Body-Psychotherapy is a distinct branch of psychotherapy, well within the main body of psychotherapy, which has a long history and a body of literature and knowledge based upon a sound theoretical position.
Body-Psychotherapy involves an explicit theory of mind-body functioning, which takes into account the complexity of the intersections and interactions between body and mind. The common underlying assumption is that the body reflects the whole person and there is a functional unity between mind and body. The body does not merely mean the ‘soma’ and that this is separate from the mind, the ‘psyche’. There is not a hierarchical relationship between mind and body, between psyche and soma. They are both functioning and interactive aspects of the whole human being. Where other approaches in psychotherapy touch on this area, body-psychotherapy considers this as fundamental.
Body-Psychotherapy involves a developmental model, a theory of personality, hypotheses as to the origins of disturbances and alterations, as well as a rich variety of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques used within the framework of the therapeutic relationship. There are many different and sometimes quite separate approaches within body-psychotherapy, as indeed there are in the other branches of psychotherapy.
Body-Psychotherapy is also a science, having developed over the last seventy years from the results of research in biology, anthropology, ethology, neuro-physiology, neuro-psychology, developmental psychology, neo-natology, perinatal studies and its own experience and findings.
Body-Psychotherapy exists as a specific therapeutic approach with a rich scientific basis in explicit theory. There is also a wide variety of techniques used, some of which are used on or with the body involving touch, movement and breathing. There is are links with some bodywork therapies, somatic techniques, and complementary medical disciplines, but whilst these may also refer to the body, deal with its physiology, involve touch and movement, they are also very distinct from body-psychotherapy.
Body-Psychotherapy has been scientifically validated by The European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) and several modalities within body-psychotherapy have been scientifically validated as well. Body-psychotherapy is considered as a mainstream branch of psychotherapy.
EABP is a dynamic association with over 700 accredited European body psychotherapists as members, including 50 Training Organizations and Professional Associations throughout Europe. It is legally registered in Switzerland and its Secretariat is in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The EABP acts as an accrediting organization for European body psychotherapists and works to maintain and promote standards, ethics and levels of professional worth among our members.
There are ten semi-autonomous National Associations (others are being established) that act for EABP and process membership applications in their own country. They have formed themselves into a COUNCIL and work individually (and together in the COUNCIL) to obtain official recognition for the specialty of body psychotherapy in the various European countries, and to establish that body-psychotherapy can be practiced legally and professionally in all countries in Europe. They also negotiate with, and are often members of the National Umbrella and Accrediting Organization (NUO/NAO) for psychotherapy in their own countries.
The EABP is involved with many other activities such as congresses, events, publications and political associations that promote body psychotherapy. Members are involved in research projects and the association assists in the publication of research findings in the efficacy or body psychotherapy. It also supports the extensive bibliography of body psychotherapy.