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B.Bus,
Dip. Som. Psych,
Associate Member AASP
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Theoretical
approach
There are three main branches to the theoretical approach that I have
been trained in and practice. These are Contemporary Somatic
Psychotherapy, Self Psychology and Intersubjectivity. These three
strands form part of the overall approach I take to all of my clients.
Contemporary
Somatic Psychotherapy
Somatic Psychotherapy is a type of psychotherapy that is body inclusive
(‘soma’ meaning ‘body’ in Greek). This means that to the somatic
psychotherapist, you are much more than just what is happening inside
your head. Instead, we understand that what happens on the mental level
is just one aspect of the complete person. The things we think aren’t
isolated from the things that we feel and the sensations we experience
in our body. A common example of this is someone experiencing stress;
not only are they aware of stressful thoughts, but parts of their body
(such as their shoulders) might be tight.
Somatic
psychotherapy is quite a broad field. Whilst some somatic
psychotherapists work, where it is appropriate, directly with the body
using massage and facilitated movement, I find that I work more
effectively with the body when I do it indirectly using observation and
enquiry.
Self
Psychology
This form of psychology is a later offshoot of Freudian thought. A
central part of this theory is the importance of a person’s sense of
self. This sense of self is usually formed through interactions with
caring others such as parents and grand-parents; when this goes well,
these interactions help form the self and people develop into
well-rounded adults. However, sometimes these interactions are not all
they might be and people don’t get some of the things that they need
from their caregivers. Because of this, our development in some parts
of ourselves can be derailed and this can cause difficulties in later
life; this is surprisingly common. Self Psychology recognises this and
the therapy is tailored to help the person restart their development.
The goal of a self psychological approach is to take a lot of time to
explore the client’s world and experiences from their point
of view and to help the client to become more secure and
functional.
It is important to note that it isn’t necessary for clients
to immerse themselves in painful memories of the past for psychotherapy
to be effective. Rather, a focus on what is happening right
now in a client’s life is more than enough to be able to make some very
positive and significant changes.
Intersubjectivity
This is a rather recent theoretical advance in psychotherapy and was
originally an extension of Self Psychology. It is quite a breakthrough
as it gives a great deal of importance to the client’s subjectivity, or
way of looking at the world. The goal of this sort of treatment is the
non-judgemental exploration of the client’s world, and the eventual
transformation of it into something more useful to the client. An
important part of it is an understanding that the work that is done
between a client and a psychotherapist is unique to the two of them. It
is also important to note that the psychotherapist is not in a position
to be able to impose a solution on the client either; only through
taking the time to understand the client will the psychotherapist and
the client work out how the psychotherapist will be able to
help the client
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