Psychoanalysis and body psychotherapy: An exploration of their relational and embodied common ground

Abstract

Working therapeutically with and through embodiment is a topical issue in the psychoanalytic literature. Vice versa, body psychotherapy is deeply rooted in psychoanalytic theory and practice. This paper will explore corresponding themes, historic developments, and recent literature with reference to their actual and potential mutual influences, aiming to demonstrate: (1) that contemporary body psychotherapy practice continues to be informed and influenced by psychoanalytic theory, in particular the relational emphasis in psychoanalysis; and (2) that psychoanalytic psychotherapy, in turn, can be enriched and furthered while utilizing the theoretical paradigm of embodiment and body-oriented, experiential intervention strategies developed in body psychotherapy.

Key words:

• body psychotherapy
• psychoanalysis
• psychoanalytic therapy
• embodiment
• enactivism

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frank Röhricht

Frank Röhricht, MD. FRCPsych, is a consultant psychiatrist and body psychotherapist (member of the European Association of Body Psychotherapy); honorary professor of clinical psychiatry at the Wolfson Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK; and honorary professor of psychiatry, St. George’s Medical School, Nicosia University, Cyprus. He is also medical director for research, innovation and medical education at East London NHS Foundation Trust. His research interests focus on body image phenomenology/embodiment and the evaluation of body-oriented psychotherapy interventions for severe mental illnesses. Other research includes creativity and art therapies, transcultural psychopathology, and community psychiatry recovery care models. He developed the international Clinical Psychology with Body Psychotherapy Certificate master’s programme– at Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey. (www.frankrohricht.com)