BIODYNAMIC BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY

Biodynamic Psychotherapy was developed by Gerda Boyesen (1922 - 2005) and as with other forms of Body Psychotherapy it has its roots in the work of Wilhelm Reich. The term Biodynamic refers to the life- energy within each of us and its overarching aim is to reconnect the client to this aliveness and their core or essence. 

Biodynamic work addresses the whole person, it is a process-oriented approach that works on the mind, body, and energetic level.  

Biodynamic Psychotherapy invites an exploration of our perceptions both of our internal world and of the outside world. It is an opportunity to look at how we relate to ourselves,  our environment and other people. This process can facilitate a deeper understanding of past and present feelings or circumstances and an awareness of how they may be impacting life now. Our bodies hold our life stories, therefore including the body in psychotherapy supports people in connecting to themselves and others. 

Healthy self-regulation means that we move through phases of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity during our day to day lives, experiencing the full range of emotions without being inhibited by our defences. However, we can get stuck at any point in this cycle for example being over charged or shut down. If this becomes chronic it can lead to ill health and patterns of behaviour that may be unhelpful. 

Biodynamic work involves exploring these patterns, bringing them into our awareness so that they can be looked at, understood, integrated, completed, or changed. The therapist and client work together in an atmosphere of curiosity and acceptance to invite a natural movement towards health and wholeness.  

The flow of the sessions, what happens within them and the depth of the work depends on what emerges and what feels safe at any given moment. Sessions may include talking, movement, touch, imagery, breath work, tuning in to the body, and following bodily sensations associated with emotions or memories.