 |
The
Bioenergetic Analysis Approach
 |
SOME of history
Bioenergetic analysis is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Dr.
Alexander Lowen around 1950. Having been impacted by Wilhelm Reich, who
had been his therapist and mentor and who, in his time, had been one of
Freud’s disciple, Alexander Lowen not only pursued Reich’s work but he
also expanded on it. Among other things, he developed the concept of
grounding and he designed various exercises to help soften muscular
tensions in order to allow fuller emotional expression.
What
Is Bioenergetic Analysis
Bioenergetic analysis is a form of psychotherapy that combines body work
(postures, movements) and verbal, analytical work (character analysis).
It postulates that all of us had to develop a defense system while
growing up, in order to survive the painful situations we had to face
during childhood and adolescence. |
This defense system is not only structured in our psyche in the form of
defense mechanisms, but is also reflected in our body in the form of chronic
tensions that limit our vitality, our mobility as well as our expressive
capacity.
Alexander Lowen believed like his mentor Wilhelm Reich that a holistic
therapeutic intervention should not only include the body, but even consider
it as a gateway to the deeper layers of the psyche and as a major tool to
work on the resolution of unconscious conflicts.
Important
Aspects in Bioenergetic Analysis Therapy
|
—
Breathing
As we know, deep, natural breathing
allows us to re-energize. Unfortunately, most often, our breathing is restricted
when it is not altogether impaired due to chronic tension that gradually became
structured in our body as we were growing up.
Bioenergetic analysis devotes much
attention to the respiratory function. It works to restore this natural
function in order to help the person reconnect with and express repressed
emotions that may have caused him/her to originally to contract certain parts
of his/her body in order to keep those emotions at bay.
|
 |
 |
—
Grounding
Grounding is related to a person’s capacity
to feel his/her connection with the ground, which is related to the capacity to
be in touch with reality. Often times, our connection with the ground is
precarious. We hold ourselves “up”, tightening up our jaw and tensing our
shoulders, in an effort to “stay on top of things” instead of connecting with
the ground, with the reality of the situation.
Bioenergetic analysis works to help a person regain
a sense of balance and confidence by helping him/her to connect with his/her
center of gravity. This helps the person see a situation in
a more realistic perspective and enables him/her to tap
into her creative resources in order to face life’s challenges instead of
avoiding them |
|
Basic
Therapeutic Goal
in Bioenergetic Analysis
The goal of bioenergetic analysis is primarily to help increase a
person’s vitality, expressiveness, as well as enhance one’s capacity to
enjoy life.
To that effect, bioenergetic analysis devotes a lot of attention to the
energetic circulation in the body. First, its focuses on helping a
person become aware of muscular tension and blocks that interfere with
the free flow of energy in her body. Then, with the use of postures as
well as expressive movements, it seeks to soften the tension and to
dissolve the blocks in order to restore vitality on the somatic as well
as on the emotional level.
|
 |
How
does a bioenergetic analysis session unfolds?
At the beginning of a session, the person is invited to focus on what she
feels and on the themes she wants to bring to the session.
 |
 |
Then, after a moment of verbal interaction, a bioenergetic analyst may
propose to do body work. This kind of body work consists of postures or
movements that are designed to help the person connect feelings with
body sensations. Body work is actually what enables the person to become
aware of where she is unconsciously « holding » her emotions. In turn,
this awareness will allow him/her to open up to a new range of
expression. Analytical work always accompanies body work, so that the
work is never purely somatic nor is it merely a collection of exercises
done at random. |
Bow
position designed
to open up breathing |
Bending
over position designed
to enhance grounding |
|
| The drawings are taken from The Way to Vibrant Health, by Alexander and Leslie
Lowen |
The analytical dimension of the work is designed to help a person deepen her
awareness of what is going on for her on an emotional level, and to give
meaning to these experiences within the context of her personal history.
Thus, the person will gradually process and integrate whatever is
experienced during the sessions and will develop creative new responses to
the challenges he/she faces in his/her life. |
