Europäische Schule für Biodynamische Psychologie (E.S.B.P.E.) Deutschland e.V.

European School for Biodynamic Psychology (E.S.B.P.E.) e.V.  

Contact person: Marianne Wailand

Hüxterdamm 22    

D-23552 Lübeck   

Germany               

Tel. +49-(0)451-70041          

Fax: +49-(0)451-714 046    

esbpe@t-online.de             

www.biodynamik.de

 

School history

The European School for Biodynamic Psychology has existed since 1993.

 

Basic theory and concepts

In the last fifty years Biodynamic Psychology and Psychotherapy (BPP) has mainly been developed by the Norwegian clinical psychologist and Reichian analyst Gerda Boyesen. She was strongly influenced by the Norwegian tradition of body-psychotherapy that had originated with the former psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, who had lived and worked in Oslo from 1934 till 1939. She was a trainee and later colleague of Reich’s most prominent Norwegian adept, Ola Raknes, who had been trained in the Berlin psychoanalytical institute under Reich and can be considered as one of the most important people to spread the body-psychotherapeutic approach in the wake of Reich in Europe. This historical connection explains - besides G. Boyesen’s education in clinical psychology - why BPP is on the one hand so strongly rooted in psychoanalytical thoughts and ideas.

The other root of Biodynamic Psychology and Psychotherapy is physiotherapy. It is connected to A. Bülow Hansen who developed a system of dynamic physiotherapy. Gerda Boyesen was trained and worked at her institute in close cooperation with the psychiatrist Dr. T. Braatoy, who had also been inspired by Reich.

 

BPP is a biological theory of psychology directly concerned with the organic link between the body and the psyche. It postulates that psychological principles are not just theories and concepts but can be actual energetic forces of organic or neurological reality. The term biodynamic refers to the concept of life energy (bios means life, dynamic means energetic movement).

 

BPP also uses the basic Freudian concepts of psychological structure (Ego, Id and Super-Ego), in order to understand the emotional conflicts/drives of a person. Additionally it refers to the Freudian assumption of different levels of psychosexual development (i.e. oral, anal, genital) and has adapted these concepts in its own theoretical framework. BPP has adopted and elaborated the Freudian and Reichian libido theory and given it a central position in its own theories.

 

Another strong influence comes from the analytical psychology of C.G. Jung, whose concepts (especially the concepts of individuation, psychic energy, archetypes and synchronicity) have been integrated in BPP.

 

BPP studies and treats psychological processes not only on the mental, psychological or symbolic levels but also in the context of the full range of a person’s life processes (e.g. 4), including the somatic aspect of human existence. Considering the functional unity of body and mind as a basic principle, BPP has amassed a wealth of very differentiated information about the subtle interrelations between physiological and psychological states.

 

BPP furthers the basic ability of the human organism to heal itself. It claims a previous un-described mechanism of organic self-regulation, which is connected to the enteric (intestinal) nervous system, the so-called second brain.

This psycho-peristaltic function of the intestinal system is seen as a soft and non-cathartic way of working out surplus nervous tension or emotional stress affects as an inner orgasmic ability to regulate itself.

 

Psychological problems are considered to have a somatic basis; they are seen as embodied. Body and psyche are considered as two aspects of the same life process. The life process is considered to be related to and governed by the laws of the Life Force: BPP basically states that the living human organism is vitalized and moved by this life energy that is considered to be identical to a presupposed cosmic force, that is seen as the basic fabric of the universe. This is the Principle of trust in the existence of the Life Force.

 

Thus BPP strongly appreciates the significance of the vegetative processes in all aspects of human life. Changes in our somatic reality, in the somatic ways in which we experience our life situations, are considered to be the decisive criterion of real psychotherapeutic change.

 

We believe in the human birthright of pleasure with its free flow of energy in our body, felt as streamings and vibrations. And we insist on the essential rightness and aliveness of a person’s true nature, before the environment caused her or him to give up some valuable parts of it.

 

The therapeutic attitude in biodynamic body-psychotherapy is basically inviting, accepting and encouraging. Only in an atmosphere of trust and security can clients really be themselves.

 

Training description

Our Training in Biodynamic Body-Psychotherapy in Germany and Austria consists of three modules:

  1. Pre-training in a one-year therapy group (or comparable training)
  2. Training in Biodynamic Body-Psychotherapy and Biorelease (two years followed by supervised practice)
  3. Training in Biodynamic Body-Psychotherapy (two years followed by supervised practice)

 

Trainers

 

State of recognition

European School for Biodynamic Psychology was accredited as a Body-Psychotherapy Trainng Institute by EABP FORUM in September 1999. The Biodyanmic method was scientifically validated by the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) in July 2001.

 

EABP Members

Marianne Wailand, HansKim Voet, Mona-Lisa Boyesen, Ebba Boyesen

 

Literature - publication - research

Boyesen, Gerda, Über den Körper die Seele heilen, München, Kösel, 1987.

Boyesen, Gerda, Entre Psyche et Soma, Paris, Payot, 1985.

Boyesen, Gerda, Boyesen, Mona Lisa, Biodynamik des Lebens, Essen, Synthesis, 1987.

Boyesen, Mona Lisa, The basic trust in energy and Character, Vol. 4 Nr. 1, 1973.

Boyesen, Mona Lisa, Psycho-Peristalsis, The Abdominal Discharge of Nervous Tension, in Energy and Character, Vol. 5 Nr. 1, 1974.

Boyesen, Mona Lisa, Bio-Release, in the Journal of Bioenergetic Research, Vol. 8, Nr. 3, 1980.

Boyesen, Mona Lisa, Alpha Nursing, in the Journal of Biodynamic Psychology, No. 2, 1982.

Boyesen, Ebba, Psycho-Orgastic Vibrations, in Energy and Character, Vol. 9 Nr. 3, 1978.

Boyesen, Ebba, The Essence of Energy Distribution, in Energy and Character, Vol. 8, Nr. 2, 1980.

Boyesen, Ebba, The Essence of Therapy, in Journal of Biodynamic Psychology, No. 2, 1981.

Boyesen, Ebba, Beyond transference, in Adire Nr. 2 + 3.

The directors of our institute are:

 

 

 Ebba Boyesen                                      HansKim Voet