Body Psychotherapy

Grounded in psychoanalysis, body psychotherapy is a branch of therapy that focuses on the interaction between the body and the mind. It is founded on the principle that body and mind work in functional unity, and that emotional experiences, stress, and trauma are often held within the body as well as the psyche.

Drawing from several branches of science and psychology, body psychotherapy is a versatile therapeutic approach that can be used in both individual and group settings. At The Northgate Clinic, body psychotherapy integrates verbal exploration with body-based awareness, including attention to posture, breathing, sensation, movement, and, where appropriate, therapeutic touch. This combined approach supports deeper emotional processing and helps address patterns that may not be fully accessible through talking therapy alone.

Many clients find body psychotherapy helpful for working through long-standing emotional difficulties, stress-related physical symptoms, and experiences that feel difficult to articulate. By supporting awareness of the body alongside psychological insight, the therapy can help foster greater self-regulation, emotional resilience, and a stronger sense of connection between thoughts, feelings, and physical experience.

Who is it for?

This therapy may be suitable for people who:

• Experience anxiety, stress, or emotional overwhelm

• Live with the physical effects of psychological distress

• Feel disconnected from their body or emotions

• Have a history of trauma or unresolved emotional experiences

• Find that talking therapy alone has felt limited

• Want a more integrated mind–body approach to therapy

Body psychotherapy can be adapted to suit different needs and levels of readiness.