Postural Integration

Postural Integration is a process-oriented, body based therapy originally developed in the late 1960s by Jack Painter [1] (1933-2010) in California, USA, after exploration in the fields of humanistic psychology and the human potential movement. [2] The method aims to support personal change and self development,[3] through a particular form of manipulative holistic bodywork.[4]

Background

During his time as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Miami, Painter became interested in working with the body and personally explored many different approaches – massage, acupuncture, Zen, yoga, the work of Ida Rolf and her Rolfing method,[5] Gestalt therapy developed by Fritz Perls, and the theories of Wilhelm Reich in the form of Vegetotherapy.

By the seventies he was calling his form of holistic bodymind bodywork [6] 'Postural Integration'. [7] In the eighties and nineties Painter then went on to develop two further methods, Energetic Integration [8] and Pelvic-Integration Integration.

In practise

In the course of a ten session series[9] modeled loosely on Rolfing Structural Integration, the Postural Integration process integrates Gestalt therapy with deep bodywork,[5] as well as breath work, fine energy work and elements from the Five Phases system. The initial seven sessions address specific body areas and focus on releasing defensive armoring habits, characterized as "letting go of the old self". [9] During sessions spontaneous emotional expression is encouraged. Additional tools include drama therapy, attention to body language [10] and self-awareness. [5]

Since PI has elements of both psychotherapy and bodywork, some practitioners focus more on the therapy aspect while others use it primarily as a form of bodywork with psychotherapy-based awareness and insights. [5]

Postural Integration is taught and practised mainly in Europe, also in USA, Mexico and South Africa. Postural Integration trainings and trainers are organized within the International Council of PsychoCorporal (Bodymind) Integration Trainers (ICPIT).

In the 1990s Postural Integrational Psychotherapy (PIP) developed in Europe out of Postural Integration with the broader inclusion amongst other aspects, of Jungian psychology, and was validated by the European Association for Body Psychotherapy as a method of body psychotherapy. [11]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Ziehl, Silke: Recalling Jack Painter
  2. ↑ Erken, Rita and Schlage, Bernhard: Editors: Transformation of the Self with Bodymind Integration
    Postural Integration – Energetic Integration – Psychotherapeutic Postural Integration;
    Articles by 14 international authors; Hubert W. Holzinger Verlag, Berlin (2012) ISBN 978-3-926396-67-9
  3. ↑ Painter, Jack: Postural Integration, Transformation of the Whole Self (1985)
  4. ↑ Painter, Jack: Technical Manual of Deep Wholistic Bodywork, Postural Integration; published by
    The International Centre for Release and Integration, Mill Valley, Calif. USA (1984) (2nd edit. 1990)
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ben-Shahar, Asaf Rolef: Touching the Relational Edge; Body Psychotherapy A Roadmap to Body Psychotherapy modalities,
    \PI defined: pp.43-44, Karnac Books Ltd., London (2014) ISBN 978-1-7822009-4-9
  6. ↑ Keleman, Stanley: Your Body speaks its Mind, Center Press (US) (1989) ISBN 978-0934320016
  7. ↑ Erken, Rita and Schlage, Bernhard: Editors: Transformation of the Self with Bodymind Integration
  8. ↑ Energetic Integration
  9. 1 2 Knaster, Mirka (1996). Discovering the Body's Wisdom: A Comprehensive Guide to More Than Fifty Mind-Body Practices. Bantam. pp. 205–6. ISBN 9780307575500.
  10. ↑ Ben-Shahar, Asaf Rolef: Ch.VII The Language of the Body pp.151-187
  11. ↑ Young, Courtenay. "Body-Psychotherapy in Europe: the EABP & the EAP" (PDF). www.eabp.org. p. 3. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

External links

Further Reading

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