So you’re feeling anxious or depressed. Or you don’t feel quite right but you find it hard to describe how you feel.
You know your life can be better but you don’t know how to get there. You may have already tried various approaches, perhaps even been to counsellors and psychotherapists but not been able to get the results you’re looking for.
What if what you’ve been told about anxiety, depression and trauma is wrong?
Maybe you’re disillusioned and starting to wonder if there’s anything you can do to help you feel better.
I felt that way for years, until I emigrated to London in search of a way out of my emotional distress.
What I found was not a way out but a way through
There are various schools and approaches that call themselves somatic psychotherapy. I am describing here my particular approach which I call CORE DEVELOPMENT.
This is based primarily on my 4 years’ training in Biodynamic Psychotherapy with Gerda Boyesen; 4 years’ therapy, training and supervision in Biosynthesis with David Boadella, and my 45 years’ professional and personal life experience. Biodynamic Psychotherapy and Biosynthesis are both schools of Somatic Psychotherapy.
Everything exists in relationship
Counselling and psychotherapy often focus on the individual without seeking to discover and understand the situation the person is in. I believe that it is essential to understand people in their entirety. We need to consider context before deciding whether the symptoms are pathological or healthy responses to unhealthy conditions.
Adjustment to an unhealthy situation or relationship is not healthy.
In my approach I take the view that symptoms such as anxiety and depression, that are often labelled in our society as ‘sick’ or ‘dysfunctional’ are in many cases(not always) the opposite. They are often healthy signals that we need to make changes. If understood in context, they can be pathways to creating more fulfilling and successful lives.
Is Somatic Psychotherapy the same as Body Psychotherapy?
Somatic Psychotherapy is sometimes referred to as Body Psychotherapy. I believe this is misleading, as in my view the aim of somatic psychotherapy is to integrate mind and body, emotions and reason, conscious and unconscious.
The effects of trauma are to disconnect parts of ourselves in order to protect us from unbearable feelings and further distress. The purpose of psychotherapy is to create the conditions for us to reconnect with the parts of ourselves that we have cut ourselves from, in order to become whole again. For this to happen we need to feel safe.
Does Somatic Psychotherapy involve Bodywork and Touch?
Bodywork and touch are used only if and when they increase feelings of safety and connection. It is essential for a somatic psychotherapist to understand this.
SAFETY is by far the single most important condition for successful therapy and healing.
Noticing discrepancies
It is also important for the therapist to observe any discrepancies between content and bodylanguage, ie between what the person says and their body language and tone of voice.
For example, if a person says “I feel fine” in a loud and aggressive sounding voice and bodily expression, this could provide a useful opportunity to explore. It’s important to do this, however, only if and when the person feels safe and ready to do so. It’s also essential to explore it in a creative way and not to pathologise it.
“Forget your perfect offering. There’s a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in!” Leonard Cohen
Make your own discoveries
Rather than giving you answers, I aim to co-create the conditions that help you make your own discoveries. This is what I define as experiential.
If this appeals to you and you would like to arrange an in-person, zoom or phone session to explore it further, contact Donald Marmara on +61 412 178 234
Core Development is a creative learning process and is not intended to replace clinical or medical treatment where this is required.
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Donald Marmara created Core Development , a learning process which acknowledges the unity and inter-relationships of mind, body, emotions and spirit.
It draws on the principles and understanding of somatic psychotherapy, structural dynamics, and Donald’s own personal therapy, professional training and life experience.
Core development adopts a flexible approach, recognising that what works for one person may not work for another.
Donald currently resides and practices in Sydney, and is available for individual sessions, couples sessions, counselling teenagers and parents, and facilitating training programs and workshops. He is also available for Zoom and phone sessions worldwide.
He can be contacted on 0412 178 234.