Core Energetics

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What is Core Energetics?

Core Energetics is an approach that bridges body-centered psychotherapy and spirituality. The method integrates the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects of human life and emphasizes the center of energetic wholeness (the Core) within each individual.

This therapeutic process assumes a person’s intrinsic qualities reflect universal qualities of love, wisdom, serenity, and power, and qualified practitioners of the approach work to help individuals evolve toward a greater expression of these innate qualities.

The Development of Core Energetics

Core energetics was founded in the early 1970s by John C. Pierrakos, MD. The approach is grounded in the beliefs and teachings of doctors, scientists, and philosophers who support the existence of a positive, creative force within humans. Core Energetics is strongly influenced by the work of Wilhelm Reich, who believed blocked inner energy could shape the body and give rise to negative life patterns. Pierrakos, like Reich, believed all human impulses are fundamentally good and that these impulses should be encouraged in order to facilitate healing.

John Pierrakos, MD and Alexander Lowen, MD – Founders of Bioenergetic Analysis

Pierrakos was both a patient, a student and colleague of Reich before co-creating bioenergetic analysis—a form of body psychotherapy—with fellow student and colleague Alexander Lowen. Together, they established the Bioenergetics Institute in 1955, building on the work of Reich to develop their new approach. They introduced the idea of grounding—having an energetic connection to the earth—in order to foster a sense of inner security for people in therapy. Pierrakos and Lowen also saw the benefits of working with people who were in an upright position (rather than reclining on a couch). They realized an upright position enabled a wider range of movements, which in turn facilitated better energy flow.

Pierrakos’ wife, Eva, introduced him to the spiritual principles of the Pathwork, and this exposure helped him discern the connection between psychology, medicine, and religion. He eventually separated himself from bioenergetics and collaborated with his wife in order to pursue his own ideas of how to better assist the people in his care. Pierrakos integrated the body therapy techniques of bio-energetics with the spiritual concepts of the Pathwork and formed Core Energetics. In 1973, Pierrakos established the Institute of Core Energetics in New York City.

The Three Layers of Personality

The Core Energetics model assumes humans possess three distinct layers of personality, each with different energies. The model holds that, during any situation and in any given moment, people react from these three layers of personality.

  • The mask is the outermost layer, and it represents, according to this model, the parts shown to the world. An amalgamation of survival strategies and defense mechanisms employed to avoid or drown out the pain, mistakes, and unfulfilled needs of the past, the mask is the aspect of personality that attempts to reach the idealization of who people believe they are supposed to be. The stronger a person identifies with the mask, the harder it may be to recognize and address the issues it was created to hide. Repressed emotions may manifest themselves in muscular tension and distinctive body shapes such as a jutting jaw, slouched shoulders, and so on. The mask may also distort qualities of the higher self. Love may be distorted to self-denying or submissive behaviors. Power may be distorted to aggressive or controlling behaviors, and wisdom may be distorted to various types of withdrawal. As the face presented to the world may differ from the person inside, the energy within the mask is usually stagnant—it lacks the authenticity and vitality associated with individuals who are fully aware of themselves and able to express their innate qualities.
  • The lower self is the aspect of personality existing below the mask. It represents disowned energy and reflects an attachment to the destructive aspects of personality and the intention to keep these parts separate from and unseen by other people. Unlike the mask– which is thought to have stagnant, dull energy–the lower self is rich in energy and power.The lower self is formed from the determination to avoid pain at all costs. This may move people to distance themselves from the emotions or body areas causing pain. However, separating from emotions simply to avoid pain may cause people to develop intrapersonal and interpersonal numbness. This numbness may eventually develop into violent or cruel behaviors toward the self or others.
  • The higher self is the layer of personality residing underneath the lower self. It represents who people really are at the core. The higher self, considered to be the pulsing energy of life, holds an awareness of individuality. It is neither good nor bad; rather, it is what is real and true. The higher self is associated with an increased capacity for connectedness and feelings of vitality—encouraging people to feel more alive. It also has the desire to continuously grow and evolve. Qualities of the higher self include innate love, power, wisdom, leadership, courage, and forthrightness, among others. Like the mask and the lower self, the higher self is visible in the body. Those who are able to genuinely express more qualities of the higher self may experience more contentment, happiness, and joy in their daily lives.

The Core

The “core” in Core Energetics is that place in you that can make an authentic and fulfilling connection to yourself, others, and life itself. The instruments of connection are our bodies, consciousness and natural energy or life-force. Core Energetics therapy teaches people how to authentically integrate all of these instruments, and helps remove the internal obstacles that block the expression of your true essence.

The Four Phases of Core Energetics

Central in Core Energetics is the idea that internal energy blocks and a lack of awareness of the different aspects of personality may result in maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Core energetic therapists seek to interact with these blockages and foster awareness by employing a four-phase process during therapy. Steps in the process include penetrating the mask, transforming the lower self, centering in the higher self, and connecting to the universal life plan.

The process may be likened to a journey of self-discovery, with each phase progressing organically to the next.

  • Breaking” through the mask in the first phase may be daunting, as some of those in therapy may identify themselves by the mask. This step may be less challenging for individuals who realize everyone has a mask and that theirs may no longer be satisfying their needs, though it was able to do so in the past. A Core Energetics therapist can also explain how masks distort innate qualities of the higher self and help people in therapy realize this layer of personality often needs to be penetrated before those natural qualities can emerge.
  • The second phase of the process involves transforming the lower self. As this layer contains impulses and emotions people often try to separate and hide from others, venturing into the lower self may be particularly challenging. In this phase, those in therapy can address past wounds and often develop remorse for any wounds they have inflicted on others. During this phase, it may be helpful to remember all people possess a lower self. Honesty with one’s inner self and courage are typically necessary in order to reveal all aspects of one’s personality. However, a therapist may be able to provide reassurance by reminding people in therapy the journey does not end at the lower self but continues to the higher self. This knowledge may motivate individuals to continue with the therapeutic process. Before this step, however, therapists will typically evaluate whether people in treatment are ready for exposure to the lower self, as this exposure may have negative effects on those experiencing such concerns as suicidal ideation or post-traumatic stress.
  • “Centering in the higher self,” the third phase of the process, represents a natural progression from the second phase. Energy previously used to repress unwanted emotions in the mask and lower self becomes available for grounding and wielding by individuals in treatment. This energy may be expressed in the psyche and the body, and it aims to facilitate the free expression of the creative higher self.
  • The fourth and final phase is known as the universal life plan. At this stage the personal connects with the universal. Essentially, the goal of this phase is for people in therapy to become aware of the interconnections between all life forms. The principle of reciprocity also comes into play during this phase: the more people continue to evolve, open up, and express what is at their core, the more they contribute to the universe and the stream of life.

Core Energetics Techniques and Exercises

Energy and consciousness are the chief components of Core Energetic theory.

Good health is dependent on the energy flow between body, mind, emotions, will, and spirit, and a therapy session will often involve the application of a variety of therapeutic techniques in order to address the flow of human energy, increase personal awareness, and heal the mind and body.

While verbal communication plays a major role in therapy, Core Energetics practitioners also use the physical body as a vital tool for making diagnoses and gauging treatment. Many types of therapy treatment involve the person in treatment reclining on a couch, but in Core Energetics therapy, individuals are encouraged to stand upright and ground energy through their feet and legs. This position symbolizes an awareness of the present, making contact, and taking responsibility by standing on their own two feet.

Sessions might include:

  • Physical exercises
  • Self-massage of specific muscles
  • Breathing exercises
  • Cathartic experiences
  • Journaling
  • Art
  • Dance
  • Nonverbal vocalizations

Issues Treated with Core Energetics

Core Energetics, which strives to help those in therapy achieve transformation through self-discovery, can be used to treat a range of mental, behavioral, and even physical health issues associated with repressed emotions. The process may be difficult at times, but it has been shown to facilitate immense physical and emotional healing through the realization of deep-seated emotions and feelings.

Limitations of Core Energetics

  • The assumption that all individuals are true, genuine and good at their core may be too simple a representation of the human psyche.
  • Some people find it difficult to reconcile the spiritual component of Core Energetics with preconceived notions of what effective therapy means.
  • People who experience a serious or chronic mental health problem characterized by cognitive decline – such as schizophrenia or dementia – may not see an improvement in this form of therapy.
  • Although clinical reports attest to the effectiveness of the theory, empirical evidence to support the approach is currently lacking.

References:

  1. Core Energetics. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://usabp.org/core-energetics
  2. Institute of Core Energetics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.coreenergetics.org
  3. International Pathwork Foundation. (n.d.). The pathwork. Retrieved from http://pathwork.org/about/the-pathwork

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Dirk Marivoet psychotherapist in Belgium

Dirk Marivoet, MSc is European certified psychotherapist (ECP) and certified psychomotor therapist (University of Louvain). He is the founder and director of the International Institute for Bodymind Integration (IBI) and an international teacher in several Body Oriented Psychotherapy Schools. After more than 35 years of working and teaching in the field of integrative and holistic therapy, he created his own comprehensive synthesis and approach : Core Strokes, which he offers worldwide in the form of professional trainings, workshops and individual sessions. In the past, Dirk worked and taught at the University Psychiatric Centers of Louvain for 11 years. He is a certified Trainer and Supervisor for Postural Integration, Energetic Integration, Reichian Bodywork and Pelvic-Heart Integration (Jack Painter, PhD), a Core Energetics Teacher and Supervisor (John Pierrakos, MD) and president of the Core Science Foundation. He lives in Ghent (Belgium).

In Ghent (Belgium), Europe, the rest of the world and online.

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