Somatic psychology

Somatic psychology, also referred to as body psychotherapy, is an interdisciplinary field involving the study of therapeutic and holistic approaches to the body, somatic experience, and the embodied self. The word "somatic" comes from the ancient Greek "somat" (body). The word "psychology" comes from the ancient Greek "psyche" (breath, soul hence mind) and "logia" (study).

Wilhelm Reich was the first to bring the body into psychoanalysis, and to physically touch the client. [Daniels, W. Reich and his influence retrieved from [http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/daniels/reichlecture.html] on May 20, 2007 ] The only reference to the body in psychotherapy had previously been physiological and neurophysiological. Some credit Reich as a singlehanded founder of somatic psychology (though he called his early work character analysis). Many body-oriented psychotherapies trace their origins to Reich, yet in mainstream psychology his work remains marginalised. [Daniels, W. PSYCHOLOGY'S STRANGE BLACKOUT OF REICH'S WORK in 'W. Reich and his influence' op cit]

However, there are earlier practitioners for example, the Persian physician Avicenna (980 to 1037 CE) who performed psychotherapy only by observing the movement of the patient's pulse as he listened to their anguish. [ Afzal Iqbal & Arberry A. J., 'The Life and Work of Jalaluddin Rumi' page 94] This is reminiscent of both traditional Tibetan medicine and current energy therapies that employ tapping points on a meridian. Some writers describe 'body as slow mind' [Friedman L Moon S 'being bodies - buddhist women on the paradox of embodiment Shmabhala 1997] and this has coincided with research into embodiment and consciousness, and an unconscious mind that 'speaks' through the language of body. Dance therapy reflects this approach and is included in the field of somatic psychology. [Meekums, B. (2002). Dance Movement Therapy: a Creative Psychotherapeutic Approach. London: Sage Chodorow, J. (1991).] [Dance Therapy and Depth Psychology. London Lewis, P. (1984; 1986)] . [Theoretical Approaches in Dance Movement Therapy. Vols I & II, USA: Kendall/Hunt. Payne, H. (ed). (2006).] [Dance Movement Therapy: Theory, Research and Practice (2nd edn). Tavistock / Routledge]

Principles

The primary relationship addressed in somatic psychology is the person's relation to and empathy with their own felt body [Gendlin, E 'Focusing-oriented Psychotherapy' Guilford Press 1996] and bodily sense of self. [Willberg P.,'Soma psychology, soma sensitivity' retrieved from [http://www.meaningofdepression.com/somapsych.pdf.] May 17 2007 ]

It is based on a belief, grounded in ancient principles of vitalism, that energy will bring healing to the affected parts if sufficient awareness is directed there. Some somatic practitioners believe they are working with a universal human energy field (perhaps as a metaphor of all of the foregoing principles).

However, such principles of bioenergy are not supported by quantum physics. [Stefanatos, J. 1997, 'Introduction to Bioenergetic Medicine', Shoen, A.M and S.G. Wynn, Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine: Principles and Practices, Mosby-Yearbook, Chicago] The laws of physics in fact limit the popular view that quantum mechanics operates at the levels claimed by somatic practitioners. Moreover, it is not likely that an infinite, continuous field of energy linking all of humanity exists. [ Stenger,V.J. 'The Energy Fields of Life' retrieved from [http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Medicine/Biofield.html] May 21, 2007 ]

Applications

A wide variety of techniques are used in somatic psychotherapy including sound, touch, mirroring, movement and breath. An individual records life experience during a pre- and nonverbal periods differently than during a verbalized and personal narrative period. Working with the client's implicit knowing [Rolf 'Two Theories of Tacit and Implicit Knowledge' retrieved from [http://philosophyandinformatics.org/cms/images/AutumnMeeting2004/rolf_slides.pdf] May 20 2007] [Knowledge (Implicit Explicit) Philosophical aspects retrieved from [http://philrsss.anu.edu.au/~mdavies/papers/implicit.pdf] May 20 2007] of these early experiences, somatic psychology includes the non-verbal qualities that mark most human communication, especially in the first years of life. This understanding of consciousness, communication and mind-body language challenges some traditional applications of the talking cure. [Wilberg, P 'From Psycho-somatics to Soma-semiotics' New Gnosis Publications 2003]

Practitioners in this field believe psychological, social, cultural and political forces support the splitting and fragmentation of the mind-body unity. These pressures affect an individual’s mental, biological, and relational health. For example, the writer Alice Miller's in her recent book 'The Body Never Lies' [ Miller A. 'The Body Never Lies: The Lingering Effect of Cruel Parenting' W. W. Norton & Company (May 2, 2005) ISBN-10: 0393060659 ISBN-13: 978-0393060652] says, "Ultimately the body will rebel. Even if it can be temporarily pacified with the help of drugs, cigarettes or medicine, it usually has the last word because it is quicker to see through self-deception than the mind. We may ignore or deride the messages of the body, but is rebellion demands to be heeded because its language is the authentic expression of our true selves and of the strength of our vitality".

Somatic psychologists tend to bring body, body processes, and body experience into the foreground of psychotherapy practice.

Critique

1. The level of evidence required in psychology and pharmacology for an efficacious treatment is a fraction of that required in physical sciences. 'What criterion', of evidence Stenger asks, 'should be applied to those studies that claim to show some therapy works, when that therapy violates well established scientific principles, such as the conventional laws of physics?'. [ Stenger,V.J. 'The Energy Fields of Life' retrieved from [http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Medicine/Biofield.html] May 21, 2007 ]

2. The concept of body is socially constructed. What has been considered the limits of body has changed significantly throughout the history of medicine and likely will continue to change as mechanisitic principles underlying mind and body are disclosed by the scientific method.

3. The flaws of a theory of vitalism, which gives rise to models of bioenergy in many culture for example, qi and prana, are well argued here as a form of Neurotheology.

4. Wilhlem Reich's pre-eminence as founder of the modern field is open to question. His teacher and the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud explored the role of body in neurosis as well as undertaking research on the therapeutic effects of cocaine (beginning on April 24, 1884 when he ordered his first gram of cocaine from the local apothecary). [Freud and Cocaine -- The Deal retrieved from [http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/cocaine/] May 22, 2007] [Freud and cocaine: [http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/cocaine/] ] Freud also showed an interest in the nasal reflex neurosis and in vital periodicity, explored during a significant relationship with Wilhelm Fliess between 1887 and 1902. [ Chiriac J translated by Mihaela Cristea retrieved from [http://www.freudfile.org/fliess.html] May 22, 2007] Wilhelm Fliess believed that the nose was the centre of all human illness through its structural deviations to the passage of breath. [ Louis Breger. Freud: darkness in the midst of vision. John Wiley & Sons, 2000] [Dominic Streatfeild. Cocaine: An unauthorized biography. Dunne Books, June 2002] Freud ordered all his correspondence with Fliess be destroyed. Princess Marie Bonaparte ensured that it wasn't.

5. In addition the early history of clinical psychology points to somatic psychotherapy first practiced in Persia around 930 CE.

ee also

* Mind-Body Intervention
* Expressive therapy
* Eco-somatics
* Health applications and clinical studies of meditation
* Psychoneuroimmunology
* Hakomi

References

External links

* [http://www.sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org Sensorimotor Psychotherapy]