Body Psychotherapy works on the assumption that the body and mind are functionally united and therefore should be treated as such in the context of therapeutic work. Traumatic or difficult experiences can impact the body, as well as the mind, in a profound way. In addition to feeling low or anxious, you may also feel disconnected from your body, ashamed of it or you may be experiencing physical symptoms, such as restlessness, insomnia, fatigue, pain or addiction. Working with talking therapy as well as body-oriented techniques can help to make better sense of conscious memories in relation to what is happening in the body, paving the way for long lasting change.
An integrative approach to Body Psychotherapy involves a wide range of therapeutic techniques, from breathing exercises, guided movement and visualisation to using props and art materials as a means of expression. While there are strong creative elements in Body Psychotherapy, it is also grounded in 75 years of research in the fields of biology, neurophysiology, developmental psychology, neonatology and perinatal studies to name a few. This means that no one session is the same and your individual needs can be catered to in the most informed and flexible way.
Through these techniques, I see it as my role to help you to connect to your own inner resources and capacity to heal, as well as finding out what you really need from your relationships and circumstances to support you. This connectedness can lead to renewed hopefulness and pleasure taken from everyday life, as well as an optimistic view of the future. To support this process, I may also recommend exercises to try at home and offer lifestyle advice.
Psychotherapy sessions typically last for 50 minutes. My fee is £75 per session.
To find out more about Body Psychotherapy and see how others have experienced it, you can watch this short video from the European Association for Body Psychotherapy (EABP)