Arthur Janov's Primal Therapy

Let us imagine that a thirty-year-old man arrives at a consultation, who presents symptoms evidence of an anxiety disorder and manifests the impossibility of relating in a profound way with nobody. As the session progresses, the therapist asks him about his childhood, to which the patient tells him with apparent normality that He suffered mistreatment and sexual abuse by his uncle, who raised him after the death of his parents in a car accident. traffic.

The subject, then a minor, indicates that he forced himself to be strong and resist the attacks of his guardian so as not to give him the satisfaction of seeing him suffer. It is also mentioned that at the time he did not comment on it with anyone and that in fact it is the first time that he has commented on it in public. Although the comment has arisen spontaneously and does not seem to arouse an emotion in the subject, the The therapist observes that this fact actually caused him deep suffering that has prevented him from trusting the the rest.

At that moment, he decides to apply a type of therapy that can help the patient to be able to externalize their pain and work on it in order to improve their symptoms and their difficulties in interrelation with others: Arthur Janov's primal therapy.

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Primal therapy and Arthur Janov

Primal, primitive or scream therapy by Arthur Janov It is a type of psychological therapy which starts from the basic idea that the suffering of the human being before the non-satisfaction of basic needs needs to be expressed in a symbolic way. For Janov, the symptom is a defense mechanism against pain.

Throughout childhood and development, human beings can suffer severe traumas derived from the denial of primary needs such as love, acceptance, experimentation and sustenance. Likewise, in the cases in which the expression of said needs is punished in such a way that the individual cannot be loved if he expresses what he is, you will end up developing ways to replace them that, however, by blocking what you really want, will generate a high level of distress.

Such psychological pain should be expressed. However, this pain and suffering tends to be repressed and separated from our consciousness, gradually being stored in our unconscious. Said repression accumulates as basic needs are denied, which means a great increase in tension for the body that can generate neurotic difficulties. For example, there may be fear of intimacy, dependency, narcissism, anxiety, or insecurity.

The objective of primal therapy would be none other than to reconnect our suffering with our body, so that we can relive the pain and rework it, expressing it. What Janov calls primal reaction is sought, a re-experiencing of childhood aversive experiences on a mental, emotional and physical level.

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Classifying primal therapy

Janov's primal therapy can be classified as one of the body therapies, a subtype of humanistic therapy whose main operation is based on the use of the body as an element to analyze and through which to treat various mental disorders and problems. Thus, in the set of so-called body therapies, it is the body itself that is treated under this approach, awakening or focusing on the various sensations perceived bodily.

Despite being considered humanist, it is possible to detect in its conception a strong influence of the psychodynamic paradigm, considering that the main objective of this therapy is to reconnect our repressed and unconscious part with the body, so that it is possible to externalize the pain. There is talk of repression of pain and re-experiencing, as well as the fight against neurotic defense mechanisms. In fact, there have been multiple subsequent efforts to modify it and integrate into it the advances of different currents such as the humanist.

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Application phases

The application of primal therapy or Janov's scream, in its original version (subsequently there have been reworkings that reduce the time required), requires following a series of steps that we will explore below. continuation.

therapy should be carried out in a padded and preferably soundproof room, and the patient is asked to temporarily cease their activity at different levels for the duration of the treatment.

1. Interview

First of all, it is necessary to establish whether or not this therapy is adequate for the patient and its problem, since it is not suitable for psychotic or brain-damaged patients. It is also necessary to take into account whether the patient suffers from some type of medical problem for which an adjustment of the treatment or its non-application could be required.

2. Isolation

Before starting the treatment, the subject who is going to receive it is asked that the day before said start remain isolated, without sleep and without carrying out any type of action that allows to release the anguish and the strain. Is about that the subject perceives and cannot evade the anguish, without being able to suppress it.

3. individual therapy

Primal therapy begins with individual sessions, in which the subject must be placed in the position that supposes a greater degree of vulnerability for him, with the extremities extended.

Once in that position, the patient must talk about what he wants while the therapist observes and elicits the defense mechanisms. (movements, positions, babbling...) that the first manifests, and tries to get them to stop acting so that he can express and immerse yourself in emotional and physiological sensations that cause your repressed feelings.

Once the emotion arises, the therapist must favor said expression by indicating various exercises, such as breathing or by expressing it through shouting.

It can be necessary establish rest periods between sessions, or the subject isolates itself again to further weaken its defenses.

4. group therapy

After individual therapy, it is possible to carry out several weeks of group therapy with the same functioning, without any interactions between patients within the process.

Criticism

Janov's primal therapy has not received wide acceptance by the scientific community. Its focus on repressed painful aspects has been criticized, ignoring the possible presence of other sensations that may be associated. Also the fact that the original model does not take into account the effect that the therapist himself has as a transference element. Another criticized element is that it requires a level of time and effort that can be complex to carry out.

It is also considered that not enough studies have been done to prove its effectiveness, as well as the fact that its effects are limited if they do not occur in a context of unconditional acceptance and therapeutic work beyond expression.

Bibliographic references:

• Almendro, M.T.; Diaz, M. & Jimenez, G. (2012). Psychotherapies. CEDE PIR Preparation Manual, 06. CEDE: Madrid.

• Janov, A. (2009). The Primal Scream. edhasa.