Biodynamic Body Psychotherapy
Nicola Jephson Coates
"When the rhythm of the music changes, the dance step changes also."
What is Biodynamic Body Psychotherapy?
Every human is conceived a wonderfully unique being. One's background, environment and life experiences from this moment, and throughout life's journey, shape one physically and psychologically. These embodied patterns can become blocks to one's natural energy flow in different layers of the body and mind, including the autonomic nervous system, potentially limiting a person's natural capacity to live, grow and thrive in the world: with oneself, with other people and with all living beings.
Biodynamic Body Psychotherapy, which affects physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of life, stems from the humanistic approach and works with the healing life force to work with the mind, body and spirit as one. The focus is on the well aspects of a person to help heal the wounded aspects. Sessions are co-creations between client and therapist. They are process-oriented, client-led and unfold spontaneously to meet individuals and their needs in varied ways: rooted talking, embodied exercises, breath release techniques, biodynamic bodywork, guided visualisation and imagery to name a few. The maxim of biodynamic therapy is that a technique can fail a client but that a client cannot fail a technique.
Biodynamic psychotherapy might help ease physical symptoms such as aches and pains, undiagnosable symptoms, numbness and chronic pain, by approaching the symptom gently, giving it space to breathe and voice itself.
With psychological dis-ease such as stress, depression, anxiety or overwhelm, therapist and client gently work together to explore its physical manifestation to help reconnect with ease. This form of therapy can also help a person navigate their way through a crisis, a junction in life, a yearning for an embodied way of life, or a deeper journey of self-exploration towards a vital, purposeful, pleasurable and connected way of being.
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What sets this practice apart from other psychotherapeutic approaches is biodynamic bodywork, which can be very effective when wounding has occurred from conception until the age of about 2 years old, before a child can express themselves verbally. This can involve different types of touch on different layers of the body (bone, muscles, connective tissue, skin, aura) sensitive to physical and emotional states and / or gentle movement. The biodynamic approach treats each unique person with all their many layers, rather than as a body or a part thereof.
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Nicola works from Tree Space, a quiet, safe retreat haven in Hindhead, Surrey. She also offers sessions in nature and in South Africa where she travels to when she can.
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About me
Nicola is a trainee biodynamic psychotherapist (UKCP), a biodynamic massage therapist and full member of the Association of Biodynamic Therapists.
She was born and grew up in South Africa, has lived in different countries in Africa and Europe, speaks English, French, and rusty Italian. She welcomes diversity, and understands the necessity of honouring her clients' world view to help them embody their nature, and relationship with themselves, their loved ones, others and our precious planet. She believes the nature of individual / couples biodynamic work can have a ripple effect to the level of global healing.
Earlier in life she worked in the tourism industry in Botswana, she's a translator, has taught French, Yoga and English as a foreign language. She's happiest barefoot on a beach or in the African bush.
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Biodynamic Bodywork
​if you experience or are experiencing
​Physical aches and pains
Overwhelm
Anxiety
Stress
Depression
Numbness
Undiagnosable symptoms
Chronic pain
a crisis,
a junction in your life and are in need of support to navigate your way through it, biodynamic bodywork might help.
​​Or if you're seeking an embodied way of life, or are on a journey of self-exploration towards a vital, fulfilling and pleasurable way of being
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Biodynamic bodywork might help you too as an adjunct to talking therapy. In each treatment, the therapist adapts the nature and intention of the treatment to meet each client where they are in the moment and in the context of their lived experience. The bodywork is sensitive to physical and emotional states. The biodynamic approach treats each unique person with all their many layers, rather than as a body or a part thereof. A series of at least 6 sessions is recommended as the body-mind needs time to feel into and respond to new ways.
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