Book Review Psychothérapie Corporelles, Fondements et Methodes by Michel Heller Brussels, Ed. De Boek, 2008 Reviewed by Jerome Liss Michel Heller’s book offers us a pleasurable voyage through the history of concepts pertaining to the awareness of the body and body healing. Instead of beginning with Wilhelm Reich or Fenichel, we begin with Plato, Descartes and Spinoza. In addition, body therapy concepts are drawn from other cultural traditions including Taoism, Zen, Tantrism, Acupuncture and Tai Chi Chuan. We feel that we are returning to ancient origins of body awareness, and therefore the Western history of Freud, Reich, Lowen and Boadella, is seen as coming from deeper roots. The book’s basic message is essential for body psychotherapists to understand. We have both auto-regulation Self dynamics and Dyadic regulation (or Self-Other dynamics) regarding our psychocorporel processes. Especially interesting is the presentation of Darwinian notions regarding the evolution of the body and emotions and Cannon’s work regarding homeostasis. At the same time the field of inquiry is vast, including Mesmer, Adler, Abraham, with the original contributions of Wilhelm Reich analyzed in depth. This part of Heller’s research develops the concept of auto-regulation. I will focus on Heller’s elaboration regarding Dyadic regulation. The main developments in this field have occurred over the last thirty years. Heller is in a special position for clarifying the nature of interactive processes that are necessary for personal development and emotional healing. His own research regarding video analysis gives him the awareness and language necessary for transmitting the fundamental points that have been revealed in recent years, since the studies he deals with have all been done using video registration of mother-child interaction. Therefore, we have a superb summary of what the work of Daniel Stern, Edward Tronick, George Downing and Beatrice Beebe have brought to light. 62 Book Review From Auto-Regulation to Self-Other Dynamics The movement from concepts of auto-regulation to concepts of Self-Other dynamics requires a jump in awareness. Auto-regulation can be understood in terms of emotions, humour, actions, attitudes, perceptions, motivations, and so on, that is, what happens in an individual organism. But Self-Other regulation is based on watching very subtle interactions between people, especially between mother and child. Even small deviances in body rhythm, eye focus, voice tone, and facial expression can disrupt the “attunement” between mother and child. A slight turning of the shoulders or a tension in a smile can be picked up by the other and create dissonance in the Self-Other relationship. Edward Tronick’s research regarding the Still Face Paradigm shows how the enfant is thrown into complete chaos when the interaction with the mother is interrupted for only 10 seconds. (The “still face” means that the mother creates, very briefly, an impassive expression on her face). Beyond this Louis Cozolino’s recent book, The Neuroscience of Human Relationshps, documents the overwheling impact of how a disturbed relationship between mother and child can create a disregulation among deep brain circuits that put emotions “out of control,” even years later in adult life. Heller cites fascinating research examples that show how minimal changes of facial expression – a slight frown, an almost imperceptble raising of the eyebrows, a slight shift of eye gaze – can occur between psychotherapist and patient. Such non-verbal and almost unconscious expressions can be correlated with the outcome of psychotherapy in cases of depression and suicidal behavior. Since the psychotherapist is not aware of such subtle expressions, this can raise questions re
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