How Ibp Works

Introduction to Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP) Sessions by Jonna Fries, M.A. This article summarizes the theory and application of IBP by describing what an IBP therapist does in the initial and subsequent sessions. The primary goal of IBP therapy is for the client to experience an awakening of the core self as an embodied experience and reliable inner guide. The client then learns tosustain his or her wellbeing and core self by resolving the body/mind interruptions to core experience as they appear. IBP integrates the body and breath work with talk therapy. Breath, visual awareness, and movement practices are used to awaken aliveness, bring unconscious patterns to the surface and to then develop a sustainable sense of constancy and wellbeing in the body. IBP Seeks to ResolveEntrenched Dysfunctional Patterns Most people develop ways of being, feeling and thinking in response to their developmental fetal/infant/early childhood environment. Many repetitive patterns that once served a useful purpose now work against us. Preverbal developmental experiences become unconsciously ingrained and are difficult to access, identify or change with talk therapy alone. IBP is designed toaccess and resolve dysfunctional psychological/physiological holding patterns developed throughout the lifespan. The mind and body are one. Our automatic psychological-relational-emotional repetitive patterns and traumas are stored in the body/mind. Therefore IBP implementations are designed to release body/mind holding patterns both psychologically and physiologically. IBP is effective inresolving psychological and practical issues for self, interpersonal relationships, and existential themes. Beginning Therapy with an IBP Therapist Overview Working with IBP from the beginning of the intake, the therapist tracks the client’s somatic and verbal expression. Guiding the client to sense somatic expression provides access to an authentic and profound inner guide. The client is discouragedfrom speaking tangentially and is encouraged instead to delve deeper into one or more of the following: the current event, primary scenario, psychological arenas, transference relationship, existential themes, and somatic integration. Presenting problems can be understood and resolved by further exploration of these themes. While ongoing sessions take place the client is forming a deepening level oftrust and transference with the therapist. The therapist is guiding the client toward a profound connection with the Core Self and the ability to sustain this Core Self experience of well-being, inner knowing and trust. Initial Sessions The first session presents an opportunity for the client to disclose reasons for seeking therapy and often to release pent up energy regarding the self-identifiedchief complaint. The therapist uses body/mind interventions such as talk, boundary work, and breath to access the larger and more deeply underlying body/mind processes that may be producing the current dilemma or the client’s overall state. The therapist reframes the

‘problem’ in a workable model. While establishing an energetic bond of attunement, the therapist notices how the clientapproaches and makes sense of relationships and the current dilemma. The therapist observes verbal and non-verbal cues expressing the patient’s presence, contact, sense of self, constancy, and the nature of breathing and holding patterns in the body. IBP body/mind experiential tools are used in this initial assessment. The second session usually involves gathering a history using an IBP genogram calledthe Primary Scenario. The third and fourth sessions are often used to explore the psychological arenas of character style and self-agency along with beginning charge breathing and presence exercises. Gathering Information towards Case Conceptualization The following concepts are used by the IBP therapist to conceptualize client’s case: for this purpose can you use another word as ‘case’ is...