The Body in psychotherapy
There is a need to justify the inclusion of psychotherapy into this discussion of the body. Psychotherapy which focuses on individuals and acknowledges societal influences as external, is at odds with the sociological perspective which tends to look away from the individual. There is, thus, a dualistic problem of how individual subjectivity can be located within a sociological framework and conversely, how sociological influences are contained within psychotherapy. As Tolman (1994) suggests, “the end result is that the human subject is either totally subjectified or totally objectified, becoming abstracted and isolated in either case.” Psychotherapy does though offer some important insights into how we may come to experience our bodies.
One particular aspect of interest is the notion of preverbal communication; that is the mode of communication employed prior to cognitive process of verbalisation. This preverbal communication is predominantly body-orientated and therefore becomes a means of being able to understand the world via our bodies. It is primarily transmitted via the body, be it as screams, posture, movement, or the contraction of muscle. We feel the world via our body, and then begin to understand and adjust to the environment. There is a link with the phenomenology of perception and preverbal communication since it is the body which is first able to perceive the world and initially the communication with the word is preverbal. Various branches of psychotherapy acknowledge the importance of preverbal communication; those that do include Reichian vegetotherapy and gestalt.
It is these therapies which advocate the use of touch within therapy. This is a major issue within psychotherapy and the prevailing ideology is to avoid physical contact. Touch is considered to evoke sexual feelings and questions arise as to whether the touch involved is the need of the therapist or that of the client. As a consequence, there is a fear of physical contact within the therapy world. However, the controversial debate on touch and its appropriate place in therapy also demonstrates that the body is an important part of the world. The touch taboo is the means of excluding the body, but at the same time, an implicit acknowledgement of its existence.
Psychotherapy acknowledges body process but tends to stand back from a deeper understanding, almost in fear of the repercussions that such work engenders.
The significance of addressing psychotherapy is the somatic process which may be being expressed as preverbal communication. It is well known and observed that psychotherapy clients frequently exhibit somatic symptoms. However, within psychotherapy it is the verbalisation of feelings which is paramount.
There is a need to justify the inclusion of psychotherapy into this discussion of the body. Psychotherapy which focuses on individuals and acknowledges societal influences as external, is at odds with the sociological perspective which tends to look away from the individual. There is, thus, a dualistic problem of how individual subjectivity can be located within a sociological framework and conversely, how sociological influences are contained within psychotherapy. As Tolman (1994) suggests, “the end result is that the human subject is either totally subjectified or totally objectified, becoming abstracted and isolated in either case.” Psychotherapy does though offer some important insights into how we may come to experience our bodies.
One particular aspect of interest is the notion of preverbal communication; that is the mode of communication employed prior to cognitive process of verbalisation. This preverbal communication is predominantly body-orientated and therefore becomes a means of being able to understand the world via our bodies. It is primarily transmitted via the body, be it as screams, posture, movement, or the contraction of muscle. We feel the world via our body, and then begin to understand and adjust to the environment. There is a link with the phenomenology of perception and preverbal communication since it is the body which is first able to perceive the world and initially the communication with the word is preverbal. Various branches of psychotherapy acknowledge the importance of preverbal communication; those that do include Reichian vegetotherapy and gestalt.
It is these therapies which advocate the use of touch within therapy. This is a major issue within psychotherapy and the prevailing ideology is to avoid physical contact. Touch is considered to evoke sexual feelings and questions arise as to whether the touch involved is the need of the therapist or that of the client. As a consequence, there is a fear of physical contact within the therapy world. However, the controversial debate on touch and its appropriate place in therapy also demonstrates that the body is an important part of the world. The touch taboo is the means of excluding the body, but at the same time, an implicit acknowledgement of its existence.
Psychotherapy acknowledges body process but tends to stand back from a deeper understanding, almost in fear of the repercussions that such work engenders.
The significance of addressing psychotherapy is the somatic process which may be being expressed as preverbal communication. It is well known and observed that psychotherapy clients frequently exhibit somatic symptoms. However, within psychotherapy it is the verbalisation of feelings which is paramount.
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