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Psychodynamic Foundations of Bioenergetic Analysis

Experiencing, Understanding and Healing the Body and the Mind
The Moving Body in Relationship | Der bewegte Körper in Beziehung
Volume 2 Part 1: Psychodynamic Theory for Bioenergetic Practice Chapter 1.4

The Moving Body in Relationship

Bioenergetics and Intersubjective Psychoanalysis
Dieter Rau-Luberichs

This essay examines the concept of intersubjectivity and describes how the so-called intersubjective turn initiated a paradigm shift in Psychoanalysis. In this context, intersubjectivity stands not only for the relationship between psychotherapist and patient, but is rooted in the early mother-baby relationship or even prenatally in the relationship of the fetus to the mother's womb. The author describes how Intersubjectivity Theory developed out of discussions about early psychoanalytic technique, from Humanistic Psychology and later from modern infant and cognitive research. Today, the theory contextualizes all psychoanalytical concepts as an extension or supplement to Self-Psychology. However, since the self and intersubjectivity are embodied from the ground up (body-self, movement-self, relational self), Intersubjectivity Theory is also of central importance in body-psychotherapy and Bioenergetics in particular.

Link to the original publication at Routledge

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  • Intersubjectivity Theory as a new paradigm in Psychoanalysis is not only based on the discussions of the pioneers of Psychoanalysis about the correct treatment technique, but is also rooted in modern infant and cognitive research as well as in Humanistic Psychology.
  • Intersubjectivity is already embodied from its origin. However, the body is understood here in the form of its movements, since movements are intentional and thus have a contextual and social character.
  • Intersubjectivity Theory turns Freud’s drive theory on its head by viewing drives not as the cause of the relationship to the object, but as a consequence of empathic or non-empathic relationships.
  • Interpersonal conflicts also occur alongside intrapsychic conflicts, without the conflict between drive and affect having to be abandoned. Thereby, the intrapsychic conflict has its place in the contact interruptions within the empathic relationship between psychotherapist and patient.
  • Psychoanalysis provides Bioenergetics with well-founded theories of intrapsychic experience (psychodynamics), which prove to be a helpful theoretical orientation for the regressive experience of a patient.
  • Bioenergetics provides Psychoanalysis with a wealth of intervention possibilities and experiences that remove the restriction to a patient’s verbal associations and thus enrich the therapeutic process.

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Dieter Rau-Luberichs
Dieter Rau-Luberichs

Dieter Rau-Luberichs, Dipl.-Psych., psychological psychotherapist for children, adolescents and adults in private practice, lecturer, supervisor and teaching therapist at the...

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