Susan Aposhyan

Professional Life

Susan Aposhyan graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, in dance and psychology from the University of Virginia. She participated in graduate level work in biomechanics, dance, and psychology at her alma mater, New York University and Boston University. She taught multiple types of bodywork, including dance, meditation, and yoga. After studying Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen form of relating through Body-Mind Centering, Aposhyan integrated her somatic and cognitive into one therapeutic model. She became certified in Body-Mind Centering and continued studying and practicing the technique, which led to her development of Body-Mind Psychotherapy. Aposhyan has applied her technique to various arenas: educational, medical, and industrial. Her methods have been used to address issues including depression, autism, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, trauma, bipolar, psychosis, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

 

In 1980, Aposhyan began her teaching career at the Naropa University, and while there, she founded the Association of Somatic Psychology. Her foundation combined with several other somatic programs in 1994 and became known as the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy. Aposhyan was on the board and continues to remain active in this organization. In 1990, she worked in collaboration with Christine Caldwell to develop a Master’s program for Body Psychotherapy at Naropa University. She acted as director of this program, which was the first somatic program, until 2000. She currently teaches in the Esalen program at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.

 

Aposhyan continues to work in psychotherapy and offers her services in meditation and yoga teaching and healing as well. She is an expert in Buddhist meditation and is experienced in several other forms, including Hindu, Christian, and secular. Aposhyan has a dedicated following and many of her clients appreciate her candidness and humor. She strives to help people overcome their struggles and uses compassion, experience, and body psychotherapy to achieve these goals.  

 

Contribution to Psychology

Aposhyan is the developer of Body-Mind Psychotherapy (BMP). BMP emphasizes early motor development and physiology, with a focus on neuroscience. Awareness of sensation is an essential element of this form of psychotherapy. Mindfulness of the moment and the body’s response to the event or experience is the beginning of the healing process.  

 

The key elements of Body-Mind Psychotherapy are:

  • Embodiment is a practice that involves identifying specific reactive sensations and allowing oneself to feel and embody them fully.
  • Development is recognized as a vehicle for transformation, and is the cornerstone of BMP. Motor development from early childhood is used as a map for future emotional healing and growth.  
  • Experiential anatomy provides a witness to the emotional and physiological reactions and processing of life experiences.

 


Quote by Susan Aposhyan