Founded in Denmark by Lisbeth Marcher and her colleagues, Bodynamic Analysis is a carefully researched and constructed body-oriented psychology. For 25 years Marcher studied a combination of physical therapy and psychotherapy, and in this process discovered not only that emotions were held in the body musculature, but that there was a developmental sequence to the muscle enervation. These observations and insights allowed her to create a developmental map of the body using the muscles' state of tension or collapse for each age level.

Marcher also correlated specific muscles with the psychological functions showing the close parallel between physical development and psychological development.

For example, the triceps are related to both physical pushing away and psychological pushing away. Therefore, if an adult has collapsed triceps this is a strong indication that they have a difficult time saying “No” or keeping others at an optimal distance emotionally.

In documenting the age at which each muscle is activated and the psychological content of each of them, Marcher eventually identified seven developmental stages . She then devised a Bodymap, indicating nine possible levels of muscle tonicity per muscle group, that creates a characterological profile that begins with intrauterine life and progresses through adolescence. For example, in the third stage from eight months to two-and-a-half- years, psycho-physical issues reflect a concern for autonomy, whereas in the second stage, from one month to one-and-a-half years old, the focus is on needs.

In the second stage or need structure phase, healthy development allows the child to explore the world in secure connection with its mother or other primary caretaker and internalize a sense that their needs can be met. This is accomplished through developing the resource of taking in, which is focused on the mouth and the small muscles on the little finger side of the hand (relating to the early grasping reflex). When these muscles are collapsed in the adult, the person at the need stage of their development has given up sensing that their most basic needs for contact and care would be met.

In the third developmental stage of autonomy the child's increased mobility allows for intensive explorations through movement and beginning communication. Healthy development at this age allows for a sense of connection with others as pleasurable and safe. A sense of the ability to be in a merged boundary, or shared energetic space or to choose to be in a separate boundary, or separate energetic space, and still feel loved and connected with another from either position. Troubled development at this stage can lead to an adult who either fears engulfment and/or abandonment in adult relationships.

Using the Bodymap, Bodynamic Analysts are able to 1) find where the blocks are located in the client’s body and 2) are then able to work on developing the resources that were given up or held back when growing up. The Bodymap is a major tool of Bodynamic Analysis and is probably the reason why Reichian scholar David Boadella called Marcher "the Scandinavian legacy of Wilhelm Reich", and pronounced Bodynamic Analysis as "one of the most advanced character structure models" to emerge from the new generation of European body therapies.

Marcher sees herself less as a Reichian and more as one who operates in the field that Reich opened up. She makes this distinction because she fundamentally disagrees with Reich's sexual theories. "I always felt Reich was wrong to make the sexual experience the core of his idea of relationship," she told an interviewer. "He, like Freud, took sexual energy to be the primary drive inside us."

She believes humans' basic drive is more toward being connected to other people in what she calls the "the drive toward mutual connection." Thus Bodynamic Analysis helps individuals achieve fulfillment in the their relationships. She says: "It is through body awareness that we sense ourselves in relation to the other. The more body awareness we can attain--which includes an awareness of sensation, energy, and emotion--the more we are able to establish deep connections to others." Given Marcher's orientation, it is not surprising that the dominant presenting problem in Bodynamic Analysis has to do with relationships ie: with one's children, with one's spouse or partner, and with co-workers.

Marcher intentionally locates Bodynamic Analysis in the body psychotherapy field, stressing both elements equally. Therapy without body awareness lacks a vital element, she says, while a body awareness work that is not grounded in solid psychotherapy will not produce lasting change. She also makes a clear distinction between emotionally cathartic but unintegrated experiences and the slow, long-term therapeutic process.

Bodynamic Analysis begins with an initial meeting where a detailed relationship history is taken including a short trauma history ie: , such as a difficult birth, sexual molestation or early accidents and surgeries, which can also affect developmental resoursing. If these are present, they will be flagged for special trauma oriented work.

Sometime in the beginning of the therapeutic process a Bodymap is done. It is made in a four-hour session and consists of testing the tonicity of over 200 muscles in the body to see if they are either hypo or hyper-tense. The Bodynamic Analyst then interprets the findings for the client. The next step is for the Analyst and client to make a treatment “contract” with stipulates specifically what the client wishes to work on. It could be a specific issue, which would require only a short-term intervention, or the client might choose a full Bodynamic Analysis in which he or she world work through all character structure and shock trauma issues.

Generally, the under-developed or collapsed muscles would be worked on first. By increasing the tonicity of these collapsed muscles, one supports the psychological resources associated with them. It is important, not to breakdown or take away defenses. Only after building up strengths and resources, can defensive patterns that often kept the child safe and even alive then be safely given up.

Clients can be of any age. For example, Marcher worked with an infant who had a particularly difficult and traumatic birth. As a result, the child was rejecting the breast and turning away from the mother. Marcher talked with the kicking baby. She placed her hands against its feet creating a resistance much like the pushing action during birth. She then instructed the mother to give the same resistance to the infant's feet, and talk to him encouraging and praising his strong efforts. This activity seemed to re-create the birthing process, but this time the mother and child were working together and in deep connection around the "re-birthing" As a result of this work, the baby began to nurse and bond with the mother.

A typical Bodynamic session is two hours long. It includes 1) experiential work that combines physical movements, contracting or stretching muscles, with 2) "hands-on work, which is a gentle contact with muscles that energizes them and often allows the psychological material from that age (the developmental age of that muscle) to emerge. This non-verbal approach allows accessing of unconscious psychological material that was either blocked or forgotten. This can come up as an image, body sensation, memory, or emotion. The client and therapist then work with this information to integrate and reclaim early abilities and resources. (See, for example, a Bodynamic success story - excerpt from a 1997 article in Common Boundary magazine.)

Ultimately, the goal of Bodynamic Analysis is to be able to strengthen the clients ability to make healthy choices and experience healthy relationships. "I believe that we have the greatest choices, the deepest choices when we are in touch with our bodies and our emotions and our thoughts and our spirituality, and when we don't confuse them," explains Marcher. "Reality is very deep for me. I really want people to be in their reality because it is the only place from which you can make a clear choice."

While Bodynamic Analysis is typically a long-term, primary therapy, it is also suitable as a short-term therapy and as an adjunctive technique. The developmental emphasis of Bodynamic Analysis is particularly suitable for working with infants and children as well as adults. Group therapy is also available.

For an in-depth look at Bodynamics: Click here for The Bodymap Article

For More Information about Body Map Reading and Analysis: Click for Body Map

Graduate credit towards an advanced degree is available for this training. Contact Santa Barbara Graduate Institute at www.SBGI.edu

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About Bodynamics Page last updated - May 20, 2007

(copyright Bodynamic Institute USA, 1999)