Body psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is above all verbal, based on the principle that people can be healed with words. Yet the body is affected by affect and emotion, and can also be used to improve morale and the inner mind. This is where body psychotherapy comes in. There are many types of therapy that use the body as a mediator, and they come in many different forms. All aim to achieve a better integration of the physical and the psychological. By addressing your body, this kind of therapy tries to alter the reciprocal relationship between body and mind.
The idea of addressing the mind via the body might seem strange at first, but it helps, in a completely involuntary way in the beginning, to find the answers you’re looking for. Addressing the body in a ritualised, safe way can feel like a pleasant regression or a situation that links to an experience in the past. In confidence, you can safely embark on personal growth. The sessions create relaxing conditions that enable you to open up to others and particularly to yourself. It can bring about rediscovery of the body and of feelings. 

Different body therapies
Relaxation methods practised by physiotherapists aim to reduce psychological tension by teaching you how to relax your muscles.
Schultz’s autogenic training teaches you how to relax your muscles and concentrate on sensations. You are exposed to forgotten sensations that give you control of your body back.
Massage relaxes the body, releasing tension that’s often linked to stress, particularly in the back and neck. Alleviating tension improves well-being and is an excellent aid to personal growth. 
Among the massage methods is shiatsu, which involves applying pressure on certain parts of the body.
Hydrotherapy uses a water approach with a shower or hot tub. Powerful or gentle jets of hot or cold water are applied for varying lengths of time to give a calming, energising effect.
Bioenergy involves exercises that are similar to yoga and aims to reduce tension and liberate blocked emotions.
Sophrology alters the state of consciousness but without reaching a state of hypnosis. The patient is placed in sensorial isolation to awaken the imagination, which contributes to mental balance.
Reflexology is based on the principle that all parts of the body are represented by reflex points on the feet. These points are massaged to release tension.
Vegetotherapy allows the patient to experience and describe what’s happening in his body, learn to experience, express and control feeings and emotions. This work also involves working with language and transfer, the central element of therapeutic work.

Who is it for?

Body therapy targets stress and anxiety as well as all their various physical consequences. These techniques are particularly suitable for people who suffer with inhibitions, relational difficulties, low self-esteem and physical problems. They are equally effective for people with high blood pressure, psychosomatic problems, mild depression or sexual problems.

 

What happens during a session?
A session is often preceded by an introductory meeting where you’re given information on the protocol and an outline of what happens in the session. A session typically lasts between half an hour and an hour. What takes place will depend on the technique but no matter what kind of treatment is given, you have to trust the practitioner. Therapy should take place in a safe environment, and the therapist should have a gentle touch, be attentive to your reactions and respect the distance you set. The practitioner pays close attention to non-verbal signs, listening to the unconscious that speaks in and via the body. As a rule, there is time at the end of the session to read through notes and share thoughts on the experience.

How much does it cost?
The cost varies, depending on the type of treatment and the practitioner. While some psychotherapy is available on the NHS, body psychotherapy generally isn’t.
An average session costs between £30 and £70. In general, it’s advisable to have one session per week over several months.