Contents
Psycho-organic analysis
Presentation
For more information, you can consult the Psychotherapy sheet. There you will find an overview of the many psychotherapeutic approaches – including a guide table to help you choose the most appropriate – as well as a discussion of the factors for successful therapy. |
L’psycho-organic analysis (APO) is a psychotherapy that works with theunconscious, both in its psychic and bodily dimension. Created by Paul Boyesen in the early 1980s, it is fundamentally inspired by the classic psychoanalytic approach as formulated by Sigmund Freud. But it also integrates the broader psychological vision proposed by Carl Jung, then “integrated into the body” by Wilhelm Reich, who is sometimes referred to as the father of psychosomatics. The aim of psycho-organic analysis is to undo the blockages intimate and free theenergy vital.
The origins Reich’s work on the transposition into the body of blockages of vital or emotional energy was taken up by several of his students and gave rise – in the United States, where he was in exile – to multiple approaches, such as bioenergy, Core Energetics, postural integration or Radix (see this sheet for more details on Reich). In the case of psycho-organic analysis, the first elements emerge rather in Norway, where Wilhelm Reich lived and taught from 1934 to 1939. Gerda Boyesen, following her analysis with a Reich pupil, was the first to integrate certain Reichian principles into her work as a physiotherapist and psychologist. She developed a technique that she called ” biodynamic psychology ». Among other things, she discovered that intestinal peristalsis can act as a regulator of emotional stress. And so some specific bowel massages could have an effect on the emotions. She also pushed further Reich’s work linking organic movements to energetic movements and the rise or fall of emotions. Finally, one of the characteristics of his approach was the importance given toloving attitude of the therapist. “The therapist,” she said, “must simply offer total understanding and love so that an inner stimulus can develop completely and transform the being who is his patient. “1 Gerda Boyesen called this the “midwifery method”. Paul Boyesen, psychotherapist and son of Gerda Boyesen, developed the approach discussed here in the early 1980s. He combined the methods developed by his mother with the work on words and images from analytical psychotherapy. Rather than simply juxtaposing analytical concepts with bodywork, Boyesen and his colleagues sought the connections between verbalization, production ofimages and energetic movements in the bodies. In addition, they took more into account the aspect relational in the therapeutic treatment and introduced the Freudian notions of a transfer et countertransference in their work2. |
Today, psycho-organic analysis is presented as an approach based on 4 main dimensions3 :
- Psychoanalytic. This includes the phenomena at play in the therapeutic relationship (transfer, projections, etc.) and the need to trace back to the conscience the situations unconscious.
- Psycho-energetic. Events bodily energetic type are always taken into account, even if the body is not at the center of the process.
- Humanist. The quality of the relation must allow the client to abandon his defensive system and express his own identity.
- « Sensologique ». This concept specific to psycho-organic analysis refers to the deep connection between the direction that we give to our life and the way we feel it.
Among the “neo-Reichian” approaches, psycho-organic analysis is perhaps the one that most intimately unites the body work and classical psychoanalytic approaches. Paul Boyesen speaks of an “analytical approach in body-minded work”4. According to the site of the French School of Psycho-Organic Analysis (EFAPO), psycho-organic analysis would allow, through a finesse approach to the unconscious, to see how neurotic blockages or distortions. And we could, in addition, release an energy – which we would access through the body, images or words – allowing to establish a good circulation between the conscious and the unconscious.2.
The approach is recognized by the French Federation of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis and by the European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP). See Places of interest.
Therapeutic applications of psycho-organic analysis
THEpsycho-organic analysis is presented as a support tool in a process of resolving internal conflicts, whether for individuals or couples. Like any psychotherapy, it is aimed as much at people who want to settle a problème specific than to those who wish to more fully manifest their potential. It aims to make the person more aware of his psychological realities and in particular of the negative forces who inhabit it or that it projects onto others. No studies on the effectiveness of psycho-organic analysis have been published in scientific journals.
|
Psycho-organic analysis in practice
The process can be carried out by groupe in sessions of 4 to 7 consecutive days, or in One-to-one. The meetings can take place face to face, but the client can also lie down on a couch to work on the unconscious roots of psychological problems. Maximum comfort is sought so that the person can welcome their experience without constraint. In addition to the loving attitude of the therapist, the observation and the taking into account of the “organic” reactions in the bodies, the emotions and pansies (muscle tone, posture, emotional reactions, chosen words, way of speaking, etc.) are fundamental elements of the approach. Intervention tools include speaking, dream analysis, bodywork, breathing, movement and creativity.
A session generally lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour. The number of meetings can vary depending on the objectives and the types of problems you want to solve. However, an in-depth process can easily take several months, or even 2 or 3 years.
Professional training in psycho-organic analysis
The French School of Psycho-Organic Analysis (EFAPO) is authorized by the Boyesen Foundation to teach in France and in French-speaking countries the biodynamic psychology, created by Gerda Boyesen, and thepsycho-organic analysis, created by his son Paul. In France, the Psycho-organic Analysis Association (AAPO) brings together professional psychotherapists who have followed EFAPO education.
The training is aimed at those who have sufficient education and who have carried out or are engaged in a personal psychotherapeutic process. The teaching is spread over 4 years.
EFAPO also offers training courses which do not lead to the exercise of the profession of psychotherapist, but which make it possible to broaden a professional practice already focused on health or social service.
Psycho-organic analysis – Books, etc.
Langeard Matthew. Awakening body, text taken from the original article published in the internal journal of the Association d’Analyse Psycho-Organique, June 2002. [Accessed January 13, 2010]. www.matthieulangeard.com
Psycho-organic analysis – Sites of interest
Association for Psycho-Organic Analysis (AAPO)
The official reference site for everything related to the approach.
www.aapo.asso.fr
European Psychotherapy Association (EAP)
See the description of psycho-organic analysis in the section Modalities.
www.europsyche.org
French School of Psycho-Organic Analysis (EFAPO)
The site of the school recognized by the AAPO.
http://efapo.free.fr
European Association for Psycho Organic Analysis
The federating body for the countries of Europe.
www.eapoa.com
French Federation of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
One of the organizations that accredits psycho-organic analysis.
www.ff2p.fr