HOW DOES THE PESSO BOYDEN PSYCHOMOTOR SYSTEM WORK?

Exercises Participants prepare themselves by means of a series of exercises which enhance their sensitivity to sensory-motor and emotional information. Daily life patterns and physical complaints and symptoms shift from being alienated phenomena to being a source of valuable information. The exercises promote the group's cohesion by paying attention to both individual differences and to universality of human needs. The distinct format of the exercises fosters the participant's faith in the possibility of change. Group members are trained to apply 'accommodation', a role-playing technique characteristic of Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor therapy. The technique of 'polarisation', using distinct accommodators representing negative and positive aspects of the same historical person, helps with the disentangling of ambivalence-conflicts. The method offers the participant a unique opportunity to experience a broad range of feelings, from deep grief to unbounded hatred, within a safe, limiting, symbolic context.

Structures

A 'structure' is an individual session in the group, guided by the therapist and supported by the other participants. The therapist assists the participant by emphatically tracking affective expressions, bodily states, verbal statements, core belief systems and internalised prohibitions and commands, to make this information accessible to the participant's consciousness. The actual inner mind-body state - the 'inner screen' - is enacted outside the participant with the help of group members in clearly defined roles, such as inhibiting inner voices or supporting functions. This external stage created in the arena of the therapy-room facilitates emotional re-activation of unresolved conflicts from early historical developmental phases. Actual expression of bodily feelings, in interaction with role-players who represent historical figures, helps the participant to process stagnated emotions and to grieve about unfulfilled needs and traumatic experiences. In addition, the therapist focuses on the participant's proactive efforts to bring about those experiences needed in order to heal, by using the specific role-play technique of accommodation.

Process of a structure

· The therapist offers a Possibility Sphere in which the participant is invited to explore her/his true inner state. This Centre of Truth becomes visible in the therapy room through group members taking roles that represent the participant's conflicting emotions and cognitions. In this way, participants become more aware of body sensations, affective states and patterns of injunctions, demands and resistances. Watching this externalised theatre of her/his inner truth (the True Scene) evokes the participant's recall of associated historical experiences and memories.

· Traumatic events from the past are then processed in detail. Repressed emotions are physically expressed in interaction with role-players representing the past (the Historical Scene) as the participant works through those past events which still produce negative projections and pessimistic expectations in the present. Finally, an alternative scenario is constructed and experienced as an antidote to the original life situation. Unfulfilled early childhood needs such as nurturance, protection, support and limits can be met by touch and action in a symbolic context offered by group members in roles as prototypical carers.

· The physical fulfilment of childhood needs, on this symbolic level, helps the participant to integrate alternative body-schemes, new cognitions and more optimistic life-expectations (New Maps). This can dramatically change present-day life, leading the participant towards more pleasure, satisfaction, meaning and connectedness.

The unified method of PBSP is supported by the latest information on both the psychological and physical evolution of human beings. It facilitates the participant's need for fulfilment of long standing deficits in psychological development.

To return to home page click here