Body-Centered Therapy

Body-centered psychotherapy is an experiential therapy based on the idea that we store or hold information and emotions in our bodies. Said another way, our bodies have a kind of memory for experiences and feelings. Body-centered psychotherapy tries to identify where experiences may be blocked and inhibiting you from accessing your feelings.

By giving the body a “voice,” through movement, gesture, sound and/or awareness of subtle sensations, you can gain insight into long-held patterns of thought, emotion or behavior. The awareness and understanding gained in this process can help you to develop a deep inner sense of knowing, to reduce anxiety and depression, to make healthy decisions, to set boundaries in relationships, and to feel grounded and more confident.

Types of body-centered techniques include:

• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Neurofeedback
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Yoga (including trauma-sensitive yoga)
• Breathing techniques