Which Body? Empirical or phenomenal?

• Massaging of the buttocks is gestalt therapy? by T. Dunn, 3/2/97
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    • What is and what is not Gestalt therapy theory by Joe Wysong, Editor, The Gestalt Journal, 3/3/97
      
      

I understand that it makes an enormous difference how we conceive the body, and there are some ways to do it. Two for me are very important: if we think and approach the body from an empiricist point of view, or if we do it from a phenomenological point of view. The "external" and other's body, subject to intervention (and sometimes, regretbly, to abusive and neurotic use of some therapists), or the body as phenomenally lived by onself, subject only of itself expression and activity. I understand that much of what is called of "body" therapy is heavily based in an empiricist conception of the body of the other, subject to external (and sometimes very abusive and invasive) intervention. I think that this has nothing to do with the conception of the body as a pole of field in Gestaltherapy perspectives, conceptions and practice, which is intrested, I think, in the phenomenal body and its possibilities of action, creative action and expression. This is very far from an merely empiricist conception of the body. In this way, I tend to agree with Wysong, mainly in trying to clarify what is not Gestaltherapy intervention, from the specific perspective of Gestaltherapy, and trying to make clear that what is and was done as abusive in this area as Gestaltherapy is something else... Given this, a good conceptual referencial, the personal honesty and balance of the therapist, and a context of natural human relationship in therapy in which it make sense, I think we shouldn't make a taboo or be afraid of the regular physical contact *between two persons that have not a private relationship*. Which, I agree, is not much. But we can't forget that a recoverig of the (forgot) body (and, I understand, the body from a phenomenal perspective) is an important part and achievement of Gestaltherapy.

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