R113: The Body in Psychotherapy

But new discoveries in fields such as brain science, psychoneuroimmunology, and exercise physiology have shown how much our mental health is related to our experience of our physical bodies. This Reading Course offers a perspective on how to incorporate more of a mind-body connection into clinical practice. Mary Sykes Wylie traces the growing trend among therapists to help their clients tap into the wisdom and healing resources of their bodily experience. Rob Fisher offers concrete guidelines for bringing awareness of body-centered experience into the consulting room. Christine Caldwell shows how increased body awareness can lead therapists to better self-care. Barbara Goodrich-Dunn examines what the somatic psychotherapies can teach talk therapists. Richard Simon profiles body psychotherapy pioneer Ilana Rubenfeld and explores with her the do's and don'ts of touch in psychotherapy.

Course Readings

Listening Hands: Ilana Rubenfeld Believes that Touch Can Be a Powerful Tool for Talk Therapists by Richard Simon

Beyond Talk: Using Our Bodies to Get to the Heart of the Matter by Mary Sykes Wylie

A Different Presence: Bringing Body-Centered Experience into Your Work by Rob Fisher

Caring for the Caregiver: The Art of Oscillating Attention by Christine Caldwell

Therapy in 3D: Lessons from Body Psychotherapy by Barbara Goodrich-Dunn

Learning Objectives

1. List 4 physical signals that indicate a client's inner state
2. Compare the verbal messages and the body messages a client sends
3. Plan interventions based on a client's body messages