Body-oriented psychotherapy

We exist in relation to others. Our self-perception is shaped by how others see us. When parents or caregivers in childhood did not fully understand, soothe, or accept us, deep wounds in our sense of self can develop. Later (traumatic) experiences can also influence this. Therapy cannot erase these wounds, but it helps in learning how to cope with them. Additionally, new experiences—both in therapy and in other relationships—can have a healing effect. Therapy provides tools to help you relate to yourself and situations differently. The connection between client and therapist, as well as the body itself, serves as an entry point for exploration and an opportunity for healing, which can also improve relationships.

We often unconsciously repeat patterns in how we relate to ourselves and others until we encounter obstacles and experience distress. This is connected to the unconscious, where repressed fantasies, desires, and emotions are stored. In therapy, space is created for these unconscious aspects. A certain movement, for example, might suddenly trigger an emotion, or an image may arise that is linked to a past experience. Through this exploration, space for change emerges.

Body-oriented work helps you reconnect with your body and deepen your awareness of your inner world. Your body tells a story, even if you don’t yet know what it’s about. Our experiences leave traces in our bodies—in posture, muscle tension, and breathing patterns. Perhaps you unconsciously raise your shoulders because, as a child, you always tried to earn approval. Or you may feel a tightness in your throat because you learned to stay silent for your own safety.

Your body holds valuable information about how you are feeling now, your history, and your desires and needs. By working with the body, you learn to understand these signals and together, we make sense of your body’s story, your emotions, and your mind.

Greater awareness creates space for movement and transformation. By feeling and understanding how you function internally, in relation to yourself and others, you can embrace yourself fully—as a person who knows suffering but also the full spectrum of life’s colors.