Psychodynamic Foundations of Bioenergetic Analysis: Responses from Body-Psychotherapy to the Uncertainty of Our Times explores how Alexander Lowen's concept of a grounded self can be cultivated despite the increasing uncertainty caused by rapid political and social changes. The book offers answers to postmodern questions arising from the spread of Bioenergetic Analysis in non-Western societies, changes in the disease spectrum, new insights into the development of gender identities and the revolutionary spread of artificial intelligence. The bioenergetic concept of self is framed within a neurobiological context and linked to innovative psychodynamic theories of defense and drive. The authors show how the postmodern development toward individual self-construction, which has emerged through the increasing virtualization of life or new sociocultural constructions of femininity, can engage in a productive dialogue with the idea of a grounded self. To this end, the bioenergetic framework is expanded to include attachment theory, an intersubjective understanding of therapy, a psychodynamically and psychiatrically informed diagnostic scheme and a competency model that incorporates inter-, multi- and transcultural perspectives. The final chapter discusses the integral role of embodied spirituality in a holistic understanding of body-psychotherapy. The book is intended for body-psychotherapists and psychodynamically-oriented students or psychotherapists who want to integrate the body more fully into their work. Readers interested in holistic healing approaches will find a comprehensive overview of the diverse European perspectives on Bioenergetic Analysis, supported by case studies, figures, study cards and multiple-choice questions.
