What is Somatic Movement Psychotherapy
Somatic Movement Psychotherapy draws on somatic and affectively-motivated movement experiences that engage the body and feelings to obtain self-awareness, self-understanding, and insight into our thoughts, beliefs and interactional dynamics.
Somatic Movement Psychotherapy can have a number of aims including the restoration of balance and integration in physical function, sensory development, emotional expression, and mental functioning.
Although dance has been used aethestically as well as therapeutically throughout our human history, Somatic Movement Psychotherapy is a relatively new profession throughout the world, emerging strongly in the 1960’s.
Somatic Movement Psychotherapy uses observation and analysis theories, such as the Laban/Bartenieff Movement System to determine and address the client’s therapeutic needs. Therapeutic interventions are often designed using Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis in conjunction with Bodymind Centering concepts.
Most Somatic Movement Psychotherapists are trained in psychotherapy and counselling skills as well as group facilitation. My particular approach uses Psychoanalytic Self Psychology as its theoretical base.
