A Conceptualization of the Body in Psychodynamic and Body-Based Psychotherapies: Areas of Overlap and Possibilities for Integration

<p>The distinction between verbal and nonverbal psychotherapies is clearly visible in theory and clinical practice. Moreover, this duality of approaches promotes a split between the body and the mind, defining them as separate from each other. This dissertation helps bridge the divide between the literature in body-based therapies and verbally-based psychotherapy by (i) exploring the conceptual frame used to understand the body in psychodynamic therapy (ii) identifying the areas of overlap between psychodynamic theory and theories that underlie body-based psychotherapies, and (iii) proposing ways in which psychodynamic and body-based theories can inform one another. A clinical case was used to share possible ways in which nonverbal attunement, somatic countertransference, mirroring and embodied use of language could contribute to bridging the gap between the worded and wordless. In the case and the analysis, it becomes apparent those therapeutic interventions that are coming from the field of body-based therapies, could be used in verbal approaches to contribute to a fuller understanding of the therapeutic process.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Rayska, Aleksandra

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Benjamin Harris

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Diana Punales
• Steven Tuber
• Melissa Ilardi
• Rebecca Campon

• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Dance Movement Therapy
• Mental Disorders
• Other Psychiatry and Psychology
• psychodynamic psychotherapy; body-based psychotherapy; nonverbal attunement; embodiment; dance-movement therapy

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2291

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-3026