Bioenergetic Analysis and Neurotherapy

I wanted to add a note here by way of background to understand how I think about neuromodulation and its relationship to psychotherapy and the healing process. I practiced as a psychotherapist for many years before becoming a psychologist in 1999. It then became clear by 2010 that the bulk of my clinical work would not fit within the scope of practice of Psychology. I found that psychoneurophysiology is a better term for what I was doing given the use of neurofeedback, photic and electromagnetic stimulation that then was combined with Bioenergetic Therapy (see link below). I offer this by way of explaining my theoretical and clinical perspective on treatment which leans heavily on  neo-Reichian, general systems and psychodynamic theory and now digital neurotherapeutics and photobiomodulation.

Much of my focus is on larger systemic (interpersonal, group-as-a-whole, socio-cultural) factors and how those dynamics influence activity at the individual (person system) level. I use the idea of character armoring as it was defined by Reich and Lowen to capture the expression of trauma as it manifests physically as specific patterns of chronic muscular tension. These patterns then influence the other structive elements, e.g., fascial and neurodevelopmental maturation. All the pieces are connected as the old song taught us. 

I recognized that the isomorphic pattern of contraction and expansion that defined character armor also manifested in the neurophysiological level as constrained dominant frequency activity that could be observed in the patterned behavior of the dominant EEG activity both in terms of absolute range of manifest frequency and variability within the range. Now its clear that we can use this way of understanding the flow of energy in the body to support healing using the noninvasive tools of photobiomodulation and functional medicine. The emotional/psychological aspects of healing can be best addressed using body-centered techniques that can help people unlock and express their full potential. It is very gratifying to me to see how all the pieces fit together and to then be able to help others learn as well. Some see these principles now as 'biohacks' and that doesn't really get at the heuristic quality but then heuristics aren't what they used to be along with pretty much everything else.

For a quick outline of Bioenergetics
​www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/bioenergetic-analysis