourpersonality’s limitofavailable resources ordefencestrategies.Siegel and over acourseoftimeexperiencehighintensityinnerstates(triggered by externalpressure) the perception ofexternalpressure, andthereby alsowhatreactions are evoked inus. of thesituation.Iambiggernow; thebalancebetween thesituationandmehaschangedcompletely”. situation seemslesssignificanttome.Idon’t feelpressured anymore. It feelseasiertohave adistancedview howto considerthestressful situationandobserve theyreact. Some commonanswers are: “The bodily presence. Energy will rise. And as we move into late afternoon I will once more ask them concrete sensingofthebodyandbuildingmuscularenergytoslowly enhanceparticipants’ you inrelatingseem tosupport tothechosensituation?” think backtothatstressful skillstorelate situationandusetheirnew toit.Iask,“which skills skills.Duringintegrate new to bodilyskilltrainingIwillfrom timetoaskparticipants of impactsoastokeeptheprocess atanarousal level where itisstillpossibletoexplore and from their lives theyfeelisstressful. It shouldbeonewithareasonable, notoverly severe level she isunderbeitinternalorexternal. he/ pressure the presence significantly,to thereby for openinganopportunity relating realistically a simpleandexact theoretical elaborationonthis. 20 our experiences. together withthebrainstemandnot cortex. These reflex reactions are inherent automated partly by andpartly 19 (Brantbjerg, Marcher &Kristiansen,2004). value instincttakeitsplace systemispushedasideandactionsbasedonpure survival leaves usnotimetothinkoradjustanysocialcontextbefore acting.Our personality’s a speedthatisutterlysuitablewhenfindingourselves inlife-or-deathsituations. Survival “survival intelligence”. Reactions are extremely fast,we actbefore we have timetothinkat It liesbeyond therealm togointodetailabout brainfunctionduringhighstress. ofthisarticle Siegel 2004 presents ”Reflex response” is seen asthe reactions andactionstriggered whenactivation ofthelimbic systemworks directly The “autopilot” mechanism mentioned earlier is triggered when we momentarily or These answers indicatehow influentialtheenergylevel inthebodyandourpresence are to On inmanyexercises thefirstdayofworkshop Iwillguideparticipants supporting At stress to managementworkshopsoffbychooseasituation inviting I willparticipants start Siegel andHartzell (2004)describe“the low road” asfollows: prefrontal inits processes. (p.156) cortex our responses, andanintegratingsenseofself-awareness. The highroad involves the processes of the mind. High-road processing allows for mindfulness, flexibility in A formofprocessing informationthatinvolves thehigher, rational, reflective thought road. (p.156) point ofview. Involvement oftheprefrontal isshutoffwhenoneonthelow cortex repetitive responses, and lacking in self-reflection andthe considerationof another’s and leaves theindividualinastateofintenseemotions,impulsive reactions, rigidand Low-road processing involves theshuttingdown ofthehigherprocesses ofthemind

Coping withHigh Stress—Survival Intelligence Takes Over I n comparison,“the highroad” is 19 ontheonesideandabilitytoreflect andconsciously 20 We respond directly from whatIchoosetocallour THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 103 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 104 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG hyper-attentive. In hyporarousal, we godead,we hibernate,sleepheavilywithoutdreaming active S)andhypoarousal (highlyactive PS).In hyperarousal, we are extremely active, ready, fast, state, orImightenjoy thearousal; Iamfamiliarwithboth. activation), I will successfully cope with the situation I am in. I might feel pressured by this activation), andaslongIcanmobilize adrive tomatchwhatImightencounter (S able tosleepatnight,aslongIcanpauseandnourish myself(shifttodominantPS one is,inmyexperience,abletohandleexternalandinternal intensity. AslongasIam system,sympathetic (S)andtheparasympathetic(PS)branchesof theautonomicnervous Marcher &Kristiansen,2004). oftraumaandhigh-stressto mymind,avitalpart healingwork (Brantbjerg, 2007;Brantbjerg, perception. intelligence–is, Bridging ofus–personalityandsurvival thegapbetween the2parts a courseoftimeonemayfeelthatbehaved foreign orreacted toone’s inwaysvery self- intensity thattakesoneby surprise.Or inthewakeofexistentiallythreatening situationsover a painfuloroverwhelming lossofcontrol. Suddenly, onemaysayordosomethingwithan For intelligencetakesover thepersonalitytobedismissedwhensurvival isoftenperceived as presence skillsmightbe,there willalwaysbesituationsinlifethattrigger “the low road”. Andnomatterhow tosurvival. goodone’s andcrucial intelligence isbasicallyconstructive road” uptheintensityscale.(See further alsoillustration2.1onpagexx.) her prefrontal cortex. Training bodilycopingandpresence skillscanmove theshiftto“the low internal intensityhe/shecantoleratewhilestillmaintainingpresence andcooperationwithhis/ The strength ofaperson’s bodilypresence here andnow willdeterminehow muchexternaland intelligencemodewillvary.shift intosurvival Or, toputitinthetermsfrom theabove quotes: needs tobeforapersonfeelthreatened atanexistentiallevel tothepointoftriggeringa how muchandwhatstrainwilltriggerashift.How intenseanexternal strainorinternalarousal defence strategiesavailable toourpersonality. That isalsowhyitdiffersfrom personto characterized by anintensitythatexceeds whatwe are abletohandlewiththeresources and intelligence(thelowthe survival road)? In myview, themechanismistriggered insituations 21 as respiration rate.Regulation andheart isautomaticandbeyond thepersonality’s control. regulate our accesstothesepotentiallyconscious skills. systemregulates vitalfunctionssuch The autonomicnervous whether hypo,hyper- orneutral/balanced,islinkedtothe skillsheldinthepersonality. With thismuscleresponse we personality, ourmusclesare underourconsciouscontrol. We candecideto liftonearm,ornot.Muscle response, are notthesame. The skeletal musculature handlesourpsychomotor skills–andwhenthedirection comes from the Please notethatmuscularhypo-andhyperresponse system andhypo-hyperarousal intheautonomicnervous During highmobilizationoftheANSitispossibletoshiftbetween hyperarousal (highly As longasoneisabletomove between dominantactivation backandforth ofthe To quoteSiegel andHartzell (2004): To beabletoshiftbetween direction from personalityanddirection from survival What triggers this shift between coping from the personality (the high road) and coping from emotional clutch,balancingtheacceleratorandbrakesof body..(p. 177) self-regulation maydependonthe orbitofrontal region’s capacitytoactasakindof and able to calm itself down when the danger is past. The ability to have balanced balanced, ready torespond withheightenedsympatheticarousal toathreat, forexample, which resembles abrakingsystem. The twosystemsare regulated tokeepthebody two branches,thesympathetic,whichislikeanaccelerator, andtheparasympathetic, system thatregulates rate,respiration bodilyfunctionssuchasheart anddigestion.It has out is the regulation system (ANS), the branch of our nervous of the autonomic nervous isbelieved functions that theorbitofrontalOne tocarry cortex ofthemanyimportant 21 . skill trainingasatransformationalstrategyinrelation tostress andtrauma. training whilewe are notunderpressure. This istheessenceofusing resource-oriented repertoire andwidenouraccesstodifferent options duringhighstress through skill us intotherepertoireintelligence. ofoursurvival That meansthatwe canexpandour of thesephenomena,includingwhattodowiththem. are of life that we a part can’t discard. We can choose to relate consciously to the reality avail ourselves oftheseopportunities. to acoursethatbettermatchesourideallevel offunction.It to canbequiteimportant fact of life.But sometimes we can make life choices that will change our circumstances body andittakestimetolandrecuperate from them. intelligencerepertoire.survival At thesametime,theyare highlystrenuous forthe strategiesthathelpusthrough periodsofhighintensity.survival They are ofthe part more orlessextreme dependingonhow farthespiraltilts.Bothextreme reactions are a shiftingofthespiralmovement toonesideortheother. Lockedpositionscanbe can’t getgoingaftersleep. The model(ill.2.2and2.3)illustrateslockedpositionsas hypoarousal theoppositeiscase:bodygoesdead,collapses,sleepsalot,and all thetime,constantlyawakeandmobilized toactandreact. In astateoflocked hyperarousal, anindividuallosestheabilitytorest andregenerate. He/she is“on” Distress high intensive influence. potential abilitytomaintainaswingbetween PSrest stateandSpreparedness even under system. The swingsincrease aswe move uptheintensityscale. The modelillustratesthe between rest andactivityisintact. arousal over aprolonged periodoftime—butstill,itislessstrenuous iftheabilitytoshift or whensleepingatnight.It isextremely strenuous tothebodyfunctioninhigh ready andaction-driven assoonIwokeup—andcompletelydeadatamoment’s pause At extremely stressful timesofmylifeIhave experiencedthisshiftbetween states.Super different levels ofactivation in PSandSrespectively. any given time. This should alsohelptoclarifythattheterms“rest” and“activity” are relative andcanbevaried with or. The parasympatheticandthesympathetic branchare bothcontinually active, butwithonebeingdominantat 23 “eustress” isusedtoname stress thatisperceived aspositive likeaeuphoria(Goldwag, 1979). stress strainingthebodyboth physiologicallyandpsychologically. theterm At theoppositeendofspectrum 22 no longerintact. to thebodyappearswhenthisnaturalregulation between SandPSdominanceis Iusetheword “dominance” tounderlinethattheswinginautonomicsystemisnot a jumpbetween either/ The termdistress wasintroduced by Hans Selye backinthe1930’s. “Distress” isperceived asnegatively charged The skillswe have trainedandintegratedwell enoughtobeautomaticwillfollow On theotherhand,itismyexperiencethathighstress andtrauma“happen”. They That we willexperiencesituationsthattriggerthesehigh-stress mechanismsisa Distress The model(ill.2.1)illustratesintensityscaleswithswingsbetween thePSandS 22 containingthekindsofstress response thatare strenuous particularly 23 We cangetcaughtupinbothhyper-andhypoarousal. In locked THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 105 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 106 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis

transitions are handled. being And aware of this internal dialogue can offer opportunities. new an internal dialogue between our hypo- oneself” through transitions, the better the chances are of reaping the benefits intelligence for a short while or over a prolonged period of time? helpsWhat with shifting between activity and rest? enables What one to land after functioning bysurvival Coping With Transitions MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG And beingaware opportunities. of this internaldialoguecanoffer new hyperresponsive willplayasignificant role inhow parts well we transitionsare handled. benefits from thestates. In myexperience,aninternal dialogue between ourhypo-and through transitions,thebetter chances are ofreaping the able to“holdononeself” period oftime? whileorover intelligenceforashort one tolandafterfunctioning by survival a prolonged arousal andviceversa? What helpswithshiftingbetween activityandrest? What enables Mastering these transitions determines one functions how in different states. If one is able to “hold onto vice skills arousal transitionsand versa? mastering low higharousalConsider: What helpwith and between Mastering thesetransitionsdetermineshow onefunctionsindifferent states.If oneis Consider: What skills help with mastering transitions between high arousal and low

and hyperresponsive parts will play a significant role inwell how we Coping With Transitions from the states.from experience, In my

10

of contactbetween theself andtheworld. talk onthephone, visit someone,lookoutthewindow toenjoy theview, betouchedetc.—any ofthemanydegrees Itin thefollowing ofthearticle. part can meananythingfrom reading abook, choosingtoseeamovie, goforawalk, ventral branchofthePSsystem. out socialcontactwhenwe have feltthreatened. thesecondor This response islinkedtoinnervating most recent evolutionarilyreaction developed isrepresented survival by ourabilitytobondandseek hypoarousal. Activation oftheSbranchANSislinkedtoabilityfleeandfight. Our response tothreat.survival our earliest Oneevolutionary goes dead; one as goesinto enervating system: The Sbranchandthetwobranches of the PSsystem.One branch,thedorsalPS,ispresented hypoarousal. One doesnotregenerate inastateofhypoarousal: thephysicalbodymerely survives. our answers tothesequestions. The internaldialoguebetween hypo-andhyperresponsive of theselfwilloftenreveal parts itselfby you togetgoingagainfromsupports rest andbackintoactivityin awaythatmakesyou feel“there”? feels goodorbad? you intransitioningfromWhat supports activitytobreak/rest mode?Andwhat “necessary”. shifting between rest andactivity. It paystotraintheskillwhilenotunderpressure, whenitisn’t or internal arousal intensify radically, we depend on the skills that are already automaticsuch as which theindividualispresent material. andabletoadoptnew When externalinfluenceand/ skill–it canbetrained.Skill training,asmentionedearlier, isonlyeffective atanarousal level at Shift Between Activity andRest—Taking Breaks 25 that live 2006;Claesson,2003). inpacks(Hart, move themselves outofasituation.Andseekingcontact andengagingonasociallevel isshared withanimals with alllivingcreatures, even amoebas. The fight/flightstrategyisshared withotheranimals that are abletoactively 24 level andinteractinanourishingway. Andthisentailsactivating ofthePSsystem. theventral part inspiration from Porges’ ontheANS:Agoodbreak view dependsontheabilitytoengageasocial or hascollapsed,thiskindofactiveexhausted exchange withtheworldisnotaccessible.Drawing resources ofnourishmentare available, andchoose,reach for, takeinanddigestthem.If oneis or inspiration.It takespresence andbodilyskillstoletgoofwhatoneis doing, orienttowhat needs toletgooftheactivityonewasinbefore thebreak. is alotofindividualvariation inwhatisconsidered “good break nourishment” andhow muchone degree, one and changes in focus which, fromto a satisfactory what onewas previously doing. There a functionalbreak asaperiodoftimein whichonetakesinsomethingperceives asnourishing, lunch break andonwhattheybasethis assessment.Aftertheyrespond withtheiranswers Idefine lunch onthefirstdayofastress iftheyhadagood managementworkshop Iwillasktheparticipants in thefollowing. refuelling, nourishingourselves, makinglove etc.For thatreason Iwillrefer tothisdifferentiation when we needtoreact intelligence—andoneisdominantwhenresting, by regenerating, survival sense todifferentiate between twotypesofPSreaction. One isdominantduringhypoarousal— my practicalexperienceinworking withstress andtraumaIdorecognize thatitmakesalot of strategieshumansshareThese three withmanyspeciesofanimals. survival The “go dead” mechanismisshared The expression ”interactingwiththesocialplatform” or”engaginginthesocial platform” isusedinabroad sense Stephen Porges describingthree branchesoftheautonomic nervous hasintroduced atheory For a break to be “good”, PS activity must activateddominate the ANS, but not the part in Now: what constitutes “a good break”, and how do you know? What determinesifa break Shifting between rest andactivity, between PS and S dominance, is a skillas any other basic Nourishing theselfisanactivity, whetheritiswithfood,contact,movement, nature, experiences Let usreturn tothequestionofwhatconstitutesagoodorfunctionalbreak or theopposite.After I don’t toassessPorges’ possesstheneuro-anatomical expertise contribution.However, from 24 THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 25

107 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 108 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis material thatis stirred canbeperceived as aresource. giving upthat are able toregain presence by muscleactivation andwhere thepsychological success—which withregards tohyporesponse willmeanareas withaslighttendency towards oriented skill training alwaysencourages going forexercises thatleave uswith a feeling of process that can only happen to the extent that one is ready for it. On principle, resource- defence strategy. Increasing presence inhyporesponsive ofthebodyisatransformational parts sensing themasabasisformyconsciouschoices. my hyporesponsive areas is being responsible of myself—while including my for them as parts when Iamactive andalsowhenIneedabreak. Increasing mypresence by buildingenergyin but inrecognition oftheirexistenceand thefactthatthey(nomatterwhatIdo)have animpact ofmethattendtogetlost—not“outthese choicesisconsciouslynourishingtheparts ofpity”, attention towards presence intheseareas before initiatinganactivity. The intentionbehind direction from within,moving, feeling centred, advancing, etc? seekingsupport, do Iusuallylosecontactwith—breathing, lookingaround, askingmyselfwhatIwant,taking of thebodyusually“disappear”? doIeasilyforgettofeel? Which parts What kindsofimpulses knowing one’s own tendenciestowards hyporesponse well enough.Iwillaskmyself: What parts I beginsensingwhatwant.Relating by tothisdynamiconaconsciouslevel willbesupported to theareas thatgave up. Often there isaphasewhere afterthat Ifeelgenerallyfrustrated—and states, asenseofpresence willslowly buildinmybodyadifferent way. Energy isreintroduced collapse. If Istaywiththisfeelingofemptinessandlossenergy, ifItoleratesensingthese In thissituation,there working againtoavoid isariskIwillstart theemptinessor thatIwill nourishment I need. I am naturally tired, but I am also impacted by a degree of hyporesponse. when Igethome—usuallyasfeelingsofemptiness,sadnessordifficultysensingwhatkind intensive teaching. Parts of me thatIdidn’t have or taketime to notice or attend to willemerge sources ofnourishmenthave given up. a functionalbreak thatwere becausetheparts supposedtotakenoticeandseekoutpotential lack ofimpulse—sentiments“don’t know whatIneed or want”. It becomesdifficulttohave “waiting” for one to let go of activity. Then they emerge as a sense of emptiness, exhaustion, ofthebodywhileactive,mode. If theyliedormant, onedidnotpayattentiontotheseparts and thosewhofight. self-image. Andyet theyare there—valid oftheselfeven tothosewithhigherenergylevels parts are “difficult”. Theyhave ahard time“keepingup” andare oftenexpelledfrom ourconscious orbeefficient,becausetheyareperform slow andlackfullness and presence. In thatsense,they to themselves. They are asidewhenoneinitiatesactionorneedsto oftenpushedeven further one doesn’t letgoofthetensionandmissesbreak alltogether. in hyporesponse? Often onewillplungeintohyporesponse– ortoavoid endingupdown there typical stress patternwithhyperresponsivehave disappeared dominatingwhileotherparts parts it willbetohandlethetransitionintobreak. Now, whathappenswhenonegoestobreak ina to establishthisinvolvement withthesocialplatformfrom ofthePS? theventral part How istheinternalbalancebetween hypo-andhyperresponsive significantfortheability parts MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG Dysfunctional breaks are often describedasbreaks inwhichone hascollapsed—inwhich It to keepinmindthat,asstatedbefore, isimportant hyporesponse isapsychological Based onthisknowledge anddirect ofmyselfIcanmakeaconsciouschoicetosupport my I recognize thisasmytypicalreaction whenreturning homefrom extendedperiodsof The forgotten, hyporesponsive often come to the fore parts when one shifts into break The hyporesponsive are parts forgotten;theygounnoticedandwillnotattractattention The stateoneisinwhileactive andpreceding thebreak willdeterminehow easyorhard influence one will beabletomeetandmatch. In otherwords, one canprepare forshiftsinto significant? usthrough thesetransitions, andhowwhich skillssupport isattention tohyporesponse when enteringhigharousal willaffect theplatformoneultimatelywill“land” on.So significant role inhow onewillexitthatactivity. The “platform” from one“takes off” when havingtohandleviolenttransitionsbetween thepersonalityand statesofhigharousal. transitions holdsaprofound transformationalpotential.Anditdevelops skillsthat are crucial rest andactivityduringtheday? To includeattentiontoour hyporesponsive duringthese parts bed in the morning? How do we initiate the activities of the day? How do we shift between practice ourattentiontohow we bringourselves through transitions.How dowe getoutof and externalintensity. Our dailylives offeranendless numberoftransitionswithwhichto the hyporesponsive intotheself-imageandby learninghow parts tobuildandretain energy. slipping outofsocialinvolvement altogetherwhenoneshouldhave beenabletorecuperate. system, this will sometimes lead to slipping into hypoarousalnervous in the PS system and thereby impulses thatwillinitiatenourishingexchanges withthesurrounding world.In relation tothe pausing andregenerating becomesdifficultbecauseonehasdifficultysensingandactingonthe in abodycharacterized ofthemusculature. by givingupinbiggerorsmallerparts In thisstate, Porges system.Instead corresponds ofthePSnervous onelands withactivityintheventral part they disengageifarousal goingup. levels start activity. They don’t signalstoporcontinue.Often, theynever really engageintheactivity, or to thissimplifiedpicture. Hyporesponsive musclesdon’t in actively participate regulating need toenterthePSandrest. Focusing onmuscularhyporesponse willaddanotherdimension under stress, we systemoverdrive; are usuallylockedinSnervous we are lockedinactivityand response. Usually, stress patternsare system. describedintermsofregulating thenervous When nature ofone’s copingskillsasexpressed inthe degree ofhypo-,hyper-orbalancedmuscle dominance either, perhapsasasafeguard toavoid plungingintogivingup. doesn’t gettoletgo;soonedoesn’t andmaybenotofhyperresponsive letgoofSinnervation watched. Or “bad breaks” can be the ones in which one remains stuck in activity, is interrupted, front ofthe TV withoutchoosingwhattowatchandbeingabletakeinis one plungesintohyporesponse intohypoarousal. oreven Anexampleisgettingstuckin further The more presence and fullness one has in the body, the more high intensity exterior As describedearlier, thestateoneisinwhileengagingan activity willplaya The transitionshere are present manytimesduringthedayatdifferent levels ofbothinternal This insightissignificant: These statesare notrelieved by learninghow torelax, butby acknowledging andintegrating Without sufficient muscular presence one doesn’t land in social contact, which, according to The regulation ofthesedynamicsisaninteractionbetween regulation intheANSand - - -

the worldaround usinsteadofcollapsing? of thebodywhenrelaxingparts sowe are capableofregenerating inexchange with in transitioningfr thatdisengageasarousalthrive levels onhighintensity–andparts rise? present? How dowe ofusthattolerateandperhaps shiftbetween attention toparts during activity hyporesponsive areas usinengagingactivityasfullypossible. supports in transitioningfr In andoutofHigh Arousal—How and“Land” to“Take off” . How ofusthatare dowe maintaincontacttotheparts leastfulland om activitytorest. How presence do we support inhyporesponsive om rest toactivity. Increasing presence by building energyin THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 109 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 110 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis training thespecificskillofdaringtoletgoandallow thebody’s reflex movements totake over Instincts, Emotions andFeelings” (Brantbjerg &Stepath, 2007)describesaseriesofexercises hot stove. We—luckily—get itoffofthere before we have timetothinkorfeelanything. an expression ofpowerful activation ofthedorsal branchofPS. trauma therapistlies indiscerningwhenyou are facedwith whatkindofhypoarousal. sees hypoarousal as This article which oneyou on.In baseyour interventions myview, bothversions probably happen–andthe challengefora a strong activation inPS(Levine,1998). These twodirections pointtodifferent therapeuticstrategies–soitmatters “accelerator andbreaks are activated simultaneously”, meaningthere isastrong activation inSontop ofwhichlies activation, whichinPorges’ version 2006;Claesson, 2003). isthedorsalbranchofPS(Hart, The otherideaisthat of whathappensinANSthegoing-dead reaction: One ideaisthattheANSentirely dominated by PS 29 dictate theresponse. conscious. Nonetheless, there isaninnerauthoritythatscansthesituationsinstantly andmakesthechoicesthatthen 28 Some terminologyhaschanged,butthebasicconceptsare thesame. coping skillsasatraumatherapeuticmethod. There you willfindanearlier version ofwhatIpresent inthisarticle. 27 26 by reflexes.to alargeextentruled consciousness. One decidestoliftanarmornot.In statesofhigharousal, movement impulsesare function. Aslongasoneisfunctioningdirected by thepersonality, musclecontrol isgoverned by and limpwhenonesuddenlyfindoneselfchallenged by someformofhighintensityinfluence. directed reactions will seem far less overwhelming or frightening than if the body is disengaged high arousal by buildingmuscularenergy. From anexpandedbodilypresence, ashiftintoreflex- MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG high arousal tobeingincontrol inthepersonality? master thetransitionfrom hightolow internalintensity, from beingdirected by thereflexes in freely beingguidedby thereflexes. of safetyinlettinggothehyperresponsive patterns (lettinggoofcontrol) andthereby more stress. Increased presence inhyporesponsive areas ofthebodywilloftenleadtoagreater sense proved tobeamethodcapableofinfluencingthekinds response accessibletousduringhigh with hyporesponsive musclesandthereby raisingagenerallevel ofpresence inthebodyhas in theimmediatesituationcombinedwithaccessibleresources withinourselves. Working fight orflightifthesituationallows it. in astateofhigharousal. By contrast,dominantmuscularhyperresponse willpredispose oneto to mobilize from adominantlyhyporesponsive state. The fight/flightmechanismdemandsextrovert energy. Thatisdifficultandusuallyimpossible highly likelythatthebodywill“choose” stiffening are commonreactions. Based onPorges’ response three itis categoriesofsurvival ofyour bodyisinagivingupmode? big part What doesthedifference feellike?Anxietyand in thesemovements are high.Now imaginethatinthesecondsbefore you loseyour balancea lose balance,are abouttofall,andthenquicklyregain your footing. The speedandintensity released inreflex movement. Take amomenttothinkabouthow your body reacts when you overwhelming. The bodyisnotinastatesuitedforhandlingthelevel ofintensitythatwillbe To ”godead” strategy. isapowerful survival In traumaresearch andtraumatherapythere are 2leading perceptions ”Choose” isinquotationmarks intelligenceare tostress not thefact that thechoicesonemakesinsurvival Brantbjerg, Marcher anentire &Kristiansen(2004)reserves chapter(chapter5)fordescribing trainingbodily Direction through reflexes inmyinterpretation alsoincludestheuseofautomaticskills. This reflexive shiftintodirection isatrainableskill.“The Body asContainerof Thearticle As oneshiftsto“the low road”—as directed intelligence—ashiftwilloccurinmotor by survival Now: What aboutlandingwhen returning from astateofhigharousal? How doesone responses one“chooses”The survival are basedonaninstantaneousscanningofoptions Dominant muscularhyporesponse caninotherwords predispose onetogodeadorfreeze If thebodyisdominatedby muscularhyporesponse, shiftingintohigharousal feels 26 We don’t thinkbefore we remove ourhandfrom theburning 28 themostradicalstrategy—tostiffenandgodead. 27 29 .

(Bowlby, 1988;Rothschild, 2000; Levine,1998;Anstorp, Benum &Jakobsen, 2006). unresolved traumareactions. “Safe base”, “anchor” and“safe place” are terms usedin all kinds of trauma therapy used incopingwiththetransition. positive. Manyand hostswasvery foundithelpful tobecomemore aware ofhow concrete bodysensingcanbe 2was30minutesbeforemorning ofthelastdayandpart theconference ended.Feedback from bothparticipants bodily skillssuchasgrounding, centeringand personal boundaries.Part 1 of thisguidancetookplaceinthe awareness abouthow endingaconference insensingbasic entailsashiftinintensityandalsoguidedparticipants event tocomeanendandforthejourneyhome by using body-orientedskilltraining.Iverbally supported 32 31 Marcher &Kristiansen,2004) hold statesofheightenedconsciousnessbeyond therealm &Luytelaar, ofthepersonality(Jarlnæs 2004;Brantbjerg, 30 in therelationship intelligenceandhypo-/hyperarousal between inthe personalityandsurvival normal arousal level tohigharousal asdescribedearlier. Below, Isystematize different patterns visible –thereby highlightinghow cooperate. well thetwoparts The samegoesforshiftingfrom determine thedegree oflanding. and inasocialcontext.In otherwords: thedegree ofsafetyinthepersonality’s domainwill stress states.One remains inthehigharousal reactions. fullyorpartially in thestateofhigharousal. In myunderstanding,thisisakeytounresolved traumaandhigh- as positive ornegative. Landingfrom apositively experiencedhigh-intensitysituation hyper- orfrom hypoarousal andalsoifthehigharousal stateshe/shehasbeeninwere experienced the selfthatare impactedby hyporesponse. as muchpresence asgettingready by buildingupenergy. of Andbothwillchallengetheparts the bodyandletgoofitslowly insteadofcollapsing.Lettinggoslowly isaskillthattakesjust a muscularpointofview, oneshouldretain someofthefullnessandactivityalready present in maintain enough body presence for one to be able to land engaged in the social platform. From One maynotsenseone’s emotionalreactions tothisshiftinintensitylevels. The challengeisto hyporesponse oreven hypoarousal where itwillbedifficulttosensewhatishappeninginside. level ofactivityinthebody,and acertain easytolandincollapsewithdominant itisvery experienced aseitherarelief oradisappointment. a negatively experiencedsituation. There isalossinlanding—aofintensity—thatcanbe lands inacontextwhere there islessinvolvement, lessstimulusandthreat ifreturning from often there isanaturalimpulsetowards swingingintorest mode.At thesametime,oneusually returning from astateofhigharousal. The bodyisnaturallytired from highmobilizationand andimmediateoneareof anabrupt thebest toolsIhave discovered forthistransition. during landing andtaking actions tosecure areasonably slow lowering of arousal levels instead contextIshareactivities backtotheeveryday withmyhusband.Maintaining bodypresence intensive workshop. It entailsshiftingfrom ahighlyintensecontextwithlotofpeopleand one waseitherparalyzed/went deadorwasready forfight/flight. as muchofachallengelandingfrom anegatively experiencedhighstress experienceinwhich Positively experienced higharousal events have also beenreferred toas”peakexperiences”. These experiences Optimizing safety is the key to landing and to integrating the parts ofapersonthathasstayed Optimizing stuckin safetyisthekey tolandingandintegratingtheparts At apsychotherapist conference inpreparing inCambridge2007Iwas askedtoguidetheparticipants forthe The process intelligence of landing makes the transition between personality and survival The conditionforbeingabletolandisthatthere isaplatformtolandonwithinoneself Another version of“landing” from higharousal isnotlandingatall.One “chooses” tostay The challenge at hand depends on whether the individual needs to find a way back from Different emotionscanbestirred andonelosespresence duringlanding.If theshiftisabrupt highwhen The riskofcollapsing,asIdescribedearlierwhentalkingaboutpausing,isvery For meitisachallengetofinishand return homefrom abigprofessional conference oran 32 31 THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 30 canbe 111 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 112 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis

exchange withtheworld,oneends up inpassive givingupor, inextreme cases,hypoarousal. Or intensity drops thetendencytowards collapsingshows andinsteadoflandingin a nourishing social platform” (corresponding withtheventral branchofPSaccording toPorges). Assoonas and collapsing.Dominant muscularhyporesponse willmakeitdifficultto“landengaged ona Hyperarousal inANS Combined With aDominant Muscular Hyporesponse in theneglectedhyporesponsive parts. has beenavoided by maintainingsuchahighactivitylevel? Those secrets are usuallywell hidden same timeasfocusingonrelaxation. Such apowerful tensionstrategyisthere forareason. What been noticeable.Afterthat,itiswisetowork onbuildingpresence atthe intheneglectedparts there isaneedtolearnhow thathave torelax never noticingtheparts enoughforonetostart one’s self-imagecompletely. exist—are keptfarfrom consciousnessandwill never come tolight. They are expelledfrom doesn’t allow it.One keepsgoing all the time. The hyporesponsive oftheperson—if they parts one doesn’t landandnever takestimeoffbecausethepersonalityonewas supposedtolandin in highintenseactivityandifonetakestimeoffwillstillbeactive. Anotheroptionisthat and control willmeanthatthebody’s energylevels are VERY high. Typically, onewillbelocked Hyperarousal inANSCombined With aDominant Muscular Hyperresponse Schematically theoptionscanbepresented asfollows: that Ihave experiencedaseffective. and trauma.Ialsoincludeideasoftreatment strategiesinrelation tohypo-andhyperpatterns inclients,students,colleaguesandmyselfthrough manyyearsobserved ofworking withstress system. autonomic nervous The presentation isbasedonmyinterpretations ofpatternsIhave MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG the autonomicnervoussystem Arousal statesinANS– This combination often leadstothepersonshiftingbetween being unwilling/unable to land For onewhohasthiscombinationofhyperarousal anddominantmuscularhyperresponse, systemandofpredominatingA stateofbeingready muscular tension forfightinthenervous Dominant hyperarousal Dominant hypoarousal

muscular hyporesponse adominant with combined Hypoarousal inANS muscular hyporesponse adominant with combined Hyperarousal inANS Dominant hyporesponse Dominant muscle system– impacting containment the in represented strategies Coping

muscular hyperresponse adominant with combined Hyperarousal inANS muscular hyperresponse adominant with combined Hypoarousal inANS Dominant hyperresponse Dominant

Slow andcareful buildingofenergy—with continuousintegration, verbalization andbuilding and thedeadness. There isnocontaineroractingabilitytoremove oneselffrom thedeadness. dominant muscularhyporesponse, oneisleftwithnowayofescaping from thepowerlessness defence. This statewilloftenexpress itselfasdifficultyfunctioninginnormal life. With Hypoarousal inANS Combined With aDominant Muscular Hyporesponse the hyperresponsive muscles. no otheroptionthanfighting your wayoutofitagainandthereby re-establishing control via equals plungingintohypoarousal—and aslongthere isn’t acontainerforthestate,there is all, theyare naturalreactions toextreme impact. will beabletotoleratethestates,makingitpossibleacknowledge andintegrate them.After more resourceful place within. We needtobuildacontainer inthebodyandpersonalitythat This willfacilitateapproaching thedeepexperiencesofpowerlessness anddeadnessfrom a will begin. of thepersonality, forescapingdeadnessandgettingbackintoactivity struggle andthenanew toavoid that.Fromwill try timetoastateofhypoarousal willbreak through thedefences Giving upislurking underneath,ready totakeover assoononeletsgoeven alittle.So one other words: alwaysremain on thego,alwaysactive. It is difficultto relax in suchacondition. hyperresponsive patternstokeepthestateofhyporarousal atbayfrom theconsciousness.In high-stress patterns),how willone“land” inpersonality?One optionistouseallone’s available shifting. to start When thatdoesn’t happen(whichisthecaseinmanyunresolved traumaand lack of impulse in the state (Rothschild, 2000). This form of contact offers a way for the state safe peopleisavailable–contact thatincludesacceptanceandunderstandingofthedeadness with thatofothertraumatherapists,indicateslandingonlyhappensifsafecontact powerlessness. Landingfromandmyexperience,along hypoarousal isachallengetoeverybody Hypoarousal inANSCombined With aDominant Muscular Hyperresponse the highstress pattern. person becomesabletoengageinthesocialplatformfrom thepersonalityandnotfrom build presence andenergyinawaythatrespects innerdosing.By slowly gainingskills,a system gives in, and they collapse into hypoarousal. The missing piece is learning how to time, covering upthepatternsofresignation by highstress mobilization—untilthe of onceoneisinit. collapse inhypoarousal where nohealinghappensandthatisoftendifficulttogetout the pattern,teachingpersontorelax, willnotwork. In theworstcase,itwilltrigger for initiatingatransformationprocess. of Astrategytargetingthehyperaroused part musculature and,through that,addingmore copingskillstothepersonalityiscrucial people havingunresolved traumaissues. Working tobuildpresence inthehyporesponsive in higharousal, lestoneendupcollapsing. one staysmobilized inhyperarousal withdrive, inhighgear, socialinthewayonecanbewhen This combination contains profoundstrategy and as personality giving up both as survival A strategytargetingrelaxation isabsolutely contraindicated.Relaxing withthispattern What works here isaslow build-upofpresence inthehyporesponsive ofthebody. parts Hypoarousal states are terrifying to most people because they hold a profound feeling of People that“burnout” know thispattern. They have beeninhyperarousal foralong of often seeapatterninthis combination either as a main pattern or part I very THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 113 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 114 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis dominant muscularhyporesponse beneaththetightconnective tissue,you mightmiss itand the tensefasciasystem. The bodyisfixed inapermanentmobilization. expression system,butalsofrom thatstemsnotonlyfrom how thenervous energyradiatesfrom (whereas hypoarousal islinkedtohyporesponse intheconnective tissue). The bodyhasatense one patternIoftenseeinpeoplewithlockedstress patterns. of hypo-andhyperpatterns.Iwillnotgoschematically through theseoptions,merely highlight This adds another piece to the puzzle and another series of possible patterns and combinations of energyinourselves andinothers.Even connective tissuecanbehypo-andhyperresponsive. Intentional movement isakeyconceptinworking withtrauma (Levine,1998) 34 together intoonebig systemconnectingthewholebody. 33 in thestateofbody’s connective tissue–tendonsandfascia. rate,pupil dilation, temperature,of thepulse, heart respiration, etc. But theyare alsoexpressed fullness/presence ortensioninthemuscles.Arousal statesmanifestthemselves inthechanging in thebody. Muscle response patternsmanifestthemselves by thelevel ofdistance/deadness, A Physical Add-on: One More Piece totheHypo/Hyper Landscape arousal states. for landing and releasinginteraction with thesocialplatform that offers anopportunity high presence, thatwilldeterminehow oneisabletointeractwiththesocialplatform.Anditthis stress states.It isthestrength ofone’s personality’s container, by one’s supported muscular building ofpresence inhyporesponsive musculature isincopingwithandlandingfrom high- favouring one thatwilldominate.My keyintentionistocommunicateanideaofhow vital of thesestrategiesavailable tothem—andwillshiftbetween oneandanother—thoughoften issue isthatthere isnocentring,gathering,abilitytoact—there isnothingtoletgoof. Strategies focusingonrelaxation andemotionalrelease are contraindicatedinthiscase. The of copingskillsina therapeutic relation—stands a chance ofhaving an impacton this state. MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG and before consciousnessrealizes thatwe are gettingready forsomething. first tissuetomobilize when we first even thinkof moving—before ourmuscles are activated, activity links to our intention of moving—not the movement itself. Ilearnedtheterm “intentional movements” related toconnective tissue from Peter Levine backinthe1980’s. Fascia are thinconnective tissuemembranes, enveloping allthebody’s tissue,muscles,bones,organs. They are tied If you asthetherapistdon’t lookformuscularfullness orthinkthatthere mightbe a Hyperarousal intheANSisoftencombinedwithhyperresponse intheconnective tissue When observing peopleinhigh-stress states,therelatedWhen observing questionishow thesestatesmanifest The above presentation is, of course, simplified. Most people usually have more than one Connective tissueisactivated whenwe mobilize togetready foraction.Connective tissue is activated by thisalmostinvisiblephysicalmobilization. happens intendonsandfasciaaround themuscle.Alsonoticestate ofreadiness that side, andnoticethe mobilization that happens when you do that. This mobilization Now letthearmhangby your sideagain.Simply thinkofmoving thearmto muscle. This ismuscleactivation. out totheside,muscleisactivated, whichisfeltasafirmingandhardening ofthe hand tofeelthemuscleontopofyour arm(thedeltoidmuscle). When thearmislifted Let onearmhangdown by your sideandthenliftitouttooneside.Use your other the following: To feel the difference between muscle activation and connective tissue activation, try 33 The connective tissueisthe 34 It is noticeable as a feeling exploration intotheworldofhyporesponse. This questionaloneholdsthepotentialtobreak lockedroles—and toinitiateamutual I canaskastudent/clientlockedinpassivitywhere he/shefeelsalackofpresence inthebody. hyporesponse tostepoutoftheselockedrole interactions.For opensanopportunity instance, the othertotakeover, control, solve things,orrescue orpursueone. “can’t”, “someone elsehastodoit”, etc. counterroles—oneThese roles invites inducecertain hyporesponsive state,oneeasilyseesoneselfas“the victim”, “small”, “useless.” One thinks: skills thatintimewillhelpestablishalandingplatformthepersonality. personality. There isstillaneedforbuildingmuscularpresence andtrainingbasicpsychosocial intelligenceisnotthesameashavingaccesstoimpulsesforactionin for actioninsurvival underlying dominantmuscularhyporesponse there isnodesirablebaseforlanding.Mobilizing opt for a strategy of helping the person to relax. This strategy is not recommended. With an persecutor roles, disguisedby extrovert, hyperresponsive patterns. therole asvictimandhidden,often unacknowledged rescuercarry hyporesponsive and patternsinthosethat carry always represented inhiddeninteractions amongthesethree roles. Iseedistinct hyporesponsive patternsinthosethat up isKarpman’s triangleofvictim,persecutor, andrescuer (1973). In myexperience, hyporesponsive patternsare inspirationtomyunderstandingoflockedinteractiondynamics linkedtohyporesponse/givingAnother important 36 dose andrespect thisprocess ofintegration. exercises, where contacttohyporesponsive musclesimmediately evokes somesenseofinternalresource isonewayto success atapacethatallows tobeintegratedintoconsciousness.Focusing theseparts ontheareas inthebodyor presence inhyporesponsive muscles evoke oftheperson—and canonlyleadto forgottenornever integratedparts 35 in themuscles? the strategyusingarealistic dosingandestablishcontacttothepsychomotor potentiallying not beabletochangeintheblinkofaneye and,ontheother, actuallybeabletoreach behind choice ofhow. How doI,ontheonehand,respect hyporesponse asadefencestrategyIwill to relate actively tothesehyporesponsive isthenprovided parts.One withtheconscious dosing aseffective strategiesindealingwithhyporesponsive areas makesitpossibletochoose of andexperiencewithbodilystrategiessuchasbuildingenergyrespecting individual Acknowledging theexistenceofhyporesponse fortakingresponsibility. offersanopportunity perception ofourselves andalsoourframeofinterpretation ofthebody’s signals. hyporesponse asareality ofthemusculature inparts equaltohyperresponse willexpandour thinking oftenleadstotheconclusionthatcure islearning how torelax thebody. Naming Signals from hyporesponsive ofthebodyare parts ofteninterpreted as“tension” and habitual first time, hyporesponse is an unacknowledged of their bodily part reality and self-image. potentially capableoftransformingaperson’s self-perception. To mostpeopleIteachforthe Acknowledging andacceptingthepresence ofhyporesponse inthebodyisapowerful process indicates, is a hiddenchallenge in coping with stress because it doesn’t call attention to itself. the foreground, especiallyinrelation todifferent levels ofstress. Hyporesponse, asthetitle My useof theterm“roles” isagaininspired by Systems Centered SeeTherapy (SCT). note10. (Agazarian, 2004). torespect itisimportant hyporesponse Assaidelsewhere inthisarticle asapsychological defencestrategy. Building Knowledge ofhyporesponse andknowledge ofprecise methodswithaneffecton Non-acknowledged hyporesponse isoftenlinked tolockedroles. One can choose a conscious strategy towards one’s own hyporesponsive Knowledge parts. When oneisunaware ofsomething,onecannotconsciouslytakeresponsibility forit. has been to The bring focus the of concept this of article the hyporesponsive strategy to Concluding Remarks andPerspectives THE HIDDENCHALLENGE 36 If oneisinadominant 35 115 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 116 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis has theeffectof: outwardly given resistance) moving doggedlyagainst BUILDING UPENERGY ACTIVATING has theeffectof: STRETCHING MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG muscular reactions Different physicalactivitieshave adifferent effectonhyperresponsive andhyporesponsive Undertension andhyporesponse correspond togivingupemotionsandimpulses having free choiceavailable intermsofexpression ornot Neutral orbalancedresponse corresponds tohavingaccessimpulsesandemotions Tension andhyperresponse correspond toholdingbackemotionsandimpulses Three maincategoriesofmuscularresponse canbedistinguished: patterns. The following schemesummarisestheseexperiences. and through that,thepersonalityandpsychological/emotional materialconnectedtomuscular forms ofworking with/usingthebodycanaffectmuscleresponse (tensionorundertension), TRAINING PRINCIPLESINRESOURCE-ORIENTED SKILL TRAINING. USE OFBODYACTIVITIES— Appendix A here issomethingIcandoformyself, by acontactfield. perhapswhilesupported to act. This hopeisnotevoked by someoneelse’s doingitforme.Hope risesfrom thefactthat change ispossibleeven intheplaceswhere onehaslostaccesstoone’s presence andone’s ability the bodythatare torelax placegetsattentionandbecomesalive? starting asthisparticular to the area, acknowledging itsexistence,ormaybejustto put a hand there. Are there in other parts the movement small.Or perhapstherightdosingwillbetosimplydirect needstobevery attention suggest amovement toactivate precise thebodyarea aboutdosing.Perhaps inquestion,beingvery In thispaperyou findadescriptionofmany years ofcollectedexperienceabouthow different into theworldofhyporesponseA journey canoftenevoke asenseofhope—hopethat Where is the giving uplocated? Is there an impulse to move? If not, I as the therapist might tension ornoeffect atall. and maygive anexperienceof The musclestightenalittle turned inwards. up. One mayfeelalittle alive. Emotions maycome tension; oftenonefeelsmore The musclesletgoofsome Tense, heldback REACTIONSMUSCULAR HYPER RESPONSIVE Emotions maycomeup. filled upandpresent. experience ofbeing more active, more alive. Gives an The musclesbecomemore withdrawn orsleepy. up. The personmaybecome slack/given become further muscles orperhapsthey No effectonthe important Undertense, given up REACTIONSMUSCULAR HYPO RESPONSIVE Brantbjerg, M.H.,Kristiansen, &Marcher, D.(2006).Resources incopingwithshock. Brantbjerg, M.H.(2005)Muscular intelligence –anintroduction. www.moaiku.com Brantbjerg, M.H.(2007).Resource-oriented skilltrainingasapsychotherapeutic method.. Brantbjerg, M. H. (2008). The relational aspect of resource-oriented skill training. Bowlby, J.(1988).Asecure base. London,UK:Routledge. Bodynamic Institute (1998).Bodymapreading –bodymapinterpretation. Copenhagen. Bernhardt, P., &Isaacs, J.(2000). The bodymap: Aprecise diagnostictoolforpsychotherapy. Bentzen, M.,Bernhardt, P., &Isaacs, J.(2004). Waking thebodyego1and2.In I.Macnaughton Anstorp, T., Benum, K.,&Jakobsen,NO: M.(2006).Dissosiasjonogrelasjonstraumer.Oslo, Agazarian, Yvonne M.(2004).Systems centered therapy forgroups. London,UK:Karnac. REFERENCES in relation tothecaregiver role. resource orientedskilltrainingasapsychotherapeutic methodinrelation tostress andtrauma psychotherapeutic trainingworkshops onaninternationallevel. Merete specializes inusing Bodynamic Analysis, director of Moaiku Bodynamic Brantbjerg, and offers a range of BIOGRAPHY Jørgensen andMerete Holm Brantbjerg. Bodynamic Insitute/Bodynamic International from 1985-2000.Here synthesized by Steen The above appendixpresents experiencegathered over theyears by thegroup ofteachers at has theeffectof: JOINTS THE MOVEMENT OF has theeffectof: e.g.,. pushingaway) releasing tensioninaction-- (tensing themusclesand RELEASING ENERGY U Copenhagen: Forlaget Kreatik. Copenhagen, Denmark. BodynamicBrantbjerg. Copenhagen,Denmark. BodynamicBrantbjerg. Jørgensen, S.&Marcher L. The Journal ofBioenergetic Analysis ,11(1),1. (Ed.),Body, Breath and Consciousness(pp. 131-204).Berkeley, CA:North Atlantic. Email: [email protected] Website: www.moaiku.com Merete Holm Brantbjerg isarelaxation therapist/psychomotortrainer, co-founderof niversitetsforlaget. emotions/feelings. tension stateoraccessto in generalnochangethe Often onefeelsmore alive; Emotions maycomeup. having more energy. of feelingmore alive and leading toanexperience of tension,ofteninturn which leadstoalettinggo is activated andreleased, Tension inthemuscles emotions/feelings. tension stateoraccessto in generalnochangethe Often onefeelsmore alive; when oneusesthemuscles. becoming tired orexhausted experiences afeelingof even slacker. Often one The musclesendupbeing THE HIDDENCHALLENGE

117 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 118 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Karpman, S. (1973). 1972 Eric Berne Memorial Scientific Award Lecture Jørgensen, S. &Ollars, L. (2001).Kropslig forankring i psykoterapeutisk arbejde. Psykologisk Jørgensen, C.R.(2008).Identitet. psykologiskeogkulturanalytiske perspektiver. Copenhagen, Johnsen, L.(1976).Nøglentillivsglædens kilde.Copenhagen,Denmark: BorgensForlag. Jarlnæs, E,& Van Luytelaar, J.(2004). The Therapeutic Power ofPeak Experiences. S.(2006).BetydningHart, afsamhørighed.Copenhagen,Denmark:Hans Reitzels Forlag. samhørighedogpersonlighed.Copenhagen,Denmark:Hans S.(2006).Hjerne, Hart, Reitzels Forlag. Gonzales, New L.(2003).Deep survival. York, NY: Norton. Goldwag, Elliot M.(Ed.). (1979).Inner Balance: The power ofholistichealing.London,UK: Gladwell, Malcolm (2005).Blink: Thepower ofthinkingwithoutthinking.New York, NY: Fich, S.&Marcher, L.(1997).Psykologi ogAnatomi. En udviklingsfaserog manualombarnets Claesson, B.(2003).Forskning i Vagusnervens fylogenetiskeudviklingkasternytlysover Brantbjerg,M. H. & Stepath (2007). The Body as Container of Instincts, Emotions and Brantbjerg, M.H.&Ollars, L.(2006).Musklernes intelligens.Om 11 Bodynamic Jeg- MERETE HOLMBRANTBJERG DAP conference (2007).Sørensen, Ole. H.:Stressbegrebets historie.(Historyofthe Siegel, D.&Hartzell, M.(2004).Parenting from theinsideout.Penguin Group Inc. Rothschild, B.(2000).TheBodyRemembers. New York, W.W.Norton &CompanyInc. Ollars, L. (1980). Maurer, R.(2004).One smallstepcanchangeyour life: The Kaizen Way. New York,NY: Workman Marcher, L&Fich, S.(2010).BodyEncyclopedia. Berkeley, North Atlantic Books, Levine, P. (1998).Kroppen somhelbreder. In Jørgensen,U.&Mathiasen, S.:At overleve vold – Levine, P., with&Frederick, A.(1998).Waking thetiger. Healing trauma. California:North Kæreby, F. & Sørensen J. Hardy. (2008). Dansk deltagelse ved den første internationale Set, 42,15-28. Denmark: Hans Reitzels Forlag. North Atlantic. InMacnaughton, Ian (Ed.) Body, Breath andConsciousness.(pp. 241-262).Berkeley, CA: Prentice-Hall Int. Little Brown. deres muskulære forankring. Copenhagen:Kreatik. menneskets stress- ogchockreaktioner. Psykolog Nyt 07-2003. Feelings. Copenhagen,Denmark. BodynamicBrantbjerg. funktioner. Copenhagen,Denmark: Forlaget Kreatik. concept ofstress) Unpublished CopenhagenUniversity, dissertation. Copenhagen. Publishing Company. om psykisktraumatisering ogbehandling.(pp.73-93) ÅrhusN.Forlaget Klim. Atlantic Books. conference omSE-terapi.Psykoterapeuten 2008-143-48. Journal 1973-III73-76. Muskelpalpationstests pålidelighed. Besvarelse af specialeopgave i psykologi. Transactional Analysis Here, however, isoneofthemostimportant: There are many interesting factsaboutus. We shed too. 105lbs.ofdivested skinby thetimewe hit70. In onesquare inchofskin: She credit. gave herpartial 20lbs, 14--22square feetofgutandbloodraincontrol. The largestandheaviestorgan, The studentwrote: Her questionwas: in highschool,theearlysixties. My mothertaughtHealth, Babies are bornwithout kneecaps. K oala bearshave fingerprintssohuman-likethatifsomeone were murdered Only thetraveling willteachyou whoyou are There isnomap. 60,00 milesofbloodvessels inyou. There inyour are skin. 45 milesofnerves consider that90%offloordustconsistsdeadskin. So, infront thenexttimeyou of thetelevision, lieontherug in thekoalacage… sometimes atattoo 9 feetofbloodvessels To keepthewateroutandbloodgutsin. What are thethree functions oftheskin? The Skin notabone. The funnybone isanerve, Bones 9000 ner 75 pr

essure sensors ve endings The mineralcontent ofourbonesisalmost indistinguishable and whatcountr w ell, you canseehow there mightby trouble. Anatomy Lesson:APoem

Salita S.Bryant,PhD.,MFA

y you live in. * sometimes akiss 632 millionbacteria 12 feetofner 600 painsensors ve fibers

A POEM 119 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 120 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis And onceyou die, Here’s what’s frighteningthough— It’s 43to17.Hardly true. afaircontestatall. You’ve probably heard thisone: This burlyboneisashollow asdove’s wing. The thighbone,thefemur The largest: The smallest: We have 208bones: Imagine speedingdown adark highway forathousandmiles, In focusing, eye musclesmove 100,000 timesinasingleday. Another 200musclesare usedjusttoblink. SALITA S.BRYANT, PHD.,MFA D and before captures rigormortis your completeattention, Simply walkinguses200ofthem.Speaking, 72. We are over 600muscles. 2000frownsevery whittlesonewrinkle. It takesmore musclestofrown thanitdoestosmile. Muscles More onthehollowness later. of arod ofcaststeel,isstronger thanconcrete, O Ears: S F Hands: kull: eet:

eath isnotpretty. ther:

y can tolerate600poundsofv and cansuppor the femur the ear fr our musclescancontractandcurlyour body om aspeciesofSouth Sea coral. ’s bone stirrup , hasthebearingstrength &pressure tolerance on toitssidelikeasaltedslug. 74 6 22 52 54 t 30timestheweight ofaman. * ertical force. ertical Banging your headagainstawallforsolidhour A singleone-minutekissburns26calories. And onthedaymaninvented theknife, W But thestrongest muscleisthe tongue. All daythisflickering. If you managetokissthewholetime you are going without Without food,ittakesweeks forthebodytodie. You otherthings, willalsoconsumecertain In your lifetimeyou willconsume: If you couldplugitin, e needthisspade,crowbar, thishammer, thissilver spoonoflust. will burnonly150calories. Think aboutyour lastgoodkissanddothemath. Energy: Input/Output ofadoration. That exquisite instrument Removed that adept tooloftasteandworshipheresy. he dreamt hehollowed outhisenemy’s mouth. Without itwe cannottunnel,excavate, burrow, its faceflashinglikethewhiteofaneye. a swollenmoonhangingbehindwinter-strippedbirch, food orsleep, deathwillcome much more quicklyandpainlessly. Without sleep, deathcomesin10days. 8 spiders,forexample. 880 chickensand for sweet teaandbourbon. If you are from thesouthyou mayadd2,000extragallons 50 tonsoffoodand16,000gallonsfluids. the humanbodycouldthrow offtheheat

of a40wattbulb This isnotanadvisableaer N plo ow eatapieceofcandy. w, rake,till,hoe. enough lighttor ,

ead poetry by.ead poetry * obic activity. A POEM 121 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 122 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis

with enough: Think onlythaty When itcomes,(andwill), This istheneighborhoodwe live in— As well, somecandowithoutthatlittlebitofconnective tissuet ofoverglandular purveyor 500functions,willhappilyrecreate itself— Note theliver, Here issomeofwhattheycanremove andstillleave you alive: SALITA S.BRYANT, PHD.,MFA tomake2,200matchheads,phosphorus sulfur tokillallfleasonanaverage dog, that you consideryour relative worth: Elements andIngredients whose neighborsrent. the clammycul-de-sacofheart and anynumberoflimbs…. hey caress inalobotomy shown backuptotakealick’n quarter. intheforth a bloody, quivering doppelganger a real player, amirror ofitsformerself, make that3lb. football-sized mass work outforacoupleofmonths, slip intoitsletterman’s jacket, 80% oftheliv 1 lung the appendix the stomach Organs and Glands

ou are talentedenoughtomimica generalstore, water tofilla ten-gallon fishtank,and carbon for900N D D D o notthinkonthehollow placesinsideofyou. o notcalculatethatyour lastkissburnedonly14calories. o notthinkofthe$25your copper, calcium, &cobaltwouldfetch.

er

enough ir potassium tofir the o the bladder the spleen 1 kidney o.2 pencils, fat tomake7barsofsoap on tomakea3-inch nail. varies

e atoy cannon,

* * the gallbladder the pr 80% ofy the uter

ostate , us our intestine

Try toremember aswell, Concerning thosetroublesome hollow spacesinsideofyou… As you considered thatfact,50,000cellsperishedandwere replaced. The largestcell? The ovum. You are about75trillioncells.Eachcellofyou has10,000times This ispotentiallymore thanthe opposablethumb. important Remember alsoyou are theonlyanimalinworldthatcanweep. Remember your bodywillnever forget. that smart peoplehave morethat smart zincintheirhair, If allyour atomsvoluntarily gave up If theywere toberemoved— Matter The smallest? Yep, thesperm. as manymoleculesthere are starsintheMilky Way. Cells If shoulders, allthestarsinyour bodyrubbed

knelt do all ofthespacebetw & thatthehy wn togetherinprayer— Y could easilyeatthr ou wouldhardly behalfthesize ofaflea. drochloric acidinyour stomach een alltheirnuclei— * * ough thehoodofaBuick. A POEM 123 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 124 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis SALITA S.BRYANT, PHD.,MFA and stifferthantheyappearin order tocontrol forthephysicalstress offlight. delicate thingswe have imaginedthemtobe,but are denser, rounder andmuchstronger weight asanyotheranimal.Recent studieshave beguntoprove thatbird bonesare not creature) has,poundforpound,relatively thesameratioofskeletalweight tototalbody of birds makes them light enough for flight. Interestingly however, birds (or any flying yellow marrowcavity. withtheclavicleasonlylongbonewithoutamedullary well, cavity, thehollow space,themedullary isn’t exactlyhollow, butfilledwith red or for flight butasan efficient cylindricalstructure designedto confront bending stress. As ribsoralumbarvertebra. more orlessbones.Commonadditional bonesincludecervical (gladiolus) andxiphoidprocess. Anatomicalvariations mayalsoresult intheformationof sternum tobemadeupofthree bones insteadofone;manubrium,bodysternum *Bones thereby sounds. permanentlyeliminatingourabilitytomakecertain language. Once ourbraindeterminesthelanguageofitsland,itengagesinneuralpruning, known forevery soundnecessary every willuttervirtually considering thatnewborns our DNAwithchimps.But we alsoshare 70%ofourDNAwithaslug.It isalsoworth the palmandonitsfingertips. Theyalsohave twohandyopposablethumbsoneachhand. difference. While theentire of humanpalmhasridges,thekoalaridgesonlyonparts human’s thateven underanelectronwell-trained microscopeeye ittakesavery totellthe the koalahasridgedetails—pattern,size andshape—thatare soextraordinarily similartoa of skinshedover alifetimerangesfrom 40lbstoover 100lbs. numbers are more agreed upon;somehowever have widevariations—such astheamount endings noted per squareand nerve inch, are the most frequently cited numbers. Some * Skin within are myown. between individualsandare occasionallyamatterofsomedebate.Allerrors contained make them. However, like most things in life and in this poem, specific numbers vary myself withmyown places.”It desert isfrom thisspacethatpoemwasborn. stars—on starswhere nohumanraceis./Ihave itinmesomuchnearer home/ To scare cannotscare mewiththeiremptyspaces/BetweenPlaces,” which concludes,“They only insideofus,butacross theuniverse..One ofmyfavorite poemsisFrost’s “Desert 1 277, 2193-2198. Dumont, E.R.(2010).Bonedensity and thelightweight skeletonsofbirds. Proceedings oftheRoyal Society B, Common knowledge holdsthatthehollow, marrow-free, bones airandstrut-filled As tothehollowness ofthefemur—thehollow spaceisslightandclearlynotdesigned Some countthebodyashaving206bones,however, thecountof208considers Concerning thecountrieswe consideringthatwe live share in,itisworth 98.4%of Koala bears,aswell asgorillasandchimpanzees, alsohave uniquefingerprints. However, This organ includes nails and hair. Skin details in the above poem, i.e. weight, kisses All numbersandinformationcitedinthispoemare asaccurateandspecificIcould I began this poem where it ends—with my unending interest in the empty spaces, not End Notes 1

two weeks. be, usedasaformoftorture. will nolongeracknowledge theserecords andsleepdeprivation hasbeen,andcontinuesto prolonged noting periodswithoutsleep it is worth The Guinness Bookof World Records 1964. (Andyes, there are debatestooaboutthisrecord). But itissodangerous togofor varies aswell before mania setsin. The worldrecord of11dayswassetby a17-year-old in take intoaccountthe“microsleep” altered ofcertain statesof consciousness,etc. The time outside thesenorms. medical conditions, such as Morvan’s syndrome and Fatal Familial Insomnia, which fall Numbers notedhere generallyreflect thoseoftheaverage American. andwealth. Asis,sadly,dependent onculture, country theamountoffoodwasted. employs. Allinallthough,notabaddealnomatterwhatnumberonelooks at. orgasm, allburnvarious amountsofcaloriesdependingonthevigor andintensityone twice adaycouldeasilynet100burnedcaloriesday. Oral sex,masturbation,intercourse, numbers. wildly,Things likekissingvary from 2to25caloriesaminute. Ten minutes, * Energy: Input/Output times aminute,butinconversation 29times. muscle isadebatableconcept. pulls againsttheforce ofgravitytokeeptheentire bodyupright.Clearly, the strongest below asit,alongwithcalfmuscles, thegastrocnemius (calfmuscle)isalsointherunning high-speedmaneuvers. Suchperform categorizationwouldalsoincludethesoleus,found larger andstronger relative tothesizeand andweight oftheeyeball thanisnecessary tremendous downward force witheachcontraction.Aswell, externaleye musclesare much may also be the strongestof the uterus muscle by weight. During it can exert childbirth strength. musclesare Andassuchshorter stronger, poundforthemyometrial layer object—the masseterorjawmusclecouldbeconsidered strongest basedonsize andbite sectional area—usually saidtobethequadricepsfemorisorgluteusmaximus. strength refers totheforce exerted, thestrongest musclesare thosewiththegreatest cross- of physicalwork over alifetimeasitmanagestobeatabout100,000perday. However, if itself executes subject determination. Clearly the a heart somewhat the leading quantity (how strong orweak), andmechanical(muscle’s force angle). Therefore, measurement is strength endurance(withstandfatigue).Strength isphysiological(musclesize), neurological force), dynamic strength (repeated motions),elasticstrength (exert force quickly),and of theirstrength isdeterminedinvarious ways. There isabsolutestrength (maximum “muscle,” ifonlyby agenerallyheldconsensusorpractice. (actually numerous muscles and muscle groups) is generally considered the strongest *Muscles And whatofthose poor, continuallystudiedandcited rats? They canmanageabout Some “records” ofgoing withoutsleepforlongermore extendedperiodoftimemaynot Sleep andfooddeathhere alsorepresent averages. There are rare alsocertain Amount offoodeatenover thecourseofalifetime varies significantly andisquite activities, such as rowingCertain have or running, more stable and well-studied Blinking. We blinkabout25timesaminute.If we are reading we mayblink4or5 As muscularstrength generallyrefers totheabilityexert aforce onanexternal In actuality, there are 3varieties ofmuscle:cardiac, smoothandskeletalthemeasure tremendouslyWhile certainly forceful, duetoitselasticityandforcefulness thetongue A POEM 125 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 126 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis reaction […resulting] inincreased venous return totheheart.” vocalization” ofyoung ratswas simplyan“acoustic by-product oftheabdominalcompression agree humansare thesingleanimalcapableofproducing emotionaltears,thatis,weeping. Romans, Egyptians andenjoyed aresurgenceVictorian inthenineteenthcentury age.Most andwere especiallypopularwiththeGreeks, (orLacrymatory) tear bottles,Lachrymatory So powerful are tearsthatthroughout history, humanshave collectedtheirtearsinsmall cornea, as well at to protect it with tears rich in nutrients and anti-bacterial properties. on theprevailing market prices. million dollars.Skin andbaseelementsrangeanywhere from $1toabout$10depending ofa aquarter andontheopenmarketbody couldbebroken beworth intotissuesorparts is anentire fetishmarket you canexplore shouldyou sodesire. At death,adisarticulated eggs andsperm. The bodyitselfcanbesoldforsexrepeatedly forvarious amounts. There * Elements andIngredients upon thebrainto“remove thestoneofmadness.” despite thechurch’s banonsurgery, there were alwaysbarberswillingtowork theirknives sex organ. as manycellsthere are starsintheMilky Way. It isalsothelargestandmostpowerful 75% waterandhastheconsistencyoftofuabout100billionneurons—perhaps about theuniverse withoutthanwe dotheuniverse within.But, we doknow thebrainis our sluggishacquisitionofbrain(andbody)knowledge. Even now we stillknow more the Middle Ages,theCatholicchurch bannedhumandissectionandslowed even further down,simply cooltheheart declared Descartes thebrainmachine-likeinitsfunctions.In ourteethareeverywhere, ofuswe cannotrepair. theonlypart shops, constantlyrepairing andrefurbishing ourselves. And,muchtothejoy ofdentists * Organs andGlands SALITA S.BRYANT, PHD.,MFA that mediated such crying inrats. that mediatedsuchcrying they were coldandwantedtheirmothers.A2005 studycontendeditwastheneuralsystem was“analogouscrying toasneeze” duetoasignificantdecrease inbloodflow—not because composition from othertears. and infant rats cry. As well, as Frey (1981) proved, emotional tears differ in chemical of seeminglysignificantevents. togetattention, tobecarried,Young Marmoset monkeyscry “emotional” atbeingweaned, orlosingsightoftheirmothers,abrother, oratanynumber communication inherent physiologicalexpressions. incertain Chimpanzees clearlybecome, 3 2 4 human tears,”American Journal ofOphthalmology, 92:559-567,1981. central andperipheral administrationofα2-adrenoceptor agonists.European Journal ofPharmacology 517:200-207. thermal challengeinunanesthetized infantrats. AmericanJournal ofPhysiology, 281,R1514-R1521. Frey WH 2nd,DeSota-Johnson D,Hoffman C, McCall JT., “Effect ofstimulusonthechemicalcomposition of KrallCM,AndicocheaCT, McDougall SA(2005)Ultrasonic vocalization production ofpreweanling rats:Effects of Blumberg, M.S.,Knoot, T. G.,&Kirby, R.F. (2001)Neural pressure andhormonalcontrol ofarterial during Some research, likea2001University ofIowa study, concludedtheultrasonic“distress As toweeping. Tear tocleanandmoistenthe production, lachrimation, isnecessary ofyour bodyisrelative.The worth We cansellourhair, blood,saliva, breast milk, As tolobotomies,theyhave alwaysbeenaround. Even inthedark Middle Ages,and While Aristotlebelieved andthebrain’s we thoughtwithourhearts functionwas to The liver is amazinginitsabilitytorebuild itself. Our entire bodiesare likelittlebody Despite functionof suchdiverse theories,there anevolutionary isalmostcertainly 4 Emotional tears contain more protein-based hormones, Emotional tearscontainmorehormones, protein-based 3 2 Basically theypositedtheir 5 NYC andisapsychoanalytic candidatewithHarlem Family Institute. Review, Third Coast,Dogwood, andTheNorth American Review, amongothers.She lives in has publishedinAlimentum, The SouthCarolina Review, Agenda, Nimrod, Snake Nation Review Editors’ Prize, Iron Horse Discovered Voices andnominatedforthree Pushcarts. She Connecticut Poetry Society’s Award, Boulevard’s Emerging Poet’s Award,Spoon River Poetry Addie Bundren isDead. She haswon The Midwest Writing Center’s Off ChannelContest, MFA inpoetry. She is AssistantProfessor ofEnglish atLehmanCollegeandauthorof BIOGRAPHY * Matter for littleorgans. are hundreds ofjobsforyour cellsandtheyhave easilyearnedthenameOrganelles, Latin to the converting sun’sbattling bacteria and viruses, energy and transmitting signals. There membrane andare chargedwithdifferent jobs,rangingfrom to oxygen transportation 4to5times.Cellsareend totheycouldcircle theearth enclosedwithinaplasma somewhere between 60-90trillion. There are somanycellsthatifyou linedthemup sources say10trillion,some50,more. Most reputable sources placethenumber * Cells it couldbreak your heart. tears ofsorrow.” noted the handlers of the Indian elephants at the London Zoo claimed the elephants “shed baby’s (1872),in cries.Darwin The Expression ofthe Emotions inMan andAnimals, days, aswillachimpanzee orgorilla. The wailingofbearcubssoundsremarkably likea itsdeadcalfwithitfor nottheonlyones that cangrieve. Adolphinwillcarry certainly And slicingonionswon’t foolyour body. prolactin, andleucineencephalin(anaturalpainkiller)result inmakingusfeelbetter. Harper Collins.(Original work 1872). Darwin C,Ekman Darwin P, Prodger P. (1998) The Expression oftheEmotions inMan andAnimals,3rd edn,London: Salita holdsaPh.D. S.Bryant inliterature, anM.Ed. inClinicalCounseling,andan What doesmatterandnot-mattermatter?It mattersmostofall. The numberofcellsinthehumanbody, ofcourse,atopicfordebateaswell. Some We are alsotheonlyblushers. While it may be true we areWhile itmaybetrue onlyanimalsthatcan,strictlyspeaking,weep, we are 5 Indeed, thesadkeeningofbaby elephantssoundssomuchlikeweeping A POEM 127 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 128 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis © Author andUSABP/EABP. Reprints [email protected] Volume 11,Number 2,2012pp128-131Printing ISSNNumber 2169-4745Online ISSN2168-1279 International BodyPsychotherapy Journal TheArt andScienceofSomaticPraxis MARCEL A.DUCLOS be andisnow lived inEnglish. toread,The opportunities writeandspeakFrench were and and his first graduate degree. Yet, his latereducation and professional andfamilylifewas to In anunusualturnof events, hecontinued having abilingualeducationthrough college and withplaymatesuntil,atthe ageoffive, heentered abilingualparochial schoolin 1944. speaking Catholicculture oftheProvince ofQuebec. He spokeCanadianFrench athome unexpected elucidationsafter respectful disagreements. collaboration whichhasresulted inalastingfriendshipbuilton mindfulagreements and andexcursionsobservations inthelived process ofthistwo-and-a-half-year heartfelt if theauthorisaformidableintellectual,respected researcher andapractitionerofnuance. this experience,ifitpresents itself to you, do notletitslipthrough your fingers,especially against theelusive temptationsofthelurking traitor. To thoseofyou whohave nothad (meaning thetranslatorisatraitor)meritsstickynoteat eye level towarn the translator mis-interpreter.an inadvertent The well-known Italian phrase“traduttore, traditore” know thedelicatedancebetween beingafaithfulconveyer ofanother’s thoughtand tookabackseattopassionandexcitement. period,hesitationand perfectionism cautionary the authoronanEnglish translationofarevision oftheoriginalFrench version. Aftera Carleton, PhD, editoroftheInternational BodyPsychotherapy Journal, tocollaboratewith review fortheUSABPJournal in2008andtoalaterinvitation,facilitatedby Jacqueline A. smitten by of the first an earlier perusal French edition. This led to the writing of a brief Methods by W. W. Norton thispastAugust, thistranslatormustadmitthathehadbecome resulted inthepublicationofMichel Heller’s BodyPsychotherapy: History, Conceptsand discoveries intheneurosciences? Afteratwo-and-a-half-year longadventure thateventually it addresses issuesrelevant tobodypsychotherapy thatspanfrom theoriginsofyoga to leading toimproved collaborative mutuality. The showcased experienceisthetranslator’s surprisingre-discovery ofhisFrench mind, connecting thedimensionsoforganism(metabolism,body, behavior, andpsyche). endeavor benefitedfrom themainlyindirect globalorganismic regulation mechanisms History, ConceptsandMethods. How, borrowing from Michel Heller’s language,acollegial Dimensions oftheOrganism” intheprocess oftranslatinghisbookBodyPsychotherapy: The translatorwasborninto aFranco-American familywithroots intheFrench- The following is not an academic discussion of the project. Instead, expect some personal Those ofyou whohave hadsuchanintimateexperienceastheoneafforded atranslator Whatever wouldpossessanyone toagree totranslatea600-pagetextsofar-reaching Key An explorationofacentraldiscovery openingupontoMichael Heller’s “System ofthe words: translation,organismic,re-discovery, linguistics A Translator’s Journey:ARetrospective Marcel A.Duclos Abstract

to hisEnglish/French mental dissonancewhenherepeated the French. Given thathe labio-dental. Moving hisoralapparatus from an English mid-mouth positioncontributed languages. The Germanic languagesare more gutturalandtheRomance languages more in hisearlierlinguisticstudies returned tohim:thatclimateinfluenced theevolution of figured centrallyinlanguage.A long forgotten:thatmuscle memory realization learned next monthsintothefullfirst year of thetranslation,hediscovered somethinghehad suffice. Enhance hisspeakingskills. Engage in an immersionexperience. not yet acclimatedtotheFrench text.He hadnotyet foundhisFrench mind. from theEast.Something wasstillamiss. The translatorwassufferingfrom asplit.He had contributions oftheEuropean philosophersaftertheearliercontributionsofyogis more direct in theirexchanges. They were ofthetextrelating heavilyintothepart tothe and suggestionsforgreater clarity. By andboth this time,thetwohadbecomepartners annotated editingofthedraftandareturn ofarevision withbracketedexplanations match ensued:theFrench textfollowed by adraftEnglish translationfollowed by an the translationprocess. measured fidelitytotheauthor’s thoughtsandarguments. Yet somethingwasmissingin fear ofimposingunnoticedpersonalinterpretations. Soon thereafter, hesoughttofind a between fidelity to content and context, erring at first ontheside of verbal accuracy for was hetoholdit,lethimselfbetouchedby it,respond toit?He and see-sawed struggled received theFrench documentwithhisEnglish-thinking mind.He wastentative. How ofhisscholarshipwiththetendernessanappreciativefruit nanny. The translatorfirst with atouchofapprehension butoffsetwithconfidence,asiftosuggestaneedtreat the highaboveforth theAtlantic. The authorsentthefirstchapterwithamessageflavored discovery. He doesremember how naturallytheexchange ofdocumentsfloatedbackand journey ofathousanddiscoveries. realistic stipend,getdown tobusiness,andtakethefirststeponwhatwasmorphinto a and respectful working relationship. The translatoreasilyresolved toacceptthemodestbut agreed torelieve himofthosetasks.It wasafirstmomentinwhatwouldbecomeanopen his shamefullyinadequatecomputerskills.He wassurprisedthattheauthorgenerously manage thatminutiawouldawakenhisabusive obsessive-compulsive personalitytraitsand not wanttoberesponsible forthebibliographyorindex. The prospect ofhavingto conveyed by hisresponsive physiology. “Set your limitsupfront. Honor your NO.”He did negotiate theterms.Sitting athisdeskinthequietofstudy, helistenedtothemessage journey. And thenhewaited,fullyaware thattheverdict wasnotassured. Either onecouldnixthe to languageandaccuracy. He submittedsamplesofhisprofessional writingtotheeditor. translated the introduction and the glossary, which the author was to evaluate with regard of failingtomeettheexpectations the authorandstandards oftheeditor. He first How wouldheassesstheadequacyofhisFrench-to-English skills? scholarly textawakenedneurotic feelingsofinadequacy. Would hebeuptothechallenge? are andfarbetween, sadlyfew butsavored asrare moments. The invitationtotranslatea It wasChristmastime. His wifegave himthe Rosetta Stone French Level V. For the There were options for the translator: Accept that his reading skills alone would not Nonetheless, ontime,thefirstchapterslandedoneanother’s desks.Apingpong In retrospect, subsequent the translator neither recalls first nor each and every the very Mercifully, hedidpassmuster. The gamewasonifhewantedtoplay. It wastimeto As inlove, erotic impulsesledtoadventurous experimentation. The prospect loomed A TRANSLATOR’S JOURNEY 129 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 130 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis organismic regulation mechanismsofhisbeingas aperson. text theinterplay ofhisbody, psyche, behaviorandmetabolicactivity asguidedby the one ofthepivotal dimensions of the author’s “System of theDimensions oftheOrganism”. and thebodyassubject, aserotic, thebodyascorpse,andsomuchmore—even as also sometimesthebodypolitic, abodyofwork, thebody“as atext”, thebodyasobject recalling Cohenand Weiss’ 2003book,ThinkingtheLimits oftheBody, thatthebodyis sometimes physiology, sometimesthewholeperson.”Andtranslator wouldnow add, body issometimes[thatwhich]aRolferconversations works theauthorstated,“The on, or tobehavioremotionasif these formedacoherent whole.”Or whenintheir who isJungian psyche where atheart, theauthor wrote,is…associatedtothesoul, “The another occasion,anemailcorrespondence occurred between theauthorandtranslator, often thetiponanicebergleadingtodeepdiscussions with lengthyantecedents.”On of 2011that“what sometimesappearsasasliver ofaconceptinbodypsychotherapy is and tothefieldofbodypsychotherapy. conviction thattheauthorwasindeedintellectuallyand ethically committedtohiswork Assens in 2011 as the guest ofthe author and his wife,Nicole, confirmed thetranslator’s relieving thetranslatorofhisneurotic defenses againstimaginedrejection. Awork tripto a mutually pleasing revision that faithfullyexpressed theauthor’s intent.Finally, thisbegan French, and submitted more versions of a text to each other. In this way, they were reaching French mind.Author andtranslatorengagedinmore frequent conversations, sometimesin developed, as he put it, a French mouth; thus, to his great delight, he rediscovered his saw tothat. complacency never entered thepicture, notforthetranslatororauthor. The editors by theauthorandDr. Carletonnecessitatedrevisions ofthebeginningchapters.In fact, author’s expressions ofsatisfactionandeven pleasure. being delivered ofhisfearbeingatraitor. He himselfandtoacceptthe begantotrust longer lastingmomentsofcommunicationwiththeauthor’s thought. The translatorwas session. The earlymorningandevening translatingtimeafforded thetranslator of hisbrainandmind.He couldsenseit.He couldfeelit. dramatic washappening.He wasre-awakening thelongdormantFrench languagecircuitry phrases andsentences,theyintocogentparagraphs.Something quiteunexpectedand the more thesoundsresonated inhisentire body. Independent morphemesclustered into took deep breathes, gestured slightly with shoulders and arms, bounced a bit on his seat, discovery! The more thephonemes,moved hearticulated histongue,cheeks,jaw, above thenoise.Andthere itwas,clearastheexpansive, bluesky:apivotal andsurprising south toPhoenix, asthewindwhippedloudlyacross thehighway, heyelled outthedialogue English. exercisewas initiallyafrustrating infutility. The translatorcontinuedtothinkmostlyin But listeningandmumblingthewords andsentencesinthecarat75milesperhour driving toandfro provided tolistentheRosetta ampleopportunities Stone lessons. whereresided towns intheArizona high-country andcitiesare milesandhoursapart, MARCEL A.DUCLOS In theideathathebrought tothe English the end,thetranslatorlikes to entertain In oneofthecountlessexchanges, Dr. Heller reminded thetranslatorinlateAugust Over thesuccessive monthsofcollaborative work onthetranslation,translator It was not yet time for complacency. The frank feedback afforded to the translator minutealoneinthecarturnedintoareprocessingOver theensuingmonths,every Then onemid-winterday, sixmonthsin,onathree-hour tripdown from themountains the Cracks intheSidewalk. Prose andPoetry; ADoor andCultivating intheDesert; Hope forAbuse Survivors: Watering Threads: Stories of Life After Trauma; Necessary Illusions: Musings by a Man anda Woman in to hislife.He hasco-authored fourbookswithConnieRobillard, MA,LCMHC: Common Systems Therapy, andGnostic Christianspiritualitytohispsychotherapeutic practice,and Core Energetic Evolutionary Therapy, EMDR, body psychotherapy, Internal Family study ofphilosophy, theology, developmental psychology, Jungian Archetypical Analysis, trauma treatment foradultvictimsofabuseandviolence.Alife-longlearner, hebringshis trauma andaddictiontreatment. He presents andtrainsathomeabroad inthefieldof clinical director oftheNorthland Family Help CenterinFlagstaff, AZ.He isaspecialistin substanceusedisorderintervention, treatment, and homelessness. He as currentlythe serves administrator and consultant. He has directed anonprofit agencyspecializingincrisis addictions and trauma. Heprotective 28 years services, as a college served faculty member, Heteaching, psychotherapy and clinical supervision. has consulted in the field of child BIOGRAPHY Email: [email protected] After a45-year-long career, Marcel A.Duclos of stillenjoys arts theperforming

A TRANSLATOR’S JOURNEY 131 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 132 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis GEORGE DOWNINGPhD overlap, totell. buteachhasitsstory it proposes alookatbodypsychotherapy whichtranscendsschoolsandmethods. more information than oneevenwasoutthere knew tobefound.Provocative andfar-reaching, with oneanother, especially where emotionisconcerned. Yet we makedo. Our ancestors were any overarching plan. On thecontrary, functionsnow fit togetherclumsily. Often theycompete contexts.Much reasons invarying selected forvarying happenedby chance. There never existed together a“hodgepodge” ofdiverse functions,cognitive, affective andphysiological. These were body isnocontainerofhidden harmony. It thingfrom that.Evolution is thefarthest hasput butpersuasivechapter tohim,givinganunorthodox commentary. For Heller’s the Darwin attention. thinkers sayconcerningpsychological functioning.Ideas aboutaffectespeciallydrawhis embracing substancedualismare never mentioned. Instead, Heller focusesonwhatthese philosophical claims are little discussed (Kant aside). For example, Descartes’ grounds for Philosophers Locke,Hume, appearoneafteranother:Descartes, Kant,Spinoza. Their central of thinking,withtheoretical consequences thatheseesasproblematic. bodypsychotherapy,twentieth century hewilllaterargue,adopteditsown variant ofthisway widen, andperhapsexcessively, tolistallthevariants. Early asthechaptersgoby; Iwillnottry “Idealism.” It isalabelhewillcontinuetoinvoke throughout thebook.Its meaningappearsto correspond. It is thisforce whichultimatelymakespossibleourrecovery ofharmony. the universe. quasi-divine, pervades This is what creates theconditions to which the norms this harmony, atleasttoasufficientdegree, itwillbothfeelbettertous andfunctionbetter. The physicaltechniquesare aimedatrecovery ofthishighersomething.Once thebodyregains something, itissupposed,aharmoniousspiritualcore, whichwe have covered upandforgotten. normative andindeedmetaphysicalvisionofthebody.a certain There existsinusahigher receive arts martial theirdueinturn. psychological stateshasmanyroots, yoga beingone. Taoist teachings,acupuncture, andthe to yoga, aspracticedthenandalsonow. Heller underlinesthattheuseofbodytochange In thesealmostseven hundred pagesitisasifwe encounter multiple authors. Their voices How oftendoesabooklikethislandinourmidst?Michael Heller’s opusdrawstogether What I found the most intriguing was a similar visit to Darwin. HellerWhat Ifoundthemostintriguing wasasimilarvisittoDarwin. devotes anentire Historian Heller thenmoves ustotheseventeenth, eighteenth,andnineteenthcenturies. The combinationofthesetwostandpoints,thenormative andthemetaphysical, Heller calls Coupled withthesenormative beliefsare metaphysicalones.Acosmicforce, divineor Heller writes with respect about all these approaches. He also points out how they share Historian Heller, B.C. Attention is given usoffinthe2ndcentury ourfirstguide, starts A Review of Michael Heller’s BodyPsychotherapy: A Review ofMichaelHeller’s In QuestofaTheoryforBodyPsychotherapy: W. W. Norton&Company(August20,2012) History, Concepts,andMethods George DowningPhD ______

forms oftraumawork (Peter Levine,Pat Ogden, Babette Rothschild) ishighlighted. he seekstocharacterize overall trends. For example,therobust current ofbodypsychotherapy innovators, suchasAlexanderLowen, Gerda Boysen, andDavid Boadella,butforthemostpart to soformidableanarray. He discussesseveral ofthebetter-known secondandthird generation that thegreat proliferationmethodsbegins.Heller ofnew statesexplicitlyhecannotdojustice We don’t know anydetails, butclearlyforthisfoursomethebodywasatopicamongothers. Gindler bodyawareness method.AnnieReich,studentofit. hiswifeatthetime,wasafervent level for years. Their wives were close, too. Claire Fenichel was even a teacher of the renowned psychoanalytic mode)withpatients.He turnsouttohave beenclosetoReich onapersonal Yet hethoughtaboutthe body, wrote aboutit,andgave attentiontoitwhenworking (ina turns outtobeOtto Fenichel. Anearlyanalyst,Fenichel todayislittleread even amonganalysts. had different ideasabouthow tobringthebodyintopsychotherapy. The mostsurprising figure Trygve Braatoy andAadel Bulow-Hansen, Norwegians inOlso whenReich wasthere butwho periods. There existgroups andschoolstodaywhoseoriginscanbetracedtooneoranotherofthese methodology. Phases Two, Three, andFour produced different formsofbodypsychotherapy. four phases.Eachphasehaditsown burstofcreativity, andeachburstresulted inadistinct most attentionhere, andhedoes.Heller divideshisprofessional andpersonaljourneyinto then turnstoGroddeck, Ferenczi, Reich, andothers.One would expect Reich toreceive the which willbeseenlaterinthebooktoaccord withHeller’s own views. afterall.Butthe oneswhosurvived, ahiddenharmonyisnowhere tobefound.It isaconclusion his theoretical model. we buildakindofjointbodyarchitecture. It isathemetowhich he willreturn whenheunfolds impacts upontheother(i.e.,itproduces avisibleresult), andviceversa. Moment by moment shifts, gestures, expresses. The other’s Some, bodydoeslikewise. butonlysome,ofwhatIdo interact. Beneath the level of conscious awareness a huge amount is going on. My body moves, disillusionments. He thentakesusintotheworkings ofhisown studies. of microanalytic research,treats history us tosummarizing a short itsadvances as well as its movement, personsever oneofthefew todosousing a methodwithsolidreliability. Heller interaction. At times he coded mainly facial expression. At other times he coded full body had tobe. research. heknows likenootherbodypsychotherapist.This isterritory It isahard read, but knowledge baseHeller isabletoexplain someofthemore subtleimplications ofthesefindings. microanalysis research ofDaniel Stern, Beatrice Beebe, andEd Tronick. Thanks tohisown Once Heller moves becomebriefer. tothenextgeneration hisportraits Of courseitisnow A goodmanyotherplayers cross Heller’s stagetoo. enjoyed Iparticularly hearingabout As forbodypsychotherapy itself, Heller ofearlypsychoanalysis, withanoverview starts The themehereturns toover and over isthesheercomplexityofwhatmybodydoeswhenI Heller’s field,duringhis research years, wasthemicroanalysis ofvideo-filmedadult-adult Researcher Heller takesusintohisarea ofspeciality, theworldofnonverbal interaction Developmentalist Heller turnstoparent-infant interaction. He discussesthe video ______IN QUESTOF 133 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 134 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis of thisflow. Outside ofconsciousnessitgoesonalmostincessantly. posture shifts,voice tones,facialexpressions, gestures, etc..ConsciouslyInoticeamere fraction own studiesshow, there are subsystemsinmewhich minutely track the otherperson: her realize. This ofcourseespeciallyconcernssocialinput.In anyinteractionalcontext,asHeller’s in Heller’s view. Our bodies react to what is around them much more than we consciously weaker sensesocialgroups andeven entire cultures canbeseenassystemsintheirown right. interact withoneanother, theycreate awidersystemwithitsown In emergentproperties. a unusual aboutbodypsychotherapy, andsovaluable. but alsoactivate thoughtsofincreased self-confidence; andsoon.Clinicallythisiswhat emotional arousal, for example; therapeutic work with grounding can not only affect balance and more types of cross-system influence. Therapeutic work with respiration can cause emotions cancausethoughts.But bodypsychotherapy mustthinkaboutmore suchvariables of the model. Almost all kinds of therapy assume that thoughts can cause emotions and that I understandit,consistsinsteadofseveral keycomponents. GEORGE DOWNINGPhD to oneside. muscular types,andthelike.He isnotclaimingthiscouldbedone.He justleaves theissue defensive functions,mitigatingsomeoftheeffectsacaretaker’s more problematic tendencies. are basic ways to use the body during interaction. Some practices optimize contact. Others serve and negative, thateachcaretaker bringstothescene. This isageneralfactor. On theotherhand,shemustdealwithspecifictendencies,positive the infantisconfronted withthesamesheercomplexitythatwe seeinadult-adultexchange. manner toorganize herbodyininteraction. The achievement isremarkable. On theone hand change in one part triggersabigshiftinthesystemaswhole). change inonepart perspective. We hear no talk for example about “attractor states,” or “bifurcation” (a small elaborations ofDSTare well known, his,Heller’s, corresponds strandsoftheir toonlycertain is a loose one, akin to that of Ed Tronick. Although he mainly cites Thelan and Smith, whose of anyonesystemonothertendtobe“messy,” andirregular. i.e.,partial includes thevarious physiologicalsystems,andmindaswell. It is“heterogeneous.” The effects should beviewedasacollectionofsystemsandsubsystems. This collection isratherajumble.It together aframeworkforunderstandingbodypsychotherapy. problems. Iwillnotgointodetails here. research, theirdataare butinmy view one thingandtheirDSTaccountanother, withthelatter having someserious version ofDST. Esther Thelan and LindaSmith (1994)have madeinvaluable contributions tochilddevelopment 1 I donotmeantoimplythatHeller shouldhave adoptedanexplanationlike theirs. In fact,Iprefer a Tronick-style Component Four iswhatIwill callthebody’s widerangeofresponsiveness. Not onlydoes Component Three iswhatIwillcallthebody’s highsensitivitytocontext.Extremely high, Component Two isperson-to-personsystemicinfluence. Whentwoormore persons Component One iscross-system causalexplanation. This isperhapstheprinciplepayoff Heller totiethisaccount to any notionofbodyarmouring, body pointedly avoids trying S Already inthefirstmonths,suchstudiesshow, theinfantisacquiringher own idiosyncratic As an explanatory frameworkDSTcomestodayinmanyformsandsizes. Heller’sAs anexplanatory version To Ahumanbeing thisedifice(DST). construct Heller turnstodynamicsystemstheory Theoretician Heller isthedominantvoice. Drawing onalltherest ofthebook,hepieces he, theinfant,findshersolutions.Acore repertoire ofbody “practices” isestablished. These ______

1 Heller’s version, totheextent Serious trauma,suchassexualabuseorphysicalviolence,canalsostrongly affectit,Heller thinks. there, naturally. During therest ofchildhoodthetrack-and-respond repertoire develops further. research findingsgive usawindow onhow suchlearningtakesplace. doesnotend Thestory in earlychildhood.Here Heller draws onhisdiscussionofStern, Beebe, and Tronick. Their constrict whatispossibleinrelationships. her idiosyncratic profile in this regard. of one’s The particularities profile both facilitate and rigidly so. Others are littleseenand/orrestricted intheirmanner. Eachpersonhashisor a widerange,inanotheritdisplaysnarrowness. tendenciesare Certain prominent, andsome (as Iwillputitinorder tosummerize) tendencies.Even thoughinonesensemybodydisplays This timeImightreact differently. Andifhedoesityet againImightnotreact atall. own posture, etc..My nonconsciousmenuofoptionsislarge. in voice tone, and/orwithachangeintherhythmofgesture, and/orwithanalterationofmy variation. of thisinput.And,importantly, inhow Ireact, inthespecificsofit,there isagreat dealof something inmetracktheother’s shifts,butIalsoreact, withmyown body, toselectedparts influences anotherone? Whatare themore fine-grainedcausal processes at play? matter of underlying mechanisms. How doesitcome about, for example, that one system answers tothesequestions. occurrence oftrembling? It to produce wouldbethehard taskofgenuinescientificinquiry respiration, done under what conditions? Exactly how should we definean occurrence or non- Y? Work withrespiration canproduce trembling, we say. But exactly whatkindsofwork with however, ishow murky andinexactitis. There are twosensesinwhichwe lacksolidknowledge. variable Y islikely:suchthestructure ofpassed-onclinicalobservations. manipulate variable X,keepingotherrelevant changein factors constant, thenaparticular lore.here If richheritage:oftechniques,butalsoinformalobservational you aparticularly about it. him. It isathemewhichpermeatesthebook. (2008a, 2008b). and lower level causal explanationsinpsychotherapy seeCampbell(2008a,2008b)and andpsychiatry Woodward 2 Heller perhaps worrieshere more thanisnecessary. For good discussionsoftherelative merits ofhigherlevel Component sixisthedevelopmental claimthatafirstformingofthis repertoire takesplace Component Five istheconcept ofarepertoire (asHeller callsit)ofsuch track-and-respond thesame posturalalteration. As well,minuteslaterthisotherpersonperforms suppose afew Suppose thattheotheraltershisposture. With mybodyImightatoncecounterwithashift About thisissueHeller positively broods. Second, even ifwe couldbeprecise aboutthe variables, there remains (thinksHeller) the First, whatwouldbeamore precise, systematicdefinitionof variable X,andalsoof variable Heller considersthisinformallore tobesomethingprecious. What hewantstounderline, Granted, thingshappen.In we doseethatcertain factbodypsychotherapy possesses How, forexample,doescross-modal causality“really” work? We know nexttonothing Theoretician Heller alsospeaksaboutwhatwe donotknow. This isnominorsubjectfor S uch are thebasicsofmodel.Heller bringsitalive withnumerous vividdescriptions.

______2 For example:what“regulating mechanisms” IN QUESTOF 135 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 136 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis guesswork. gap isagap, andthatishow thingsare. Much ofpsychotherapy ingeneralrests ontentative or herbreath. In themeantime,suggestsHeller, we cangetalongfineonce we acceptthata knowledge gapsthanmostmethodsprecisely becauseitissoversatile. a broader rangeofcross-system causalprocesses. Bodypsychotherapy hastolive withmore more ofthem,Heller sensiblyargues.By drawingonabroader rangeoftechniquesitmobilizes be realizable. answer. He usesitmore asaplace-holderforfuture scientificaccountwhichmightsomeday explain. But thischargecannotbeleveled againstHeller. He never presents DSTasafinal knowledgecharacterize thisparticular gap. operate atthe“interface” oftwoheterogenous systems?Such to ishislanguagewhentrying GEORGE DOWNINGPhD reflected upon. Connectionscan be madetothepatient’s life-world, her past,and/or tothe other personhe,thepatient,appears tobetracking. organizes hisbodyininteraction,andabout whataspectsofthebodyorganizingprocess ofthe and therapistlookatittogether. Invaluable detailscanbediscriminatedabouthow thepatient friend, oreven layer (althoughthisbringsanew ofcomplexity)thetherapistherself. of thepatientinteractingwith someoneelse. This secondpersonmightbeapartner, a child,a in this direction. The basics are simple. A brief video is filmed (by whoever, inwhatever setting) oneswhichutilizenew videofilmedinteraction? this. Why notusevideo? Why notsupplementtheclassicbodypsychotherapy techniqueswith in amore direct fashion.In itsspecifics, itsdetails.Andhehasaboldideaforhow togoabout Heller means. constricted aspectsofthetrack-and-respond repertoire, to adegree anyway. But thisisnotwhat you work withthebodyinemotionaldepth,you are boundto helpapatientfree upsome psychotherapy hassofarlittleventured. This istheinteractionalbodyinallitscomplexity. model points,hethinks,andhisresearch pointsaswell, toapromising domainwhere body schools. He knows alotaboutwhatdifferent bodypsychotherapists dointheiroffices. illuminate technique use. Heller is a person who has had contact with diverse groups and alternatives, rarely criticizes. There are frequent useful comments about how his model can convey is a picture of the body techniques themselves. He is broad-minded, approves of many this fitswiththe rest ofatherapy. techniques andstyles.He focusesmainlyonwhatisdonespecificallywiththebody, andhow Perhaps therelevant sciencewillbedonesomeday. But here nobodyshould,well, holdhis therapymethodhasitsknowledgeOf course every gaps.Bodypsychotherapy simplyhas isthatitmerelyA frequent describesanddoesnot criticismofdynamicsystemstheory This becomes grist forthemillintherapy. canbediscussed and What isobserved This videoisthenbrought to(oreven mighthave beenfilmed by) thetherapist. Patient The ideaislogicalandpractical,heproposes, andhedescribessomeof hisown endeavors What heseesasyet tobeexplored ishow we couldaddress interactionalbodycomplexity Of courseallbodypsychotherapists helptheirpatientswithinteractioncompetencies.If The othertaskClinicianHeller assumesismore ofasurprise.It isprescriptive. His Not onthecontrary. thatheseestheverbal sideasalesserpart; But whathewantsto One ofhow isanoverview bodypsychotherapy ispracticedtoday. He describesdifferent Last butnotleastthere isClinicianHeller. He takesontwotasks. ______discusses how embodiedcognitionperspectives can beappliedtopsychotherapy. theories. See Prinz (2009),Robbins &Aydede (2009),andShapiro (2011) foramore criticaloverview. Fuchs (2010) 3 ideas mighthave seemedanaturalstep. draws generallyonphilosophical thinking.In this light aglanceatsomerelevant contemporary fair enough. What feelsdifferent in Heller’s caseismerely thesheerdegree towhichhis book on board inpsychotherapy theories,andtypicallywith littleelaboration,ifany. Andthis seems abstraction. But isanythingwrong withthat? (e.g., about dynamic systems theory, interactional complexity, etc.) at slightly lower levels of the idea.He justdrops itinplaceandthenmoves on,takingupmore detailedtheorizing two, yet somehow one,andwe have toembracebothsidesoftheparadox. He doesnotexplicate puzzles. Afterall,hedoespropose asensibleifvague premise: mindandbodyare somehow sees itfrom theoutsideandfeelsitalsofrom within. information. the new The patient can profit from on her abody. unique double viewpoint She therapeutic relationship. As more classic body techniques are added, they can now beguided by is thatanabundantfieldforinnovation awaitsus. what he has done as beginning steps, not as definitive answers. The message he wants to convey been asource ofextensive creative exchange inrecent years. philosophers withnoattentiontocurrent mainstream ones. has The mind-bodyconundrum conversation endedbefore itbegan. One couldforgive atherapistwhobelieves inavitalistenergyforfeelingthisparticular a voice totheotherside.In thebook,Heller frequently pleadsfordialogueamongapproaches. being treated with more of a play of argument and counterargument, and with some lending of the latter, andIdealism we needtoputbehindus.Period. Reich’s. He dismissesthemstraightaway:theyare aholdover from Idealism, asHeller defines tone.Hecertain ishard, heisharsh,ontheorieswhichpositsomeformofvitalistenergy, asdid forms oftechnique. avowed goalisjusttopresent hisown model,andtoshow how ithasroom andniches forall to another’s. unbiased descriptions.No positionistakenthatoneschool’s orgroup’s techniquesare superior techniques heisthoroughly non-sectarian,andthisisamajorsubjectinthebook.He gives buttheyare reservations, few minorones. See, forexample,Bermudez (2005). Bodypsychotherapists willalsobeinterested incurrent embodiedcognition At bottom,no. The samebackground assumption,inoneoranotherguise,isoftenbrought Of coursealegitimatereply wouldbethat Heller hadnoobligationto confront such

A separate matter is the philosophy excursions. It seemed odd to hear so much about past Personally Ihave nodisagreement withwhere Heller stands.But Icouldimaginetheissue This seemsmore thanreasonable. Perhaps however whatmighthave beendifferent isa andwithoutapology,At thesametimeheispartisan, abouttheoretical perspectives. His attitudes effective and partisan and appropriate.I found his mix of nonpartisan About I agree withsomuchinHeller’s bookitishard formetofindthingscriticize. Ihave a H eller is modest about his experiences with this new clinicaldirection.eller ismodestabouthisexperienceswiththisnew He portrays ______3 Why notsomereference tothis? IN QUESTOF 137 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 138 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis of person A. For example, anactionexpressivelya largernumberofwayspersonBmightperform equivalent totheaction it willbecountedasamatch. Whereas if display thesameaffective register. Ascowls andBsmiles? This isamismatch,notmatch. Raknes, created his own variant of exploring body awareness and body organizing. Later about itscontinued developments. Rolf Gronseth, astudent and thenaclosefriendofOla and thetechnicalinnovations ofAlPesso also. currents, butonlyinpassing.Imissedattentiontothetheoretical reflections of William Cornell (e.g., ScottBaum, Robert Hilton, Margit Koemeda, Heller Robert Lewis). refers toboth German-speaking countries. The otherispost-Lowen developments inbioenergetictherapy Tilman Moser). They have produced alotofwritingandthinking, andare well respected in psychoanalytic movement inAustria andGermany (e.g,Peter Geissler, Gunter Heisterkamp, many therapists,especiallyintheU.S.. untangle experientialstates,aswell asaninteresting approach todreams. He hasinfluenced said abouthismethodology. Keleman hasdeveloped valuable techniques forhelpingpatients have beenincluded.Here ismine. more of.... Poor Heller. Every singleoneofuswillhave herorhiswishlistaboutwhatcould reader aware ofwhatisleftout. Why didn’t healsomention...whysolittleabout...Iwanted much totheprocedural bodyrepertoire. interactional strategies of excessive control of the other person; and how they do so belongs very hardwho haditparticularly duringyear one,tend,duringyears twoandthree, todevelop attachment findingstakeusbeyond whatoccursinthefirst yearoflife. Forexample,children neediness. Here we findathemewithparticular resonance forbodypsychotherapy. Third, paradigm is about what happens when an infant, or small child, is in a state of strong emotional whereas Stern’s, Beebe’s, and Tronick’s paradigmsare aboutfacetoplay, theattachment by codingvideo-filmedinteraction. Hence itliessquarely in Heller territory. Second, because First, because much attachmentresearch Strange (i.e.,theAinsworth Situation) isalsodone for thereader. analogous qualities(forexample,bothmovement andvoice follow anascendingtrajectory). imitative movement. Or even AmightmakeamovementB avocal andthen expression with GEORGE DOWNINGPhD counts ascontingency. The timingisallandeverything. byquickly afterwards abehaviorofpersonB.If Ascowls and B (immediatelyafter)smiles,this the same. They are not. in thischapterasifStern’s “attunement,” Beebe’s “contingency,” and Tronick’s “matching” are would have wishedforalittlemore clarificationaboutonepoint,however. Heller oftentalks Stern’s attunementislike Tronick’s matching,buthaswidervariations. Stern’s codingreflects Since Heller hasso muchtosayabouttheOslo tradition,alittlemighthave beenadded I feltthattwomore betterexposition.One generalcurrents isthebody-oriented deserved I wouldhave likedtoseemore aboutStanley Keleman. He ismentioned,butnothing A paradox isthatprecisely becauseabooklike thiscovers somuchground itmakesthe I wouldhave likedaswell discussionofattachmentresearch. tohave seenatleastashort Heller knows allthis.My criticismisonlythatitcouldhave beenmademore transparent Tronick’s matching is more stringent. Beebe’s codingofcontingencyjustlooksatwhetherabehaviorpersonAisfollowed The chapteronparent-infant interactionresearch Ifoundoneofthefinestinbook. A scowls and Bscowls, or A might make an expressive movement and then A smiles and B smiles, or B’ s expressive event must not just follow A’ A is in neutral and B is in neutral, B might make an s, but also still thrivinggroup. students andformerpatientsofGronseth founded theOlso Characteranalytic Institute, atoday Fleischer, Hornstein, and Downing, 2006). ofa researchtherapy ispart context(von Einsiedel, Wortmann-Fleischer, Downing, and Jordan, 2012; Wortmann- 5 4 the cameraonatripod. infant. Normally Imyselfdon’t shootthevideo. The patienttakescare that,typically putting be made of thepatient interacting withsomeone else. Usually or a childor this isapartner points however. of Stern, Beebe, Tronick, andRochat. of potential.For background orientationIalsodraw, ashedoes,onthemicroanalytic research intoclinicalcontexts.Ishare hisconviction,too,thatherevideo intervention isadirection full directly. Sheldon, emergedfrom thisline ofspeculation.Reich andLowen occasionallyciteKreschmer late eighteenth and throughout the nineteenth centuries. Kreschmer (1931), who influenced Sheldon cameoutofalongertraditionsuchthinking. There existed bodytypetheoriesinthe Heller ofbodytypes.But actually mentionsSheldon theory andhis(earlytwentieth century) of itsown accord. But itcanbenoticed,steered, shaped. spontaneously emergesfrom herbody. ofit)comesonlinerapidly,What emerges(orapart half what one’s bodyisready for, andthelike.Aswell, thepatientcanlearnbettertoguide what typesofperceptionnew during interaction:betterawareness of the other, bettersensingof on whatIcall“embedding.” Icanonlytouchonithere. One canaidthepatienttodevelop goes beyond obvious gross-level behavioralacts? responding totheothereludesmyconscious awareness. So how toimplementchangewhich ofwhatmybodydoesintrackingand in thebookhassoeloquentlydescribed.Agoodpart and oftenmore isrequired. video-basedunderstandingtooperatingdifferentlynew intheworld,fine. But more ispossible how todoit. patient to change how she functions with others, and the video information will guide her in information? should bedonewiththisnew capacities, whatshewasfeelingandthinkingatthetime,etc.). What thencomesnext? What how sheorganizes herbodyininteraction,andoftenaboutmuchmore (e.g.,mentalization here, buttheycanbeeasilylearned.) You andthepatientteaseoutaseriesofinsights:about Or inaninstitutionalsetting there maybesomeoneonthe staffresponsible forfilming. Usually thisiswhenthe See Sletvold (2012)foramore detailedaccount. The first concerns intervention withvideo.The firstconcernsintervention As video Heller does,Iorganize thatashort His account of my approach is discerning and accurate. I do wish to clarify a couple of Heller isgenerous aboutmentioningmyown work. Likehim,Ihave begunintroducing And thenmaybealso...but enough. concepts of the body.A small item seemed absent from of the overview nineteenth century Fortunately there existgood answers to thisproblem. Collectively theyincorporate a focus The practicalhurdle isprecisely thecomplexityofinteractionalbodywhichHeller From theoptionsneedtobebroader. my pointofview If apatientcanmove atoncefrom a Heller speaksasifthenextstepsare straightforward. This self-encounterwillmotivate the In skills area session you look observation at useful the video with the patient. (Certain 4 5 ______IN QUESTOF 139 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 140 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis persons whoare ready foritIbelieve inusingthefullpanorama. contact withemotion.But thisisrelative tothesetting,andindeedspecificpatient. For contexts, andinsuchsettingsIdoencourageaslow andgradualbringingofapatientmore into teach apanoramaoftechniques,from low tomediumquitehighintensity. as ifwhatIadvocate isauseofsoft,low-intensity techniquesonly. This isnotright.Idoand must beofamore limitednature. GEORGE DOWNINGPhD reduced timefordeeperwork withtheprocedural repertoire, even body techniquescanbebrought in,toanextent(Downing etal,inpress). But there is The therapyhastobebrief. Interventionwithvideocanstillbeexcellent insuchcontexts,and repertoire isneeded.Embedding canprovide abridgebetween thetwo. repertoire, in the same and in other sessions. Video techniques can show where the widened procedures canwork intandem.Bodytechniquescanbeusedgenerallytowidentheprocedural Campbell, J.(2008a).Causationinpsychiatry. In Kendler, K.&Parnas, J.(Eds.), acontemporaryNew introduction. York:Bermudez, J.(2005).Philosophy ofpsychology: Baker, L.(2009).Non-reductive materialism.In McLaughlin, B.,Beckermann, A.,& REFERENCES and numerous articles. Bicocca University, Milan. He istheauthorof The Bodyandthe Word (publishedinGerman) development research teamsattheUniversity ofHeidelberg, theUniversity ofBologna,and clinical facultiesofSalpetriere Hospital andParis University VIII, andisamemberofinfant BIOGRAPHY changed ourconceptuallandscape.Few booksachieve that. It isawork withexcesses: sprawling,opinionated,attimeshard tofollow. No matter. He has Campbell, J.(2008b).Psychological causation withoutphysicalcausation.In Kendler, K. conducted parallel to oneanother(Downing, Buergin, Reck, andZiegenhain, 2008;Morlinghaus, 2012.) University of Heidelberg, are sessionswithbody-oriented traumawork often andsessionswithvideo intervention 6 The exception iswork withtrauma.For example,ataspecialunitfor hospitalized mothersandtheirinfantsatthe What Heller’s comments reflect in psychiatric is thatfrequently Iteach and supervise The otherpointofclarificationhastodowithbodytechniquesthemselves. Heller speaks Of course in some settings the therapist does not have the luxury ofanextendedtreatment.Of course insomesettingsthetherapistdoesnothave theluxury In otherwords, whenvideotechniquesare addedtoabodypsychotherapy, three separate Routledge. Oxford University Press. Walter, S.(Eds.), TheOxford handbookofphilosophymind(pp. 109-127).New York: Email: [email protected] George Downing, Ph.D., isanAmericanpsychologist livinginParis. He isonthe Michael Heller hasproduced abooklikenothingelseinthebodypsychotherapy literature. (pp. 184-195). Baltimore,Nosology Johns Maryland: Hopkins. & Parnas, J.(Eds.), Philosophical Issues inPsychiatry: Explanation, Phenomenology, and 215). Baltimore, Johns Maryland: Hopkins. Philosophical Issues in Psychiatry: Explanation, Phenomenology, (pp. and Nosology 196- ______6 andhencework withembedding

von Einsiedel, R., Wortmann-Fleischer, S.,Downing, G.,&Jordan, W. (2012).Fachliche, Thelan, E.&Smith, L.(1994).Adynamicsystemsapproach tothedevelopment ofcognition Sletvold, J.(2012). Training analyststowork withtheunconsciousembodiedexpressions: Shapiro, L.(2011).Embodied cognition.New York: Routledge. Robbins, P. primeronsituatedcognition.In &Aydede, (2009).Ashort Robbins, P. & Prinz, J.(2009).Is consciousnessembodied?In Robbins, P. &Aydede, M.,Eds., The Morlinghaus, K.(2012).Koerperorientierte Psychotherapie und Tanztherapie aufder Kretschmer, E.(1931).Physique andcharacter. New York: Routledge. Fuchs, T. (2010).Phenomenology andpsychopathology. In Gallagher, S.(Ed.), Handbook of Downing, G., Wortmann-Fleischer, S.,von Einsiedel, R.,Jordan, W., &Reck, C.(inpress). Downing, G.,Buergin D.,Reck, C.&Ziegenhain, U.(2008).Intersubjectivity andattachment: Wortmann-Fleischer, S., Hornstein, C.&Downing, G. (2006).Postpartale psychische Woodward, J.(2008b).Levels ofexplanationandvariable choice.In Kendler, K.&Parnas, Woodward, perspective. aninterventionist J.(2008a).Causeandexplanationinpsychiatry: Praxisleitfaden R., &Downing, G.(Eds.), Stationaere Eltern-Kind-Behandlung: eininterdisziplinaerer in Kliniken fuer Erwachsenenpsychiatrie. In Wortmann-Fleischer, S., von Einsiedel, undraeumlicheKriterierneinerstationaerenwirtschaftliche Mutter-Kind-Behandlung and action.Cambrdige, MA:MITPress. 429. theoretical underpinnings and practical guidelines. England: CambridgeUniversity Press. Aydede, M.,Eds., TheCambridge handbookofsituatedcognition(pp. 3-10).Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Cambridge handbookofsituatedcognition.(pp. 419-436).Cambridge,England: Leitfaden (157-161).Stuttgart, Germany: Kohlhammer. & Downing, G. (Eds.), Stationaere Muttter-Kind-Einheit inHeidelberg. In Worthmann-Fleischer, S.,von Einsiedel, R., andthecognitive sciences(pp. 547-573).Dordrecht,phenomenology Germany: Springer. DC: AmericanPsychiatric Association. Perry, B.,& Tronick, E.(Eds.), Infant andearly childhooodmentalhealth.Washington, Videotherapy with parents intervention with a psychiatric disorder. In Brandt, K., 278-295. Perspectives onanin-patientparent-infant case.Infant 29(3), mentalhealthjournal. Storungen. Ein interaktionszentrierter Therapieleitfaden. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. (pp. 216-235).Baltimore, Johns Maryland: Hopkins. J. (Eds.), Philosophical Issues inPsychiatry: Explanation, Phenomenology, and Nosology Phenomenology, (pp. 132-183).Baltimore, andNosology Johns Maryland: Hopkins. In Kendler, K.&Parnas, J.(Eds.), Philosophical Issues inPsychiatry: Explanation, (pp. 29-47).Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. Eltern-Kind-Behandlung: ein interdisziplinaere Psychoanalytic dialogues (22)4, 410- IN QUESTOF

141 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 142 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis DAVID BOADELLA BA,MEd follows: roots andcontextsofbodypsychotherapy. The bookcontainsseven mainsections,as an expansive compendiumofthephilosophical,biological,psychological andsociological 4. 1. Michael Heller’s bookhasbeenwidelypraisedforitsdepthofscholarship. new It is 6. 5. 3. 2.

with manyfine historicaldetails. and ofrelated schools from that period. This periodisdealtwithin great length Boyesen gives himastrong interest intheOslo periodofReichian vegetotherapy Johnsen, Gerda Boyesen andLisbethMarcher. Heller’s personaltrainingwithGerda concentrates onAadelBulow Hansen, Berit Bunkan, Trygve Braatoy, Lillemor and Nic Waal continuedtoinfluenceawholegenerationoftherapists. Here Heller one wasthelegacyheleftinOslo, inspired by which,therapistssuchasOla Raknes America. There were two main developments in neo-Reichian body psychotherapy; ofbody psychotherapy after Reichto dealwiththehistory leftOslo andmoved to by Reich’s secondpartner, Elsa Lindenberg. ofthischapterattemptsThe lastpart Oslo andrelated Scandinavianbodytherapies asdeveloped by Elsa Gindler and He provides much valuable information surrounding of vegetotherapy the birth in of Wilhelmfull story Reich inhisScandinavianperiod, whichisdealtwithatlength. information onenergyflow, tissues, respiration, pulsationandorganismicvitality. M O also laterinBerlin. Reich and Otto Fenichel, during the time when Reich was stilllivingin Vienna and ofthischapterbeginswithastudytheinteractionsbetween Freud,The lastpart relationship withthebodyandhis interactions withAdler, Ferenczi andGroddeck. and thebody. This explores aspectsofFreud’s manynew complexandambivalent Chapter 5,at105pagesinlength,detailsthehistor Berlin. He viewpoint. alsowritesaboutenergyandspiritualityfrom hisparticular body therapyasacomplementtopsychotherapy, asitdeveloped inScandinaviaand Here, Heller gives clearinformationabout AntonMesmer andtheearlyroots of This isfollo A sectiononbiologyandneur psychotherapy. shown tobehighlyrelevant totheunderstandingofancientroots ofbody Pythagoras, whowasoneofPlato’s maininspirations,andwhosework Ihave understanding ofthe links between body and mind. Here I personally missed Spinoza, follows, outliningHeller’s ofthesethinkers’ view relevance forthe A fascinatingphilosophicalchapterdealingwithS first 75pages. A detailedo nly inchapter6,thelongestbookat118pages, doesHeller writethe y own connectionstoOla RaknesandtheScandinavian legacyofReich are Body Psychotherapy: History, Concepts,Methods W. W. Norton&Company(August20,2012) wed by achapterof84pagesonhypnosis,gymnasticsandrelaxation. verview ofFarverview Easternapproaches tothebodyandmindtakesup A Review of Michael C. Heller’s A Review ofMichaelC.Heller’s David BoadellaBA,MEd ology, 100pageslong,gives agreat dealofvaluable

ocrates, Plato, and Descartes, y ofpsychoanalysis, libido, to makecontroversial interpretations that express ordogmaticassertions hissubjective him. However, Heller is a man of strong personal opinions who does not hesitate at times different leaves onthetrees ofbodypsychotherapy. on thetrees makingitdifficulttoseethewood. Heller gives incredible detail aboutsome minimal orsuperficialtreatment ofother valuable directions ofbodypsychotherapy. Heller ashesinglesoutthisschoolforhighpraise,injuxtapositiontohissometimes this therapist described in such detail. It also highlights the personal preference of Michael psychotherapy school—thatofGeorge Downing. It isgoodsoseetheexcellent work of processes inthebodyandrelational interactions. theory, ortothemonumentalwork ofAllanSchore, whowrote somuchaboutenergetic His historicalresearch isfascinatingwhenhe follows themesthat excite himorinterest It issaid thatdetailedresearch cansometimesleadto theproblem oftoomuchfocus Within thischapterthere are 26pagesofstrong body validation foroneparticular It was surprisingto see almostnoreference, anywhere in the book,toattachment 7.

Beebe and Tronick.Beebe into bodysignallingbetween infantsandbabies,highlightingthe work of Stern, to psychotherapy. This is packed with valuable information about video research movedLewis, awayfrom forwards thistendencyinvaluable ways. out thatmanysecond-generationtherapistsfrom thisdirection, suchasRobert lead tore-traumatisation inpatientswithweak ego-structures. He doesnotpoint valid criticismsofLowen’s over-emphasis oncatharsis,whichhasbeenshown may Alexander Lowen, oneofthethree co-foundersofbioenergeticanalysis.He makes that developed from thattime.Here Heller devotes most ofhisattentionto Reich’s work in the American period, and major body-psychotherapeutic directions of BodyPsychotherapy. which wasafoundationforCourtenay Young’s andDevelopment book,TheHistory to theextremely pioneeringwork ofPierre important Janet inbodypsychotherapy, relation toconnectingthepsyche tothebody. There isalsonoreference whatsoever work ofDonald Winnicott, inEngland, whofirstusedtheterm “grounding” in backwards ratherthanmoving forwards. brief,schools are very even minimal,andalsoprimarilyseethem as stepping briefly.mentioned, but only very Heller’s remarks aboutotherpost-bioenergetic The secondpar other methods. and cognitive reflection. Thismethodnever was,as Heller states,asynthesisof psychosomatic aspectsofthesethree germlayers: motoricaction,emotionalaffect Brown andJerome Liss. The word “Biosynthesis” isbasedontheintegrationof organism. This modelinturninspired, indifferent ways,Gerda Boyesen, Malcolm germ-layers inthedevelopingstudy ofthephysiologythree primary not derived from William Sheldon, asHeller states,butfrom adetailedorganismic Biosynthesis, Firstly, modelof“life-streams” theembryological inBiosynthesis was also brieflymentioned. Unfortunately, Heller gives inaccurateinformationabout The finalchapterof84pagesisonnon-v I The life mportant omissionsfrom thischapterincludethelackofreferencemportant tothetherapeutic ’s work ofonethemajorbodypsychotherapists, Stanley Keleman, is t ofthischapterhassomethingtosayaboutthedevelopment of erbal communicationresearch inrelation A REVIEWOF 143 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 144 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis Evolution ofhis Work, amongotherbooks. HeReich: istheauthorofBefreite The Lebensenergie(translatedasLifestreams) and Wilhelm doctoratefrom theOpen Internationalhonorary University Medicine. ofComplementary &Characterbeen publishingthe journal Energy since1970.In 1995,hewasawarded an He holdslectures He worldwide,andistheauthorofnumerous booksand articles. has is thefounderofBiosynthesis. He hasspentmanyyears inpsychotherapeutic practice. education, literature andpsychology. He istrainedincharacter-analyticvegetotherapy and BIOGRAPHY on theissuesIraiseandthenlookforpersonalanswers.” Michael Heller concludes hisencyclopaedia with the sentence:“I advise the reader tofocus ofresearch,his overview hisphilosophicalinterpretations andhispersonalopinions. wants toachieve. Rather, hisbookisamassive encyclopaedia ofhisscientificknowledge, gives This unfortunately it a fundamentalist flavour, which is the opposite of what Heller “idealistic”. showed thatallschoolsofpsychotherapy containaspectswhichHeller wouldjudgetobe Psychotherapy (Vol onEssenceandGround, 2,no1)in1998,myarticle where I the transpersonalaspectsofpsychotherapy waspublishedintheInternational Journal of as“idealistic”criticises theseviewpoints andtherefore unscientific.Astrong defenceof in Reich’s conceptions,Biodynamic Psychology, Biosynthesis andCore Energetics. He positions are clearlymine”. subject, sothatthereader whoreads thisbookfrom beginningtoendwillnotice that some objective, even thoughinhisfinalwords hestates:“Ihave takenclearoptionsoneach because ofhisfinelydetailedandimmense research, thathisopinionsandconclusionsare andconceptsthanonmethods.Hellerhis bookstronger onhistory gives theimpression, oftheforestand whatisnot,hisview intheendisanintenselypersonalone. This makes as largelyirrelevant. This meansthatwhenitcomestojudgmentsaboutwhatis“scientific” on someofthetrees inthatforest, andtounder-focusonothers,whichhecanthendismiss are notnecessarilytrue. viewpoint. by hismassiveThese mayappeartobesupported quotationsandreferences but DAVID BOADELLA BA,MEd David BoadellaB.A.,M.Ed., D.Sc.hon,psychotherapist SPV, UKCP andECP, studied According toPeter Levine,Heller’s bookis“the bible ofbody-orientedpsychotherapy”. Heller writesatlengthabouttranspersonalaspectsofbodypsychotherapy, asfound Thus, Heller’s approach totheforest ofbodypsychotherapy leadshimtooverly focus   www.issuu.com/SomacPsychot F ree Online www.usabp.org and Cung-edge research and res researchCung-edge and from topics relevant Clinically     Summer Conferences  Embodiment Embodiment   ources reviewed. reviewed. ources Mulcultural Impact on Psychotherapy on Psychotherapy Impact Mulcultural preconcepon on. on. preconcepon psychotherapy. field of body in the immersed forand people by interviews and In-depth arcles herapyToday www.eabp.org Military Mental Health Health Mental Military        

The Self in Psychotherapy Psychotherapy in Self The       145 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis 146 International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis www.ijp.org.uk viacreditcardorPayPal ‘Subscription’pageofIJPwebsite Pleasesubscribeto: Bookreviews Criticaltone,Theory,Casestudies,Research,Readers’forum, IncludescontributionsinotherEuropeanlanguages PublishedthreetimesayearinEnglish www.europsyche.org INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF Journal oftheEuropeanAssociationforPsychotherapy PSYCHOTHERAPY

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Tb a le of Contents:

4 Editorial Jacqueline A. Carleton, PhD

ARTICLES

7 Efficiency of Psychotherapy Involving Altered States of Consciousness: A Call to Reconsider Our Spiritual Stance at the Clinic Rachel Shalit, BA

24 Gender as a Relational Somatic Experience: How Psychotherapists Participate in Gendering Clients (An Experiential Conversation) Gary Glickman, MA, LMFT

45 Nina Bull: The Work, Life and Legacy of a Somatic Pioneer Daniel J. Lewis, MPH, MA

59 In Support Of Body Psychotherapy Will Davis

74 The Ever Changing Constancy of Body Psychotherapy Robert Hilton, PhD

94 Hyporesponse: The Hidden Challenge in Coping With Stress Merete Holm Brantbjerg

119 Anatomy Lesson Salita S. Bryant, PhD, MFA

BOOK REVIEWS

128 A Translator’s Journey: A Retrospective Marcel A. Duclos MTh, MEd, LCMHC, LADC, LCS

132 In Quest of a Theory for Body Psychotherapy: A Review of Michael Heller’s Body Psychotherapy: History, Concepts,

and Methods e uropean George Downing, PhD a ssociation for b ody- 142 A Review of Michael C. Heller’s p sychotherapy Body Psychotherapy: History, Concepts, Methods (2012) David Boadella, BA, MEd EABP

Journal (ISSN 2169-4745)