Bookreview: Neuroscience of Somatic Psychotherapy
Title of the book: Neuroscience of somatic psychotherapy
Author: Gees Boseker
Year of appearance: 2017
Gees Boseker, the writer of this book, works as a Core Energetics Therapist and as developmental somatic psychotherapist. She works with parents, children and attachment. From this point of view, she studied a lot on neuroscience and the brain as a social organ. This book connects insights of neuroscience with Core Energetics, or more generally, with somatic psychotherapy.
Gees Boseker introduces the concept of the “whole-body-brain”. The brain is not seen as an authority in the head that controls the body. It is seen as an organ throughout the whole body (including the nervous system and the hormonal system) with as much as bottom up processes as top down. She mentions for instance the “gut brain”, seated in intestines, where the very basic experience of safety takes place. From developmental point of view the development of the brain even starts in the body, first the brainstem with the autonomous body processes, then the motoric system and only then the mental system.
That is how it becomes clear that somatic psychotherapy has an important contribution in healing processes. After trauma (early, later, social etc.), the natural flow of energy/signals from the body upwards to the head is disturbed. With that our sense of self is disturbed, and with that our capacity to feel love and to connect to others is disturbed. This process is clearly explained with the neuroscience in this book. Now we really understand why body exercises and grounding is so important, or how group therapy can contribute in this process. Boseker writes an intriguing case study, where a man, diagnosed by autism, appeared to be at least partly socially traumatized instead of pure autistic.
The book is easy and quick to read, not so much pages, but the information density is high. There is a lot to learn about neuroscience.
How does this book or article relate to Core Energetics?
This relationship is very clear: With the insights of neuroscience Core Energetic techniques become logical and theoretically substantiated. The importance of bodywork, of grounding, and of clients having new experiences in social contact is very clear.
Why do you think this book is important for Core Energetic Therapists
With this book Core Energetic therapists get knowledge about why and when to do what. Knowledge about the whole body brain helps us to understand why a client acts as he/she acts. You understand the disturbances in energy flow and what it means for sense of self and for the capacity to make contact. More over it gives you a neuroscience language to communicate with the world of medicine and psychology.
What is your conclusion and advice for our work as Core Energetic Therapists?
To work with the bottom up flow of energy to develop a sense of self, so that (somewhat) after that connection with other people can be made. This is how we can develop receptiveness, intuition and wisdom. This is the way to open up the flow of energy and consciousness. We know this already, but now we know why.
The writer of the review
Tanja Konig, Registered Psychologist/Labor and Health and Registered Psychologist Somatic psychotherapy, Core Energetics therapist.
Date of this review: January the 4th of 2018