Structure and counter-transference in authentic movement from a Reichian analytic perspective

Abstract

The aim of this article is to use my personal experience to identify the main characteristics of authentic movement focusing on the reasons why it is an effective therapeutic process. It includes: • Some brief information on the discipline of authentic movement and on the Reichian theoretical model developed by Società Italiana di Analisi Reichiana (SIAR), which is the model used to analyse how authentic movement works • Considerations on the “internal” and “external” elements in the setting. The internal element, the heart of the practice, is the facilitator or the therapist. External elements are the boundaries, the rules, and the containment-framework of authentic movement. Regarding the facilitator's role, this paper will present a brief overview of the contributions of various authors on the theme of counter-transference and discuss how, when counter-transference is described in physical terms, it becomes a means of making the therapeutic process effective. In my examination of authentic movement I concentrate more on the aspects of setting and bodily counter-transference rather than on the contents which surface during group work. In my opinion, the true strength of authentic movement lies in it's setting, which provides both first and second-field containment. The presence of both forms of containment supports effective therapeutic processes both individually and in a group.