psychodynamicbioenergetics.com lotype

Psychodynamic Foundations of Bioenergetic Analysis

Experiencing, Understanding and Healing the Body and the Mind
2-2 Group-Body-Psycho-Therapy: Interpersonal Work with and through Groups
Volume 1 Part 2: Body-Work in Practice Chapter 2.2

Group-Body-Psycho-Therapy

Interpersonal Work with and through Groups
Maria Majce-Egger

In a group, individuals come together with their attitudes, social background, different needs, desires and goals. Through psychological and bodily resonance phenomena between the group members, a common group structure is formed – an unconscious attunement that manifests itself as a group-body and is perceptible as an atmospheric field. In this essay, the author describes bioenergetic-analytical group work against the background of interpersonal group models.

Link to the original publication at Routledge

Download all questions/answers as PDF
  • Every individual is integrated into a social network that can be conducive or inhibiting to their development. No individual stands outside a group context (plurality).
  • A group is not the sum of the individual abilities of its members, but a new interpersonal system (group-body).
  • Individuals in groups automatically form a network of conscious and unconscious communication. This interaction field is triggered by resonance and is observable on a muscular-motor level.
  • In the interpersonal approach, group processes represent an independent psychotherapeutic impact factor. The group is a central developmental-psychological building block that can support or hinder expansion, development and energization.
  • The developmental possibilities of a person depend on the respective environment. Psychological limitations and illnesses are an indication of problems in their social environment. Which conflict configuration becomes predominant in a group depends, among other things, on the dynamic connection that is possible between the group members.
  • Resonance between members leads to the spread of a topic/issue within the group. Through resonance within the group structure, mental and somatic processes of the individual are triggered.
  • Group identity develops through the activation of common character-structural parts. Depending on the character structure and developmental level, the three dimensions of power, belonging and intimacy are addressed.
  • The basic conflicts of the individual group members are reflected in a dominant common conflict, which presents itself somatically and socially in the group process as a specific defense pattern or protective phenomenon. The group stages its social body through breathing and movement, energy flow and blocking, contact and rhythm.

Altmeyer, M. & Thoma, H. (2006). Die vernetzte Seele. Die intersubjektive Wende in der Psychoanalyse [The Networked Soul. The Intersubjective Turn in Psychoanalysis]. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.

Amann, A. (2001). Gruppendynamik als reflexive Vergemeinschaftung [Group Dynamics as Reflexive Communalization]. In K. Antons, A. Amann, G. Clausen, O. König & K. Schattenhofer (Eds.), Gruppenprozesse verstehen. Gruppendynamische Forschung und Praxis [Understanding Group Processes. Group Dynamics Research and Practice] (p. 28–39). Leske+Budrich.

Baranger, M. (1993). The Mind of the Analyst: From Listening to Interpretation. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 74:15–24.

Bion, W.R. (1999 [1961]). Erfahrungen in Gruppen und andere Schriften [Original title: Experiences in Groups and Other Papers]. Frankfurt a.M.: Fischer.

Bosse, H. (2018). Das Verhältnis von Wir und Ich. Erfahrungen aus Gruppenanalyse und Gruppenpsychotherapie [The Relationship of We and I. Experiences from Group Analysis and Group Psychotherapy]. Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Burrow, T. (2015 [1926]). Die Gruppenmethode in der Psychoanalyse [Original title: The Group Method of Analysis]. Gruppenpsychotherapie und Gruppendynamik, 51(1):18–27.

Crepaldi, G. (2018). Containing [Containing]. Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Dornes, M. (1997). Die frühe Kindheit. Entwicklungspsychologie der ersten Lebensjahre [Early Childhood. Developmental Psychology of the First Years of Life]. Frankfurt a.M.: Fischer.

Ermann, M. (2017). Der Andere in der Psychoanalyse. Die integrative Wende [The Other in Psychoanalysis. The Integrative Turn]. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

Ferro, A. & Civitarese, G. (2015). The Analytic Field and its Transformations. London: Karnac.

Fliedl, R. (2002). Von der Gruppe zum Einzelnen. Eine Einführung in Bions Theorie der Affekte und des Denkens [From the Group to the Individual. An Introduction to Bion’s Theory of Affects and Thought]. In B. Dolleschka (Ed.), Visionen und Wege, Jahrbuch für Gruppendynamik und Dynamische Gruppenpsychotherapie, Band 4: Gruppenkompetenz und Einzelarbeit [Visions and Paths, Yearbook of Group Dynamics and Dynamic Group Psychotherapy, Volume 4: Group Competence and Individual Work] (p. 27–48). Krammer.

Fonagy, P. & Target, M. (2007). Psychoanalyse und die Psychopathologie der Entwicklung [Original title: Psychoanalytic Theories – Perspectives from Developmental Psychopathology]. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.

Foulkes, H.S. (1974). Gruppenanalytische Psychotherapie [Group-Analytic Psychotherapy]. München: Kindler Verlag.

Geuter, U. (2015). Körperpsychotherapie. Grundriss einer Theorie für die klinische Praxis [Body-Psychotherapy. Outline of a Theory for Clinical Practice]. Springer.

Geuter, U. (2019). Praxis Körperpsychotherapie. 10 Prinzipien der Arbeit im therapeutischen Prozess [Body-Psychotherapy Practice. 10 Principles of Working in the Therapeutic Process]. Springer.

Lewin, K. (1953 [1940]). Die Lösung sozialer Konflikte. Ausgewählte Abhandlungen über Gruppendynamik [Original title: Resolving Social Conflicts. Selected Papers on Group Dynamics]. Christian Verlag.

Majce-Egger, M. (2006). Group Concepts – Grounding in the Social Environment. The European Journal of Bioenergetic Analysis and Psychotherapy, 3:23–36.

Majce-Egger, M. (2014). Gruppenkörper – der kommunizierende Körper [Group Body – the Communicating Body]. http://www.bioenergetische-analyse.org/gruppenkoerper-der-kommunizierende-koerper (3.6.2023).

Majce-Egger, M. (2019). Der kommunizierende Gruppenkörper. Bioenergetisch-analytische Arbeit mit Gruppen [The Communicating Group Body. Bioenergetic-Analytical Work with Groups]. In R. Schwenk & C. Pechtl (Eds.), Körper im Dialog. Theorie und Anwendungsfelder der Bioenergetischen Analyse [Bodies in Dialogue. Theory and Application Areas of Bioenergetic Analysis] (p. 77–94). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Majce-Egger, M. (2024). Gruppenprozesse analysieren. Gruppenmodelle – Beobachtung – Prozessanalyse [Analyzing Group Processes. Group Models − Observation − Process Analysis]. In M. Majce-Egger, K. Zajec, C. Pechtl & G. Eckert (Eds.), Leben und Denken in Gruppen. Gruppendynamik und Dynamische Gruppenpsychotherapie [Living and Thinking in Groups. Group Dynamics and Dynamic Group Psychotherapy] (p. 112–133). Facultas.

Mitchell, S.A. (1988). Relational Concepts in Psychoanalysis: An Integration. Harvard University Press.

Pechtl, C. (2023). Einbrüche – Ausbrüche. Aktuelle Überlegungen zur Konzeption der Charakterstrukturen [Break-ins − Break-outs. Current Reflections on the Conception of Character Structures]. Körper − Tanz − Bewegung, 11(3):94–106.

Pechtl, W. (1989). Zwischen Organismus und Organisation [Between Organism and Organization]. Linz: Veritas Verlag.

Pesendorfer, D. & Pechtl, C. (2018). Praxis der körperbezogenen Beratung. Mensch Arbeit Organisation [Practice of Body-Based Counseling. Person Work Organization]. Supervision, 36(3):35–40.

Potthoff, P. (2022). Psychoanalytische Feldtheorien. Auf dem Weg zu einem schulenübergreifenden Paradigma [Psychoanalytic Field Theories. Towards a Cross-School Paradigm]. Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Potthoff, P. & Wollnitz, S. (2014). Die Begegnung der Subjekte. Die intersubjektiv-relationale Perspektive in Psychoanalyse und Psychotherapie [The Encounter of Subjects. The Intersubjective-Relational Perspective in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy]. Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Schindler, R. (1964). Personalisation der Gruppe [Personalization of the Group]. In M.L. Edelweiss, R. Tanco-Duque & S. Schindler (Eds.), Personalisation [Personalization] (p. 67–78). Herder.

Schultz-Venrath, U. & Felsberger, H. (2016). Mentalisieren in Gruppen [Mentalizing in Groups]. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.

Sollmann, U. (2006). Gruppenprozesse in der Körperpsychotherapie [Group Processes in Body-Psychotherapy]. In G. Marlock & H. Weiss (Eds.), Handbuch der Körperpsychotherapie [Handbook of Body-Psychotherapy] (p. 828–838). Stuttgart: Schattauer.

Sollmann, U. (2009). Slow-Motion-Movement (SMM). In M. Thielen (Ed.), Körper – Gefühl – Denken. Körperpsychotherapie und Selbstregulation [Body − Group − Society. New Developments in Body-Psychotherapy] (p. 105–113). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Sollmann, U. (2013). Seine Würfel, Deine Couch und ich. Rolle und Funktion von Körper zwischen Psychotherapie und Gesellschaft [His Dice, Your Couch and Me. Role and Function of the Body between Psychotherapy and Society]. In M. Thielen (Ed.), Körper – Gruppe – Gesellschaft. Neue Entwicklungen in der Körperpsychotherapie [Body − Group − Society. New Developments in Body-Psychotherapy] (p. 145–159). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Stolorow, R.D., Atwood, G. & Brandchaft, B. (1994). The Intersubjective Perspective. Lanham: Jason Aronson.

Tasche, J. & Weber-Steinbach, R. (2018). Bioenergetik als mentalisierende Körperpsychotherapie. Beiträge zum psychodynamischen Verständnis einer leibhaften Affektivität [Bioenergetics as Mentalizing Body-Psychotherapy. Contributions to the Psychodynamic Understanding of a Bodily Affectivity]. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

Thielen, M. (2013). Der Körper im Feld der Gruppe. Charakteristika der Körpergruppenpsychotherapie [The Body in the Field of the Group. Characteristics of Body Group Psychotherapy]. In M. Thielen (Ed.), Körper – Gruppe – Gesellschaft. Neue Entwicklungen in der Körperpsychotherapie [Body − Group − Society. New Developments in Body-Psychotherapy] (p. 41–66). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Yalom, I.D. (1970). Theorie und Praxis der Gruppenpsychotherapie [Original title: The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy]. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.

Yalom, I.D. (2005 [1983]). Im Hier und Jetzt. Richtlinien der Gruppenpsychotherapie [Original title: In the Here and Now. Group Psychotherapy Guidelines]. btb-Verlag.

Maria Majce-Egger
Maria Majce-Egger

Maria Majce-Egger, clinical and health psychologist, psychotherapist (DG, KP), Certified Bioenergetic Therapist (IIBA), teaching therapist and trainer for Bioenergetic Analysis...

More chapters

Healing Through or With the Body

Healing Through or With the Body

This essay is a plea for body-exercises and the corresponding confrontation with the life issues and resistances that are triggered by the exercises. The authors take an autoethnographic approach to…
From Drive Orientation to Relationship

From Drive Orientation to Relationship

The concept of functional unity and character structures, rooted in the idea of a biological drive, is inextricably linked to Wilhelm Reich and Alexander Lowen and has been an important…
Body-Interventions

Body-Interventions

This article shows the essential role that body-interventions play in the therapeutic context, and which objectives they can pursue. In order to structure the manifold possibilities of body-intervention in Bioenergetic…
Joining and Gilding

Joining and Gilding

First, a brief definition of trauma and the various stages of (complex) post-traumatic stress disorder is given, followed by the neurophysiological principles that are necessary for understanding early developmental disorders…