Bioenergetics

What is Bioenergetics?

Bioenergetic therapy is a body-oriented psychotherapy that treats emotional problems by releasing chronic muscle tensions believed to hold repressed emotions.

Wilhelm Reich, a 1930s-40s psychoanalyst, developed the foundational concept of “character armor” - the idea that psychological defenses become embedded as physical tensions in the body. He believed emotional health required free-flowing energy through the body.

Alexander Lowen, Reich’s student, formalized this into Bioenergetic Analysis in the 1950s. He created specific exercises, breathing techniques, and stress positions to help clients release stored tensions while exploring their emotional meanings.

The therapy combines physical interventions with talk therapy to address both bodily and psychological aspects of mental health.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Have you heard “The Body Keeps the Score?” (Bessel van der Kolk ). The body learns early on to adjust to certain requirements from caretakers , environment , culture, country etc. and “contorts” itself into a form that works at THAT time - It helps create our character. Unfortunately that was needed THEN has become a cage of sorts as a body patterns keep us prisoner. Bioenergetics helps address that to assist in more freedom for the individual.