WELCOME TO THE EABP · results of research in biology, anthropology, ethology, neuro-physiology, neuro-psychology, developmental psychology, ... OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE

W ELCOME TO THE EABP

The European Association for Body-Psychotherapy was founded in 1987 as a professional organization for the many different modalities of body-oriented psychotherapy in Europe. Our work includes the maintenance of professional standards, formulating training standards and the establishment of Body-Psychotherapy as a recognized field of scientific study and clinical practice.

In this booklet you will find information about our basic concepts and ideas, and how we have developed since 1987. We hope, in these pages, to give you a good sense of who we are, how we are organized, and to inform you about what we do. We also let you know about ways to become more involved.

For the most up-to-date information, downloads of membership application forms, for details about The FORUM of Body-Psychotherapy Organizations and for the Register of Accredited European Body-Psychotherapists, please consult the EABP website or contact the EABP Secretariat. We hope you will find what you are looking for.

The EABP Publications Committee

joop intro binnen.indd 1 14-06-2004 10:30:46

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BODY-PSYCHOTHERAPY

Body-Psychotherapy is a distinct branch of psychotherapy, well within the main body of psychotherapy, which has a long history and a body of literature and knowledge based upon a sound theoretical position.

Body-Psychotherapy involves an explicit theory of mind-body functioning, which takes into account the complexity of the intersections and interactions between body and mind. The common underlying assumption is that the body reflects the whole person and there is a functional unity between mind and body. The body does not merely mean the ‘soma’ and that this is separate from the mind, the ‘psyche’. There is not a hierarchical relationship between mind and body, between psyche and soma. They are both functioning and interactive aspects of the whole human being. Where other approaches in psychotherapy touch on this area, body-psychotherapy considers this as fundamental.

Body-Psychotherapy involves a developmental model, a theory of personality, hypotheses as to the origins of disturbances and alterations, as well as a rich variety of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques used within the framework of the therapeutic relationship. There are many different and sometimes quite separate approaches within body-psychotherapy, as indeed there are in the other branches of psychotherapy.

Body-Psychotherapy is also a science, having developed over the last seventy years from the results of research in biology, anthropology, ethology, neuro-physiology, neuro-psychology, developmental psychology, neo-natology, perinatal studies and its own experience and findings.

Body-Psychotherapy exists as a specific therapeutic approach with a rich scientific basis in explicit theory. There is also a wide variety of techniques used, some of which are used on or with the body involving touch, movement and breathing. There is are links with some bodywork therapies, somatic techniques, and complementary medical disciplines, but whilst these may also refer to the body, deal with its physiology, involve touch and movement, they are also very distinct from body-psychotherapy.

Body-Psychotherapy has been scientifically validated by The European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) and several modalities within body-psychotherapy have been scientifically validated as well. Body-psychotherapy is considered as a mainstream branch of psychotherapy.


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ABOUT EABP

EABP is an association of accredited European Body-Psychotherapists with about 600 members throughout Europe. This represents only a small percentage of all qualified and experienced body-psychotherapists, many of whom are members of professional and accrediting organizations allied with EABP.

EABP has semi-autonomous National Associations in Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Russia and Switzerland. National Committees exist in Yugoslavia, France, UK and Scandinavia, which are aiming to form themselves into National Associations. These National Associations and Committees have recently formed themselves into a Council of National Associations for Body-Psychotherapy. The EABP National Associations deal with membership applications in their own country and collect the EABP membership fees. They have their own legal and financial structure, elect their own officers, and regulate themselves fairly autonomously. Bonds with EABP are laid down in a contract. They organize symposia and congresses in their own countries, and sponsor research and activities promoting body-psychotherapy. They also negotiate with, and are often members of the National Umbrella or Accrediting Organization (NUO/NAO) for psychotherapy in their country. Achieving the official national recognition of body-psychotherapy may be a main job.

The FORUM of Body-Psychotherapy Organizations is a fairly separate ‘pillar’ of the EABP. About twenty-five Training Institutes and Professional Associations currently participate, and more are joining annually. In 1999 the EABP General Assembly gave a mandate to the FORUM to accredit body-psychotherapy training courses according to the EABP Training Standards and by a process of self-assessment and mutual recognition. The FORUM also organizes symposia to coincide with its twice-yearly meetings, which provide excellent opportunities for in-depth professional exchange.

EABP is also involved in many other activities, congresses, events, publications, and political organizations that promote body-psychotherapy. These include assisting the publication of research findings in the efficacy of body-psychotherapy, assisting the publication of a handbook of body-psychotherapy, supporting the development of an extensive bibliography of body-psychotherapy, representation at conferences and other body-psychotherapy events and developing an extensive and available resource, this being the EABP website. The EABP is registered as a legal association in Switzerland. Its main source of income is through membership fees and subscriptions. The Secretariat is settled in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


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O UR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE

1 to act as an accrediting organization for European body-psychotherapists and to maintain and promote standards, ethics, and levels of professional worth among its members;

2 a to establish body-psychotherapy as a recognized branch of the profession of psychotherapy, and

b to obtain official recognition for the speciality of body-psychotherapy in the various European countries, and

c to establish that body-psychotherapy can be practiced legally and professionally in all countries in Europe;

3 to promote the dialogue and the exchange of information among the EABP Members to further their intellectual, scientific, creative and special knowledge and practice in body-psychotherapy in a manner similar to other fields of psychotherapy;

4 to offer EABP Members the opportunity to make use of the Association as a supporting structure through the exchange and interchange of information and experience;

5 to develop and support all kinds of activities including the organization of congresses, workshops or other meetings;

6 a to compile a bibliography of all published articles and books relating to the specific theoretical area of body-psychotherapy, and b to issue a professional journal about Body-Psychotherapy, and c to collect and compile publications relating to the subject;

7 to further scientific research and development in Body-Psychotherapy.


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HOW EABP IS ORGANIZED

The Board of Directors is elected every two years at the General Assembly. This is usually held during or directly after the biannual congress. Attendance at the congress is open to anyone; voting at the General Assembly is only for full members of EABP.The President, the General Secretary and the Treasurer of EABP are elected for four-year terms at the General Assembly. The elected Chairperson of The FORUM of Body-Psychotherapy Organizations is ratified as a voting board member. A representative of the Council of National Associations is also on the Board as well as the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee.

EABP Committees

The Ethics Committee consists of five people, also elected at the General Assembly, and which deals with all matters touching on the ethical code, procedure for complaints, ethical advice and similar professional issues. It also acts as an informational resource to EABP members on ethical issues.

The Publications Committee oversees the creation of EABP literature. A twice-yearly Newsletter is sent to members digitally or by post and a Membership Information Booklet goes to all members. The EABP Website is regularly updated with the latest information and there is also this Introductory Booklet and a booklet about The FORUM.The Bibliography of Body-Psychotherapy is also subject to review by the Publications Committee.

The Training Standards Committee meets with representatives of the various training schools and has established a set of criteria for body-psychotherapy training. These are being reviewed in the light of the development of the ECP Training Standards.

The Scientific Committee supports projects that further the scientific aims and objectives of EABP and research projects in body-psychotherapy.

The Professional Development Committee oversees and promotes events for the professional development of EABP members.

The International Membership Committee oversees and coordinates the acceptance on new EABP members by the various National Associations. It reviews any disputed membership acceptances or rejections.

The Congress Planning Committee organizes the biannual EABP Congress. It is chaired by a Board member and may contain people from many different countries, as well as from the country where the Congress is planned. The Congress Selection Committee invites presenters and workshop leaders to the Congress.


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M EMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

Full Membership is for people who have fulfilled all the current membership criteria, gone through the full accreditation process, and who agree to the conditions of EABP Membership.Full Members:• Can get their names and addresses published in the EABP Register of Accredited

European Body-Psychotherapists, which is updated regularly on the EABP website. • Can vote in the General Assemblies, or by postal voting. • Can utilize the resources of the EABP Ethics Committee.• Can attend international congresses and symposia at a discounted rate and get

discounts on certain books and publications in body-psychotherapy.• Can get full information from EABP Newsletters, including an up-to-date copy of the

EABP Bibliography of Body-Psychotherapy on CD-ROM. • Can be recommended for the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) if they are

also members of their National Awarding Organization (NAO) in the EAP. Fee € 190 per year.

Organizational Members can be natural or corporate bodies working in the field of body-psychotherapy. These are usually training institutes, professional associations, and European institutes for specific body-psychotherapy modalities. They agree to the EABP Aims and Objectives and must have at least one EABP full member who can represent them at the EABP General Assembly. Organizational Members are included in the EABP Members Register. Fee € 190 per year.

Candidate Members are people who have completed a recognized training in body-psychotherapy but do not yet fullfill all the current EABP membership criteria. They receive all information and are listed on the EABP Members Register as candidate members but are not able to vote at the General Assembly. Fee € 95 per year.

Associate Membership is for students in body-psychotherapy, or people interested in the field of body-psychotherapy. There are no other membership criteria. Associate Members cannot vote in the General Assembly and their names are not published on the EABP Members Register. They receive all information. Fee € 50 per year.

Honorary Membership is for those who have contributed significantly to body-psychotherapy. They are chosen from recommendations to the EABP Board which are ratified by the EABP biannual General Assembly. Their names are listed in the EABP Members Register. They have a vote at the EABP General Assembly. Fee none.


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M EMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Please fill in the relevant application form and send this (with all the required references and documentation, where relevant) to the EABP National Association in your country in the national language. If there is no National Association, send it to the EABP Secretariat (in English). Forms can be obtained from the EABP website or from the Secretariat, or from the secretariat of your National Association. Your application will be processed as quickly as possible, though it may take a few months. On acceptance you will receive a copy of the constitutional statutes (Articles of Association) along with the Ethical Guidelines and Procedures and basic information from the National Association. You will be required to pay the annual membership fee, sign the Membership Declaration, and agree to the conditions of membership and ethical code. By doing this, you are accepting all these standards as a condition of your membership.

If you are accepted as an EABP member, you are automatically a member of the National Association in your country, unless you choose not to be for special reasons.

If the application is not successful, then there is an appeal procedure to the International Membership Committee and the EABP Board.

Some specific Membership issues

EABP membership currently does not mean that you have any legal permission to practice body-psychotherapy. You must abide by the laws and conditions relating to the practice of your profession in your own country. Nevertheless, EABP membership is increasingly being seen as a relevant and acceptable professional accreditation, demonstrating the functional competence of that person in the field of mental health practice.

EABP is currently working towards having its membership criteria accepted as a professional qualification in psychotherapy in various European countries, and to go with the standards of the EAP, whereby psychotherapy is a recognized as an independent profession, in the future hopefully accepted throughout the European Union.

In some countries that are not so economically advantaged, the annual full membership fee is the equivalent of three full-price psychotherapy sessions in that country.


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CRITERIA FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP

In order to be accredited as a full individual member of EABP, the applicant must have completed:

1. At least 600 hours of professional training as a psychotherapist over at least a three-year period, 400 hours of which must have taken place with a recognized school of body-psychotherapy; or can demonstrate that they have done ‘the equivalent’.

2. At least 150 hours of ongoing individual (or group-) body-psychotherapy, one three-hour session of group work being equal to one hour of individual psychotherapy. These hours of personal psychotherapy should be outside* the setting of training with a professionally paid body-psychotherapist. At least 100 hours should be individual one-to-one sessions; or can demonstrate that they have done ‘the equivalent’.

3. A minimum of at least 100 hours of professional supervision by a body-psychotherapist in either group or individual context outside* of the setting of the training, ‘or the equivalent’. The number of hours of group supervision should be multiplied by two and divided by the number of people in the group.

4. At least 600 hours, preferably more, of paid professional practice as a body-psychotherapist over a three-year period, either in group or individual context, ‘or the equivalent’.

* Although there may be therapy and supervision within the training contract, the hours for therapy and supervision, which meet the criteria, must be contracted and paid for separately. The ideal would be to have a separate therapist, supervisor, time and place, as well as separate payment for these sessions. We realize that, at this time in the professional development of some schools and training programs, this ideal is still unrealistic.

NOTE: Please be clearly advised that the current EABP Membership Criteria (above), which are over 15 years old, are in the process of being revised and changed in 2004 to fit in with current EABP Training Standards, the ECP criteria, and other professional standards in psychotherapy. At some point, the criteria printed here will therefore be superseded by the new criteria, and applications based on the old criteria will no longer be accepted. The announcement and details of these changes will be posted on the EABP website.


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M EMBERSHIP DECLARATION

To us, body-psychotherapists, ethical principles shape interpersonal behavior, which is honest, life-enhancing and avoids needless pain. The following statements reflect our feeling that ethical guidelines should express these qualities in feeling as well as in application.

Our work is dedicated to freeing the life energy of human beings and help move it in the direction of clarity, freedom, love, honesty, compassion, respect and joy. In order to serve that purpose, we as body-psychotherapists commit ourselves to examine constantly our actions, motives and attitudes in all professional relationships.

We enter into a multitude of complex relationships, individual therapy, group therapy, training, supervision and colleague interactions as well as all the interfaces between them. In all these positions, we also represent our field in the eyes of the public. We recognize that in all therapy, training, supervision and consultation, we are involved in varying degrees of asymmetrical relationships, in which we have the primary responsibility for appropriateness of content, context and boundaries. Our actions are therefore governed by our perception of the requirements of the relationship in question. We realize that our goals are influenced both by our overt actions and our state of being.

We realize that our position is unique in our societies, in that we encompass the fields and methods of both psychotherapy and body-therapy, and that we therefore must be especially attentive and sensitive to boundary issues of all kinds: physical, psychological and particularly around the issues of sexuality.

We accept responsibility for keeping up with new developments in psychotherapy, for improving and updating our skills and knowledge, for obtaining advice and support from our colleagues as needed – and when necessary for seeking therapy ourselves to resolve personal problems.

Date: Signature:

(all members sign this declaration)


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Austria: AABP

President: Felix Hohenau P.Effenbergstr. 15 A-3012 Wolfsgraben, AustriaTel / Fax: +43 - 2233 7558 E-mail: [email protected]

The Netherlands: NVLP

Secretary: Joop Valstar Oudezijds Voorburgwal 99 NL-1012 EM Amsterdam, The NetherlandsTel / Fax: +31 - 20 - 623 78 42E-mail: [email protected]

Germany: DGK

President: Dr. Manfred Thielen Crellestrasse 14 D-10827 Berlin, Germany Hm Tel: +49 - 30 - 788 32 78 Wk Tel: +49 - 30 - 851 99 06 Fax: +49 - 30 - 789 586 52 E-mail: [email protected] www.koerperpsychotherapie-dgk.de

Greece: PESOPS

President: Clorinda Lubrano-Kotulas 74 Xanthipou Str. GR-15561 Holargos Athens, GreeceTel: +30 - 210 - 652 81 60 Fax: +30 - 210 - 641 01 60E-mail: [email protected]

NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS


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Italy: AIPC

Representative: Maurizio Stupiggia AIPCVia Lipari 3I-00048 Nettuno, (Rm), Italy Tel: +39 - 051 - 54 09 24 E-mail: [email protected] www.psicoterapiecorporee.it Russia: RABOP

Representative: Victoria Berezkina-Orlova 6A-3-57 2 Troitsky Pereulok R-129090, Moscow, RussiaTel: +7 - 95 - 281 43 53e-mail: [email protected]

Switzerland: CH-EABP

Contact: Jürg Thomet Kohlerenweg 5 CH- 3626 Hünibach, Switzerland Tel: +41 - 31 - 371 67 47 E-mail: [email protected]/ch-eabp

NATIONAL COMMITTEES

France Christiane Lewin-Gros E-mail [email protected] Portugal Thomas Riepenhausen E-mail [email protected] Scandinavia Bjørn Blumenthal E-mail [email protected] UK Sean Doherty E-mail [email protected] Yugoslavia Ljiliana Klisic Djordjevic E-mail [email protected]


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THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EAP

EABP is a member of the European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP) and has been accepted as a European Wide Accrediting Organization (EWAO). It has a seat on the EAP’s Governing Board and representation on the European Training Standards Committee and Scientific Validation Committee. EAP is currently establishing psychotherapy as a recognized profession with appropriate training standards, accredited psychotherapy training and the European Certificate for Psychotherapy that is leading to professional accreditation on a European-wide basis. There is a motion to this effect before the European Parliament.

EABP works to gain recognition for body-psychotherapy on a par with other branches of psychotherapy. To this end EABP has voted its agreement with the 1990 Strasbourg Declaration of Psychotherapy and takes the position that psychotherapy is an independent profession, with a specific professional role, with various modes of entry and a variety of specialization’s.

Now that body-psychotherapy has been accepted as a scientifically valid mainstream of psychotherapy within the EAP, EABP is exerting political pressure within those countries that do not currently recognize body-psychotherapy as being a valid branch of psychotherapy to change their policies and attitudes.

The relationship with USABP

The United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) is a ‘sister’ organization to EABP. It has many links with EABP and many similar aims, criteria and structures, as well as being different, given the different situation of psychotherapy and body-psychotherapy in America. As relatives the USABP members are welcomed at all EABP events, being given similar discounts as EABP Members, and the same applies to EABP members at USABP events.For further information contact: www.usabp.org

A similar association is being formed in Brazil. For information contact Rubens Kignel.E-mail: [email protected] welcomes this initiative and tries to assist and support such developments, also eventually in other countries, in whatever ways are appropriate.


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THE FORUM FOR BODY-PSYCHOTHERAPY ORGANIZATIONS

The FORUM met for the first time in April 1998 in Vienna. Over twenty training institutes and a few professional associations were represented. It has since met twice a year in Vienna-Austria, in Amsterdam-The Netherlands, in Travemünde-Germany, in Athens-Greece, in Egmond aan Zee-The Netherlands, in Iserlohn-Germany, in Naples-Italy, in Montpellier-France, in Frankfurt-Germany, in Vienna-Austria and in October 2004 in Marathon-Greece.

In 1999 the EABP General Assembly gave a mandate to the FORUM to accredit body-psychotherapy training courses according to the EABP Training Standards and by a process of self-assessment and mutual recognition. Up to 2004, nineteen Training Schools have been accredited, of which two schools have subsequently had their accreditation revoked. Several more schools are in the process of obtaining accreditation.

EABP has also made representations to the EAP on behalf of some modalities within body-psychotherapy to become accepted as scientifically valid. Six modalities, all members of the FORUM, have currently received this acceptance: Biodynamic Psychotherapy, Unitive Psychotherapy, Hakomi, Bodynamic Psychotherapy and Emotional Reintegration (ERI) and Character Analytic Vegetotherapy. Other modalities are in the process of submitting papers on the scientific validation of that modality. This process means that people trained in such modalities will, in due course, be able to receive the EAP’s European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP). Additionally, Biosynthesis, Bioenergetics and Psycho-Organic Analysis have also been accepted independently of EABP as scientifically valid by the EAP.

To join the FORUM a trainig institute must first become an Organizational Member of the EABP. At least one person from the school must also join as an individual full member and can then represent their school at the EABP General Assembly. The school or institute must be a legally constituted organization with appropriate standards and codes of ethics, have at least one crop of graduates, and be supportive of the EABP’s aims.

The FORUM is partly self-financing. There is a separate FORUM annual membership fee, which is based on the number of trainees. From 2005 onwards this is:

Up to 25 trainees € 80 From 61 – 100 € 270 From 26 – 60 € 180 More than 100 trainees € 360

The FORUM is beginning to achieve a separate identity from EABP and to develop its own goals and aims related to the needs of its member organizations. Recently they organized regular in-depth professional exchange between members in a symposium format.

Further information and application forms for organizational and FORUM membership can be obtained from the EABP website or from the EABP Secretariat.


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CONGRESSES

The EABP has organized biennial their European Body-Psychotherapy Congresses. These have been 3-4 day residential congresses and usually attended by between 200 and 300 people.

EABP Congresses

• Body-Psychotherapy in Europe Davos, Switzerland 1987• Body, Health and Society Seefeld, Austria 1989• Words, Touch and Transference Lindau, Germany 1991• Science and Love Strasbourg, France 1993• Six Perspectives on Body-Psychotherapy Carry-le-Rouêt, France 1995• 100 Years of Wilhelm Reich: Energy, Sexuality Character and Society Pamhagen, Austria 1997• The Flesh of the Soul Travemünde, Germany 1999• The Art of Relating Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands 2001• The Future of Body-Psychotherapy Ischia, Italy 2002 (in conjunction with the International Scientific Committee)• The Body at the Center of Psychotherapy Athens/Marathon, Greece 2004

EABP Members have been involved in the organization of the following:

International Congresses

• Congresses organized by the International Scientific Committee for Body-Psychotherapy (Mexico-1987; Montreal-1990; Barcelona-1993; Ischia-2002; Sao Paulo-2005)• International Congress of Somatotherapy and Somatanalysis (Paris-1987;

Montevideo-1989; Strasbourg-1991; Buenos Aires-1992)• International Congresses on Body-Centred Psychotherapy (Zürich-1986; Zürich-1989)• 1st U.S. National Conference on Body Oriented Psychotherapy (Boston-1996)• United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (Boulder-1998, Berkeley Ca.-2000,

Baltimore-2002)• Wilhelm Reich Festival (Belgrade-1997)• Wilhelm Reich Conference, (Sao Paulo-1997)• International Association of Biosynthesis Congress (Minorca-1996, Brazil-2000)

National EABP Congresses and Symposia

• The Italian National Association for Body-Psychotherapy has organized congresses in Napels-1990; Catania-1992; Milano-1996

• The Swiss National Association (CH-EABP) organized the inaugural meeting in Zürich and has organized national congresses in Basel-1996, Basel-2000 and Basel-2002

• The German National Association (DGK) foundation meeting was in Munich-1994 and has organized congresses in Berlin-1998 and Berlin-2003

• The Dutch National Association (NVLP) has initiated national symposia in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004


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THE EABP WEBSITE: WWW.EABP.ORG

Includes:

• Membership information – membership criteria – membership application forms• EABP Register of Accredited European Body-Psychotherapists • Organization and structure of EABP • EABP officers and committee information • National Associations – contact addresses, news • FORUM – members, application forms, self-assessment process, Training Standards• Current and past events – conferences, congresses, seminars, symposia,

workshops, training’s • Publications – book reviews and significant articles on body-psychotherapy• Down-loadable items such as a PowerPoint presentation on body-psychotherapy• World wide contacts with other body-psychotherapy organizations • The submission on the Scientific Validity of Body-Psychotherapy• Newsletters – past and present• Chat room – discussion groups


Thank you for reading this booklet, and, when you have finished reading it, please pass it on to someone else who may be interested, rather than throwing it away.

SECRETARIAT

Jill van der Aa Leidsestraat 106 -108/2 1017 PG Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel +31 - 20 - 622 97 42 Fax +31 - 20 - 625 731 2 E-mail [email protected]

Website www.eabp.org


Documents

WELCOME TO THE EABP · results of research in biology, anthropology, ethology, neuro-physiology, neuro-psychology, developmental psychology, ... OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE