"Bioenergetic Therapy: An Introduction for Social Workers"

by Judith Silvan, LICSW of Cambridge, MA, and Laurie Ure, LICSW of Gloucester.

When sitting with a client, the Bioenergetic Therapist’s focus goes beyond the spoken words, to notice the sound of the client’s voice, the expression of their hands, the pace of their breath, and an overall awareness of their body. Interventions often begin with asking the client to bring their attention to their body, and to feel their pelvis on the chair and the rug with the bottom of their feet. These simple suggestions shift their focus and allow something different to emerge – a feeling of sadness held in the heart, for example, or an awareness of pain in the gut, or perhaps underlying anger. 

Bioenergetics, a mind-body psychotherapy, began in the 1930s with Alexander Lowen, M.D., who worked with Wilhelm Reich. Using Freudian Psychoanalytic theory and treatment as a springboard, both Reich and Lowen added direct work with the body through studied movements and ways of unblocking cellular strictures, to conventional Psychoanalysis. Lowen eventually developed a method of psychotherapy which weaves together both an analytic and an energetic point of view into one fabric. Lowen’s theory  suggests that the Bioenergetic Therapist’s job is as much seeing functional patterns in the patient’s body and how it is held, as it is to listen to the words spoken during the therapeutic hour. He theorized that people developed blocks or ‘body armors’, which have solidified into a mixture of characteristic ways of holding of their bodies and behaving in the world. These ‘character-types’ survive behaviorally and manifest in our bodies through how a person was cared for, and then developed psychosexually, from infancy onwards.

As the therapist works with the client to bring awareness to the body, “grounding” is introduced, which is a fundamental concept of this therapy. The therapist suggests to the client to begin to feel their feet on the floor while sitting. Then, in standing, the client is taught to keep their feet beneath their hips and to press their weight downwards toward the ground, increasing the capacity to feel their legs, feet and pelvis.  This contradicts the strong pull to “live in one’s head” or “fly by the seat of one’s pant’s,” as is the usual lifestyle in today’s culture. Through being more grounded, most people experience an ability to decrease anxiety, a stronger sense of self-assertion (as in “standing your ground”), and an increased sense of being in reality.

As the client uses Bioenergetic Psychotherapy to share their story and become more grounded in their body, we gradually work with them to open up blocks in their breathing patterns and to deepen their respirations. Often this leads to a release of strong affect – i.e. crying, despair, indignation - as the physical holding patterns begin to soften.  The client has the opportunity for a fuller discharge of emotions, while remaining in a grounded state in the safety of a highly skilled therapeutic holding environment.

Bioenergetic treatment fits together beautifully with contemporary trauma theory, which enunciates how intricately connected the body is with any experienced psychological trauma. It is a wonderful treatment choice for people who suffer from somatic symptoms: for example, tightness in the chest in conjunction with panic attacks, compulsive eating concurrent with restless or empty feelings, or low energy resulting from fear of one’s own aggression.

Like most therapists, we work with clients who lack full sexual pleasure or positive romantic lives. The Bioenergetic point of view is to connect the sexual or romantic disappointments to functions of energetic blocks in the body; gradually they will likely begin to experience more sexual satisfaction within themselves.  The ability to feel loved and to express their own feelings of love, and the ability for spontaneity and pleasure in their lives often occurs as the body begins to integrate these cellular changes. The changes are usually gradual, subtle but profound, and can be measured by both feelings of psychological well-being, as well as feelings of fuller energy and physiological aliveness.

Bioenergetics fits in well with Social Work philosophy in that it extends across bridges of race, economics and cultures, as all human beings have the commonality of living in our bodies. All people respond to their childhoods and to their present environments within a body context; body experiences, and their healing, thus becomes in some ways, a universal paradigm. Family, couples and group therapy, all have a place in Bioenergetics as well. This philosophy and treatment approach can work with anyone or any group; a skilled Bioenergetic Therapist will take the energetic point of view when approaching a system whether it be with an individual or group, young or old.

Along with individual therapy, this method lends itself to group work. Bioenergetic exercise classes can be an adjunct to Bioenergetic psychotherapy, or enjoyed by anyone interested in the expanding the mind-body connection within themselves. The classes are taught by trained Bioenergetic Therapists, and have a focus on ‘being’ rather than ‘doing,’ and on becoming more fully grounded, experiencing more physical aliveness, and gaining awareness of body feelings.

The training to become a Certified Bioenergetic Therapist (CBT) involves an intensive 4+ year program, offered 1 weekend per month over the course of these 4 years.  It emphasizes working deeply on oneself by working through the chronic tensions in one’s own body, along with learning Bioenergetic theory and practicing these techniques.  Most trainees experience it as a complex and rewarding journey leading to greater self-awareness and self-respect, naturally gaining a more profound ability to help others.

The MSBA (MA Society for Bioenergetic Analysis) offers workshops, several weekly Bioenergetic Exercise classes, as well as an Internationally Certified Training Program in Bioenergetic Therapy. Most of the classes are held at 269 Washington Street, in Union Square, Somerville. Call 617-876-3652 for therapy referrals, more information on upcoming Winter/ Spring, 2005 Workshops, an exercise class schedule, the May, 2005 Cape Cod IIBA International Conference, or the next Training Program.  See www.bioenergetic-therapy.com for more information on the International Institute of Bioenergetic Analysis.

Judith Silvan, LICSW of Cambridge, MA, and Laurie Ure, LICSW of Gloucester, MA, are both CBT Candidates and have private practices in Bioenergetics and Psychotherapy.