was created by John C. Pierrakos in the 1970s. Pierrakos was a student of Wilhelm Reich and worked closely with Alexander Lowen. After jointly creating Bioenergetics, Pierrakos split with Lowen to create his own unique way of working with his patients. Influenced by the work of Carl Jung and his wife, Eva Pierrakos, CE evolved to include not only the roots or Reichian theory, but also an eclectic mix of energy psychology and consciousness theory.
There are three primary tenets to Core Energetics. The first is that humans are inherently psychosomatic beings; the body and the mind of the individual are inseparable. Second is that the ability to heal what is necessary to heal, comes from within. Unlike traditional allopathic medicine, where a person relies on the healing of the physician or medication, in Core Energetics the belief is that what is required to heal is already present in the person. Third is that “all of existence forms a unity that moves toward creative evolution, both of the whole and of the countless components” (Pierrakos).
In CE, healthy functioning is characterized by a balanced flow of energy through the five fundamental levels of being: the body, emotions, mind, will, and spirit. This energy is similar to the chi of traditional Chinese medicine, the Indian prana energy, and Reichian orgone energy. In fact, Pierrakos was the first Western scientist to bring together energy, spirituality, physics, and psychiatry (Chubbuck).
When energy flows evenly and unobstructed, there is health and optimal functioning. When the energy is weak, or blocked, health is lacking. Such deficiencies can be seen in areas of the body where there is too much or too little energy. Affecting not only the body, energy dysfunctions can also impact psychological functioning, and result in character structure types found in the work of Reich and Lowen (schizoid, oral, masochistic, psychopathic, and rigid).
One of the most basic principles in CE is that every person has a unique and predictable ability to love, grow and evolve to limitless potential. These abilities form the life force, or primal energy, found in each of us. The capacity of the individual to be in touch with and to allow this energy to flourish is what determines one’s level of health or suffering. It is through the body, mind and spirit that this energy flow can be observed, and is ultimately accessed in therapy (Chubbuck, 1999).
Another integral concept to CE is the belief that we are made up of layers of energy. At the core is our life force, the energy of life that moves, evolves and creates. As already mentioned, when we are aware of and allow this energy to flow, we are in balance and find health. Surrounding the core is the lower self, formed when we are unable to express negative and/or painful emotions. This defensive layer, the shadow self, serves to protect us from the potential consequences of authentic emotional expression. This layer of unexpressed emotional energy becomes fixed, and hardened and literally shapes our physical structure (Chubbuck, 1999).
CE interventions focus on working with energy blocks and deficiencies in the body via physical exercises and breathing techniques. The goals of such interventions include increasing or decreasing energy in various parts of the body, grounding energy, and clearing blocked energy. Interventions include hitting pillows, kicking, and role play.
CE also uses specific equipment to work with the body. The roller, for example, is a tool that is used to work directly on the body. Basically, a large and thick rolling pin, it is used to smooth out muscles on the feet, torso, and large muscles of the legs.
Touch and massage, both by the therapist and by the individual, are used extensively in CE, again to work with the body and energy. Locations throughout the body common to blockages, including the eyes, the jaw and the diaphragm, are often the focus of this bodywork.
There are four primary stages in CE. The first, penetrating the mask, focuses on increasing the person’s awareness of their own character structure, and defensive armoring. This is done using extensive physical exercise, which serves to increase a somatic awareness of the self and begin, releasing authentic emotionality. “The therapist helps the patient to move from the conscious into the unconscious, and ultimately to reach the core of his being” (Pierrakos, 1990, p. 213).
The second stage, releasing the lower self, is divided into five parts. First, much like penetrating the mask, the therapist and individual continue to increase awareness and knowledge of the “attitude of denial,” the mechanism that is the defensive structure. Second, the meaning of this attitude is uncovered. In short, how does having this specific outlook on life impact other aspects of being? Third, the intent of this attitude, how it is used and why, is uncovered. Fourth, the cause, the original wound, or the defensive reaction is revealed. And finally, work to uncover what is referred to as the mask, basically the face we have shown the world for much of our lives. This is working with the lower self. The next step is bringing the authentic self back online, then, in the context of a safe and unconditionally accepting therapeutic container, the negative and painful emotions that have been guarded and held within, are released and allowed to have expression.
Stage three is called centering in the higher self. CE “continues where other therapeutic approaches leave off, after the resolution of the dysfunctions. The third and fourth stages, then, are devoted to evolving the person’s path toward unification with all of existence” (Pierrakos). It stage three, the primary work is to increase trust in living from the authentic self.
The fourth and final stage, uncovering the life plan, is characterized by a meditation process consisting of four focuses. The first focus is on inner truth, which “helps the patient see who he or she can be and accept the effort it will take to evolve.” The second focus involves placing the truth uncovered in the first focus on the inner core, itself. The third focus is about where life is taking the person, where they are headed, and uncovering the uniqueness of the core. And finally, the fourth focus is about trusting that the world, the universe, can and will hold the evolution of this new, unique core self.
A typical CE session lasts about an hour. A person might wear tight-fitting clothing, or even a bathing suit, to allow the therapist to easily assess and intervene with the body. As already stated, early interventions serve to increase the person’s awareness of their body and their structure by increasing and working with energy. This is done with breathing exercises, postures, touch and other physical interventions. Sessions typically include intensive bodywork, movement and touch, in order to directly access and facilitate the release of held energy. It is quite common for such release to result in intense and cathartic emotional expression (Chubbuck).
One primary intervention common to CE is the use of staccato breathing. In his observation of newborns, Pierrakos noticed that while nursing, babies tend to breathe in short nasal sniffs. He hypothesized that by engaging in this primal, nurturing breathing method, one might reconnect with a lost sense of connection and love. He thus created the staccato breathing technique which served to release multiple muscular blocks as well as optimize the flow of energy through the body, balancing both active and receptive capacities (Wilner).
There are two ways energy moves through the body. Active energy occurs when we engage with something, when we act on something. It tends to flow posteriorly from bottom to top. Receptive energy, flowing anteriorly, allows us to receive love and engage spiritually. If the posterior flow is stronger, we tend to be less able to be compassionate, and feel things superficially. When the converse is true, we tend to struggle with doing, planning and completing thing (Wilner).
Common to Reichian and Bioenergetic theory, the body is divided into seven segments which include ocular, oral, throat, chest, diaphragm, abdomen, and pelvis. Staccato breathing simultaneously brings a flow of energy through all seven segments, in a figure eight pattern, crossing at the diaphragm (Wilner).
Staccato breathing is broken into three stages which include expansion (active), contraction (receptive), and pausing (relaxation). During expansion, the person lies down on their back with their knees bent. The back is arched as they close their eyes and take in five short, strong breaths through their nose. The person then holds their breath on a count of three and then exhales. During the exhalation stage, the person exhales forcefully through the mouth, as they allow their back to relax from the arching. The shoulders are raised and the tummy is tucked, as their body moves into a contracted posture. During the third phase, the body is allowed to relax for several seconds before the entire cycle is repeated (Wilner).
In conclusion, Core Energetics is a form of somatic psychology that brings together body, mind and spirit. At its core is the premise that all beings are born to give and receive love, and evolve to limitless capacity. Love, here, is life force, the core, authentic self that was covered over and protected early in our lives. Through the body-focused, cathartic interventions found in CE, the shadow, or lower self, which has restricted our movement, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, is removed. “When the core, or authentic self, is no longer overshadowed by the destructive characteristics of the mask, or lower self, love is free to nourish people and help them transform their lives (Wilner).
References:
- Chubbuck, P. L. (1999). Core energetics. In N. Allison (Ed.), The illustrated encyclopedia of body-mind disciplines. New York: Rosen Publishing Group.
- Pierrakos, J. C. (1990). Core energetics: Developing the capacity to love and heal. Mendocino, CA: LifeRhythm.
- Wilner, K. B. (1999). Core energetics: A therapy of bodily energy and consciousness. In D.J. Wiener (Ed.), Beyond talk therapy: Using movement and expressive techniques in clinical practice. Washington: American Psychological Association.
Relationships with our co-workers and bosses can really affect our lives! When they go well our lives are enriched. When they are difficult, we and our families can suffer.
At work, the principles of Internal Family Systems Therapy can help you:
• Maintain your Self qualities when you are under the gun: Calm, Clarity, Connection, Compassion, Courage, Creativity, and Confidence
• If something gets in the way of these qualities, it’s probably a Protector Part and/or an Exile. Pay attention to them, and they may let you get back to your Self qualities and Self leadership.
Read on to find out how Internal Family Systems can help you at work. (more…)
In The Use of Scaffolding Map in Narrative Therapy I documented my first meeting with Peter, a boy who’d experienced anger and sadness after he was exposed to domestic violence in his home.
In my second meeting with Peter, we met alone the majority of the time because his father was taking care of the other children in the family. Peter was talkative and engaged in our conversation. I checked in with him, asked how he’d felt since our last meeting, which had taken place one and a half weeks prior. Peter said he didn’t feel angry or sad, and mentioned this was a change for him. I asked what contributed to that change, and he said he decided to “focus on other stuff,” which enabled him to “worry less about things going on around him.” When I asked what other stuff he focused on, he said homework and baking. Then he smiled and told me of his recent success with baking a new type of cookie he’d discovered in a cookbook. The fact that he got the idea to bake them, asked to bake them, made them, and that they were enjoyable to others made him proud of himself. I asked questions and was able to determine that baking these cookies was a new initiative for him. I asked him to give this initiative a name, and he called it being adventurous.
Here commenced a reauthoring conversation that centered around Peter’s adventurousness. I asked Peter about both his actions and identity, as seen through the lens of adventurousness. Peter’s affect was bright and engaged during this conversation. A reauthoring conversation highlights events in a persons life (landscape of action) as well as exploration of the meaning, hopes, values, preferences, lessons, commitments, and importances to that person (the landscape of identity). My aim was to ground this initiative in Peter’s current and past actions, as well as connect this step to his beliefs about his life, his hopes, and preferences for living. This conversation is summarized in the following letter which I wrote to Peter after we had our reauthoring conversation.
Dear Peter,
Sometimes I write letters to the people I see in my counseling practice; it’s a fun way to remind them of the work they are doing. I hope getting this is a nice surprise for you. Do you like getting mail? I always do.
I enjoyed learning about your adventurousness tonight. It was so cool that you came up with that great word while we talked about the butter cookies you made. It seems like you hadn’t thought of yourself as being adventurous until we looked at it, and it was great to track all the other adventurous qualities you’ve had over the years. You have taken steps in this direction for a while now: trying out sailing at camp, picking up that craft/hobbies book at the church fair, and making butter cookies. And something about feeding alligators? It’s so nice to hear that these things made you proud of yourself. These accomplishments are so different from what sad and angry would want you to notice about yourself. Even calm, for that matter. I know you like calm, too, but your adventurousness gets you closer to feeling carefree, and that seems like a place that you would enjoy.
I hope our talk was helpful in getting your adventurous spirit going even more and that you made some great chocolate chip cookies. Maybe you’ll consider new hobbies, too. I’m interested in how you like to have a nice product at the end of your efforts. Maybe we could talk more about that next time. It makes me guess you enjoy seeing and experiencing your accomplishments, perhaps because you feel proud of them? I’m glad to know that you like feeling proud of yourself.
Will you share this letter with anyone? That is totally up to you, but there may be some people in your life that you’d like to read this. Feel free to do that, or just to keep it for yourself. I hope you have a great week exploring your adventurousness and that sad and angry stay away like they have been. If they crop up, that’s okay, but it sounds like you have some new ways to make them stay away.
I’ll talk to you soon, Peter.
Have a great week,
Peggy
The purpose of the reauthoring conversation is to make previously subjugated storylines more present in people’s lives. Often problem storylines (in this case, sad, angry, and stressed) have taken over people’s thinking, and life events are interpreted within the context of these problems. Since reauthoring conversations bring about a new way to see lives, often these conversations require some extra reinforcements. Because Peter had just discovered this place of adventurousness in his life, I chose to send him the therapeutic letter in order to reintroduce and reinforce these ideas with him a few days later.
At the end of our conversation that night, Peter’s father entered the counseling room and I recounted the developments of adventurousness. By having Peter listen to my retelling of his reauthored story, he was able to listen to the entire plotline from a place of distance, which helped it become more real for him. Additionally, I interviewed his father briefly about what he knew of Peter’s adventurousness, and Peter was able to hear these stories (one about playing soccer on his older brother’s soccer team, and one about feeding alligators in Florida), within the context of him being adventurous. The retelling, the interview with his father, and the letter all serve to bolster and reinforce the strength and power of the developing reauthored story.
Peter has continued to embrace and explore his adventurousness. One day after our conversation, he asked if he could make chocolate cookies from scratch, and he did. He has expressed that trying new things and being adventurous has him feeling proud of himself and happy. He says it helps him feel he can be more carefree and less stressed. His father has also commented that he feels like he has “gotten Peter back,” as they have had the opportunity to have fun together, and be silly and carefree.
Family harmony is a dream we all share. Wouldn’t it be great if we could function, day to day, like our favorite television families? Sure, life would come along with a one-two punch, but because we are so connected, in sync, funny, and resilient, by the end of the day we would land on our feet, together. Whether you relate more to the family of The Cosby Show, Malcolm in the Middle, or Family Guy, those families always come out wiser and still united in the end.
Real families aren’t so predictable. Marriage, child rearing, going to work, moving across the country, cleaning the house, going to school, loaning or borrowing money, having medical problems, dealing with one another’s moods; this is family life. It’s a messy marathon, and some of us find the experience more painful than others. Into some families comes divorce, or alcoholism, or mental illness, perhaps poverty or abuse. These families struggle to be connected and have positive relationships. And with enough pain, some of us walk away from our families and never look back.
There are times when it may be wise to create some emotional distance from our relatives. We don’t need to be intensely involved with every member of our family all the time. Our family systems have their own sense of rhythm. Varying closeness and distance is a natural process that brings balance in the dance of maintaining manageable emotional energy. We all do it, and it is a function of every close relationship we have.
Some of us have the experience of deliberately cutting off connection, particularly with one or both of our parents, for an extended period of time. We have another argument, the phone gets slammed down, and something inside us closes. We have run out of energy to explain, defend, and extend ourselves and we just need a rest from that intensity. Such periods of distance and recovery are common in families. You may be in one of those periods right now. It may feel like a burden has lifted, and you vow you’ll never go through that, whatever that was, again.
But here’s the thing: while shorter times of disconnect won’t interfere in your life, years of emotional shunning can. When we cut out a key family relationship from our life, it takes quite a bit of energy to keep that emotional door closed. And, any positive emotional energy that that relationship could provide us with is gone. While the bad stuff is not active, neither are the benefits. We compensate for that missing support, interaction and connection by leaning more heavily on other close relationships, like our marriage, our children, and our job. Our other relationships can take the extra expectations for awhile, but they can’t provide extra emotional stability indefinitely. Those relationships can get stressed. And then instead of one cut-off relationship, people can find that they are being distanced or shut out by other key relationships. Loneliness, isolation, and distress can erupt, seemingly, “out of nowhere.”
I believe that we are better-balanced human beings when we strive to maintain some measure of openness and connection with all the key people in our family system. It’s like the water pipes that feed my basement sink. In Minnesota, winter temperatures can dip well below zero. I’ve discovered that when the temperature is that low, the pipes to that sink can freeze. Frozen water pipes are one problem I don’t want. I have learned that if I keep the faucets slightly dripping on the coldest of nights, I prevent a huge problem. Drip, drip, drip: that’s all it takes to keep my pipes working. Drip, drip, drip is all the energy you really need to expend to keep connected to the most difficult family members in your life. You don’t need to open your emotional “faucets” very far to prevent your own emotional system from freezing up.
This can look like a birthday card, a call on a holiday, an invitation to a family event. It can mean returning an email graciously, showing up for an anniversary dinner, knowing your parent’s cell phone number. It means simple connection, the kind that keeps families functioning, particularly at times of high anxiety or emergency. I don’t want to have the first connection I have with my mother for years be in the Intensive Care Unit of the local hospital.
For me, it boils down to this: we need each other, particularly our core family members, to be in our emotional world. Don’t cut someone off from your life completely. The relief you feel is short lived, and the pain can last a lifetime.