The Hakomi method
By: Sabina Suehnel, M.A.
Part 2:
The Hakomi method: Practical application
Hakomi therapists draw upon somatic expressions
as a way to approach human suffering. Some of
the techniques involve physical contact and non-erotic
touch. Let’s assume a person complains about some
tension in neck and shoulder, while reporting to me
about an area of difficulty. First, I tend to ask the
person to bring his or her awareness to the tension in
this particular area of the body. To support a
deepening into her physical sensation, I might ask
some questions about the tension: How strong is the
tension? Is it symmetrical? As the individual gains
some familiarity with this sensory experience, I
slowly encourage him or her to check in for other
parts of the body that feel tense.
In this way, the client focuses increasingly on
the realms of inner experiences and increases
awareness of how he or she actively creates these
experiences in the moment. While in a state of
mindfulness, I suggest to relax neck and shoulder
and then, voluntarily repeat the motion of tension
for several times. This shift from an unconscious
involuntary response into a conscious voluntary
movement is essential in the process of uncovering
behavioral patterns.
When the client has reached a strong sense of the
participation of the body in creating tensions the
underlying thoughts or emotions rise into
awareness. The correlation between physical
and mental activity can be achieved by
proposing that an individual spontaneously,
without any efforts, finds verbal expression
for the tension: “Now, give a voice to your
sensations. Are there any words or images
coming when you tense this way?” Often,
through this kind of bridging between soma
and psyche, the person reaches insight into
old behavioral strategies and develops ways
to influence these patterns.
Similarly, the technique of “taking-over” is
used to help a person gain clarity of unconscious
feelings, thoughts, and longings (Kurtz, 1990).
Taking-over implies that the therapist supports
the client’s gestures, postures, or body tensions
by physically helping him or her to stabilize a
particular movement. This technique is based on
the assumption that some gestures or facial
expressions are unconsciously performed to protect
from painful memories.
By diminishing the effort a person puts into this
(unconscious) managing and repressing of unresolved
experiences through tensing muscles and habitual
gestures, the client can more easily discover the
underlying impulses and feelings. While talking,
many persons touch themselves, clasp their hands
together, or rub the face and neck. Any of these
activities could be worked with and further
explored in mindfulness.
In a session, we experimented with the fear of
“seeing” and “being seen”. My client’s experience
shows the typical sequence of events that someone
undergoes when this technique is used. As I covered
a client’s eyes with my hands, he immediately felt
a sense of relaxation and calmness. After a
little bit of time he experienced a strong relief
and moved closer. While we debriefed, he told me
how having his eyes covered by another person gave
him permission to remove himself from the center
of attention. My client recalled some childhood
memories where he had to withdraw inside himself
with nobody available to comfort and sooth his
loneliness and fear. Now, as an adult, in the
safety of our relationship, he was able to accept
the nourishment offered to him.
The important steps in this process ranged from an
immediate experience (such as feeling or image), to
an expression of the feeling or image, and finally
to an integrating of previously unresolved conflicts.
In body-centered healing work, practitioners
incorporate kinesthetic and intuitive ways of knowing.
The therapist needs to be familiar with the different
levels of awareness, notice subtle changes and relate
to the client on a moment-to-moment basis. Having a
strong sense of one's own somatic responses and a
trust in one’s own sensory perception are important
attitudes to create a safe environment for in-depth
growth.
The commitment to facilitating somatic psychotherapy
requires an on-going practice to cultivate bodily
presence, such as movement, martial arts, dance, or
yoga. Through this embodied awareness, the therapist
is able to perceive clients in their uniqueness and
provide the kind of support that is specifically
needed in the current situation.
REFERENCES
Kurtz, R. (1990). Body-centered psychotherapy:
the Hakomi method. Mendocino, CA: LifeRhythm.
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