Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy
Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy
Hakomi body centered psychotherapy is a form of holistic treatment developed by Ron Kurtz and others based on the unity of the mind and body through mindfulness and nonviolent acts. It revolves around the idea that as we go through experiences we apply meaning to them and the world around us. Over time these experiences and thoughts become an unconscious belief and begin to govern how we go about displaying affection. The goal of this therapy is to develop the ability and act in alignment with the world by opening up your mind and heart through interdependence. Human interaction and mindfulness allows the patient to look inward and become aware of how they organize their body and mind in alignment with the world.
Goals of Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy
The goal of Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy is to become aware of one's own mental and physical state through a body-mind-spirit wholism. It improves the strength of their unconscious beliefs. A new awareness can be accessed through thoughts and behavior awareness. Nonviolence is a focus of this therapy because it is the practice of accepting that our own defense mechanisms come to us naturally for the purpose of avoiding painful situations. As these experiences build up the person begins to store them in their body through somaticized. Somaticized is when the body and mind grows tense as a result of experience and leads to restricted muscle movements. Therapy can release the energy that we tend to restrict as a result of our observation.
It is the goal of the therapist to release thoughts and feelings that have been governed by painful involvement. The belief is that our bodies are prisoners to the defenses we create unconsciously and that we can learn how to enjoy the relationship between our body and mind by breaking free of those defenses. This therapy is for the purpose of being comfortable and effective in both our interactions and intentions that we have.
When is Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy Used?
It's often that people hold onto unconscious beliefs and assumptions as a result of what has happened to them throughout their lives. Hakomi Body Centered Therapy can be used on anyone to open up their unconscious beliefs and bring them into the light of consciousness. It is used commonly on seniors, adults and children who suffer from mental illness, behavior problems or chronic physical pain, stress and compassion fatigue. For those who suffer from chronic stress as a result of work, this form of therapy can be effective.
How Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy Works
Hakomi Body Centered Therapy is performed by a therapist who cultivates the awareness between the mind and the body. The therapist offers opportunities in which the patient can take a closer look at how they identify and study certain situations that they respond to. By framing behavior and motivations both the therapist and client will gain a deeper understanding of what holds them back from pursuing and enjoying certain aspects of life. Hakomi Body Centered Therapy works by accessing mindfulness through healing and growth. It can improve the client's comfort in relationships and in feeling alive overall.
There are a few different approaches that the therapist can use when focusing on the client such as body orientation and experiential orientation. The client begins to feel more aware of their body and mental regression. They will become aware of their own emotions which will unfold slowly or dramatically. Treatment revolves around mindfulness, non-violence, unity and organicity components. Through mindfulness the therapist can turn the individual's attention inward and break through their limited beliefs. Non-violence is used to support a chance through sensitivity and safety. Unity is expressed to help the client improve the quality of their relationships and organicity is used by the therapist to show the client that there isn't an error in their state of consciousness, but a truth to be unraveled.
First the therapist is going to build a relationship with the client by showing them that they respect their safety and cooperation. After a safe relationship with the therapist has been established the client will begin to focus on their own personal experiences through a state of mindfulness. The therapist uses mindfulness as a way to look inward without judgment or violent effort. Soon the client will begin to respond to a series of experiments and feel their being through core factors that are evaluated by the therapist. The process is creating a safe relationship with the client, studying their experiences and looking for a way to heal them. Hakomi Body Centered Therapy uses gentleness and compassion to embrace the individual and organize their energy. It is a self-correcting psychotherapy which approaches the client in an aesthetic and organic manner.
References
Halko, W. (2009). The use of mindfulness in psychodynamic and body oriented psychotherapy. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 4(1), 13. Retrieved from http://www.hakomimallorca.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/The_Use_of_Mindfulness.pdf
Roy, D. R. (n.d.). Body-centered counseling and psychotherapy . Portland State University, Retrieved from http://hakomi.erich-bauer.at/Literatur_files/Body-Centered Counseling.pdf
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