Pesso Boyden Psychotherapy
Pesso Boyden Psychotherapy (PBSP) is a talking therapy that also very much involves the body in the therapeutic process.
One of the key aspects that make it different to the more conventional methods of psychotherapy is that Pesso is not so interested in getting something out of you. So your old feelings, your old memories… It doesn’t stay with the difficult, painful things, because it works on the theory that we don’t want to reinforce the brain patterns that work around that.
PBSP is much more focused on creating a new experience that comes into the clients memory. We call it a ‘New Memory Map’.
PBSP was developed in the early 1960’s by husband and wife Al Pesso and Diane Boyden.
Al and Diane were both Choreographers. It was during their time working with dance students that they began to notice how many of their students’ displayed certain behavioural patterns that were clearly getting in the way of them being fully able to express their creative emotionality.
Al and Diane recognised that by working in a particular way with their students’ many of these barriers would begin to break down and fall away. Their students dance became more expressive, free and authentic.
It was here that the process of developing an integrative approach to psychotherapy combining somatic and cognitive awareness began.
It turned out that one of Al and Diane’s student’s father was a well established psychologist/psychotherapist, who became curious about what he was hearing from his son regarding their work with him and other students. So he went along to witness first hand Al and Diane’s work.
It was this collaboration that went on to develop Pesso Boyden as a therapeutic framework. PB continues to evolve today.
What happens in a session?
A Pesso Boyden session takes place in what is called a structure. The client stays in control throughout. The therapist introduces various techniques, helping the client tap into the ideas and felt senses of what an alternative history would have felt like.
PBSP offers a different “Ideal” past where all the client’s basic needs were met at the right time, by the right caregiver, Ideally their parents. Using either actual people from the group when working in groups, or using objects when working 121 to represent these ideal figures.
The therapists work is to help the client truly drink in the felt sense of how a whole, alternative experience would feel on a symbolic level.
The opportunity to really experience and embody an ideal past helps the client become more aware of what may be getting in the way of them living the life they were truly meant to live.
PBSP helps a person recognise certain unhelpful tendencies, such as, coping strategies, defence mechanisms, unhelpful behaviours and beliefs that hold them back from becoming their truest authentic happy selves.
When a person gets to experience a hypothetical whole new life map at a systemic felt sense level, embodying their ideal life, the brain also starts to absorb and accept another way – a new life map.
“We are made to be perfect in an imperfect world’” Al Pesso
What do you need today?
For a no obligation 15 minute phone call to discuss your needs, and whether I am the right fit for you, please use the contact form below to get in touch.
I charge £55 for our initial session which lasts 75 minutes. Thereafter sessions will be £45 per hour.
Acknowledging the affordability challenges many face in accessing therapy, I also offer concessions to students or those on low income. We can discuss this during our initial phone conversation.