In a world where we try to suppress our true emotions to maintain social decorum, imagine a therapeutic journey that unlocks our deep-rooted emotional pain from early life experiences. This therapy is called primal therapy. In the era dominated by talk therapy, medications, etc primal therapy stands out differently. It emphasizes the release of painful past emotions through physical expression like talking, screaming, scolding, crying, and expressing emotions thaisin not just expressed but encouraged.
Primal therapy is a psychological approach developed by Arthur Janov in the late 1960s emotions like traditional therapeutic approaches which focus on cognitive processes and present emotions, it looks into early life problems. It focuses on people who are immersed in deep emotions and feelings and the main aim is to make those people resolve their repressed pain by venting out their emotions in a secure environment.
According to Janov, our painful repressed emotions from looks and traumas are stored in our body and psyche if it is kept unexpressed then it leads to various psychological issues such as Anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic disorders. This thesis delves into a wide understanding of primal therapy, It also focuses on its History, the techniques involved in it, the stages one can undergo during therapy sessions and what are the benefits one can gain from it.
History of primal therapy
In 1967, Arthur Started a psychotherapy called primal therapy. Arthur present his concepts In his book called Primal Therapy: The Cure for Neurosis and developed his therapy while working at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital and the Veterans Administration. During this period, previous patients who referred to themselves as survivors” gained attention. At this time, primal therapy helped people who experienced primal pain in their childhood to let go.
In this process of discarding the childhood primal pain, it involves screaming, crying, and jumping up and down which aims to attain a normal routine and cure Neurosis. According to Janov, illnesses such as panic attacks, phobias, depression, etc. arise from undue stress which is caused by unexpressed childhood painful memories. Janov’s therapy was connected with Counter-cultural moments and Americans started to find alternatives to mainstream medical approaches. At that time Americans started to question the proper classification of mental illness and psychopharmacology.
Techniques of Primal Therapy
- Regression: Regression is a technique in which the individual comes across the traumatic event he or she has experienced so far. the person also feels some sensations and feelings that happened during that incident. Through this technique, the individual is encouraged to re-experience what are things that arise in that moment.
- Release: In this technique, the person is encouraged to express their past emotions through shouting, screaming, crying, and talking. During uncomfortable it may feel uncomfortable and sometimes even scary.
- Integration: It is one of the techniques in which an individual starts to connect pieces of stories in their life and how they have affected them. The forgiveness for self and other past things happened.
- Resolution: In the resolution, the individual became able to live their life without any emotional burden from the past.
Stages in Primal Therapy
- Initiation: In initiation, individuals start to connect with their real selves and start primal therapy. At first, they find it difficult to commit to therapy and feel risky. But later they accept it eventually. When they experience the past pain emotion, they are even more than before. This emotion made them frustrated but after that, they will get to the point where they can experience it without going crazy.
- Alienation: In this stage, the person starts to feel isolated from their social relationships and previous life. They start to see themselves as different or superior compared to people who don’t undergo therapy.
- Despair: Here the person feels hopeless and lonely. They start to feel they cannot overcome experiences and they can’t meet their need. Despite these thoughts, productive therapy sessions can bring hope, faith and commitment to that person.
- Acceptance: The person starts to accept their painful past childhood memories. And they understood that their childhood needs were not met and stopped wanting that love in the present. They start to connect with everyone around them and become more tolerant and accepting person to others’ feelings.
- Expansion: The person starts to focus on their inner side. They tend to discover their inner love, beauty and power and share it with others. Here they are independent, self-reliant and actively involved in therapy
- Integration: Here the person starts to react differently in situations such as while making decisions, facing family problems and so on. They start to be honest and straightforward. They pursue and give importance to their needs rather than pleasurable or neurotic habits.
- Disengagement: The individual starts to feel stronger and clearer and they become independent of the therapy. As the main therapeutic goal is accomplished, they focus on their current feelings even though the past feelings are still deep. So here they become ready to face life’s challenges and embrace growth.
Benefits of Primal Therapy
Despite it being controversial, Primal therapy has a host of benefits. It helps to reduce the symptoms that the individual experiences. Research by Primal Institute reveals that the symptoms of an individual undergoing primal therapy will be relieved after eight months of therapy.
- Primal therapy is used to treat a wide range of psychological problems such as depression, anxiety etc.
- It helps to address childhood issues such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying etc.
- It also tends to address the physical symptoms such as ulcers, asthma, and back pain that arise due to repressed emotions.
- As primal therapy involves venting out of emotions it provides a sense of relief and makes the person more stronger, clearer and dependent after expressing their emotions.
- Primal therapy also helps adults to overcome their current traumatic events like the loss of friends, parents, divorce etc. It helps them to cope with emotional issues and move on from that event.
Primal therapy is one of the psychological therapeutic approaches which is proposed by Arthur Janov in the 1960s. It is unlike traditional therapies, it focuses on early life experiences to relieve psychological problems. The main aim is to help people with deep emotional pain due to early life traumas. This therapy helps the person to experience their repressed Emotions and vent them in a safer environment through physical expressions like shouting l, screaming, crying, jumping etc techniques such as Regression, Release, Integration and Resolution.
This discovering emotion journey has 7 stages. Firstly, Initiation in which the individual starts connecting with their real self and starts primal therapy. Secondly, Alienation is when the person feels isolated and different from others. Third, Despair in which the person experiences hopelessness and profound loneliness. Fourth, Acceptance is when the person starts to accept their past needs were not met and stops wanting that love in present. Fifth, Expansion which focuses on their inner love, beauty, power and compassion. Sixth, Integration is when a person behaves honestly and starts to react differently in distinct situations. At last, Disengagement is when the person is stronger, clearer and less dependent on therapy.
This primal therapy has a host of benefits such as it helps to address psychological distress, address childhood traumatic events, and help adults’ current life challenges and Physical symptoms that arise due to early life problems. If you are struggling with past emotional pain, start consulting with a therapist and exploring primal therapy.
FAQ
What is the main core of primal therapy?
The main core of primal therapy is emotional pain of our childhood is tired in our body and psyche and it can be healed by venting it out through screaming, shouting, crying etc.
What are the benefits one can gain from undergoing primal therapy?
- It provides a sense of Relief after expressing emotions
- It Addresses psychological distress such as Anxiety, depression etc.
- It helps to address childhood traumatic events like emotional, physical and sexual abuse, neglect and bullying
- Helps to reduce physical symptoms such as ulcers, asthma, back pain, headaches arising due to past traumas.
- It helps adults to cope with their life challenges such as parents’ death, loss of loved ones, loss of friends, relationship issues, divorce etc.
How does primal therapy differ from traditional psychological therapy?
The traditional therapies are talk therapy and focus on cognitive processes and present life problems but Primal therapy emphasizes emotions of past life problems.
Are there any risks associated with primal therapy?
Sometimes the individual may experience emotional distress and re-traumatization hence it is important to undergo therapy with certified and experienced practitioners.
References +
Cuncic, A., MA. (2023, November 28). What is primal therapy? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-primal-therapy-5211136
The seven stages of primal therapy. (n.d.). Copyright � 2001 International Primal Association. http://www.primals.org/articles/khamsi01.html#:~:text=Other%20Attempts%20to%20Define%2%200Primal%20Stages&text=Primals%20first%20deal%20with%20anger,322)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/in-therapy/201002/cool-intervention-3-primal therapy
