The Primal Therapy of Arthur Janov

This is a type of psychotherapy linked to humanistic psychology and psychoanalysis.

Let's imagine that a thirty-year-old man comes to a consultation, who presents evident symptoms of an anxiety disorder and shows the impossibility of relating deeply with anyone. 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 traffic accident.

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

At that moment, the therapist decides to apply a type of therapy that can help the patient to externalize his Pain and work on it in order to improve his symptomatology and his difficulties in interrelating with others: Arthur Janov's primal therapy.

Primal therapy and Arthur Janov

The primal, primitive or scream therapy of Arthur Janov is a type of psychological therapy which starts from the basic idea that the suffering of the human being in the face of 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 from severe trauma resulting from the denial of primary needs. severe trauma resulting from the denial of primary needs such as love, acceptance, experimentation and such as love, acceptance, experimentation and sustenance. Likewise, in cases where the expression of these needs is punished in such a way that the individual cannot be loved if he/she expresses what he/she is, he/she will end up elaborating ways of substituting them which, by blocking what he/she really desires, will generate a high level of anguish.

Such psychological pain should be expressed. However, this pain and suffering tends to be repressed and separated from our consciousness, so that little by little it is stored in our unconscious. This repression accumulates as basic needs are denied, which means for the body a great increase in tension 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 reconnecting our suffering with our bodyso that we can relive the pain and reelaborate it, expressing it. It seeks what Janov calls primal reaction, a re-experiencing of childhood aversive experiences both mentally, emotionally and physically.

Classifying primal therapy

Janov's primal therapy can be classified as one of the body therapies, a subtype of humanistic therapy.It is a subtype of humanistic therapy whose main function is based on the use of the body as an element to be analyzed and through which to treat various psychic 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.

Although it is considered humanistic, it is possible to detect in its conception a strong influence of the psychodynamic paradigm. a strong influence of the psychodynamic paradigmIt is considered 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 pain repression and re-experiencing, as well as the fight against neurotic defense mechanisms. In fact, there have been multiple subsequent efforts to modify it and to integrate in it the advances of different currents such as the humanist one.

Phases of application

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

The therapy should be carried out in a padded and preferably soundproofed room, and the patient is asked to citeThe patient is asked to temporarily cease 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 suitable for the patient and his problem, not being suitable for psychotic or brain-damaged patients. It is also necessary to take into consideration whether the patient suffers from some kind of medical problem for which an adjustment of the treatment or its non-application may be necessary.

2. Isolation

Before starting the treatment, the subject who is going to receive it is asked to remain isolated the day before the beginning of the treatment, without sleeping and without performing any type of action to discharge the anguish and tension. It is a matter of that the subject perceives and is unable to avoid the anguishwithout being able to repress it.

3. Individual therapy

The primal therapy begins with individual sessions, in which the subject should be placed in the position that supposes a greater degree of vulnerability for him/her, with the extremities extended.

Once in this position, the patient should talk about whatever he/she wants while the therapist observes and elicits the defense mechanisms (movements, positions, babbling...) that the patient manifests, and tries to stop them from acting so that he/she can express and and submerge himself in the emotional and physiological sensations that cause his repressed feelings.

Once the emotion arises, the therapist should encourage its expression by indicating various exercises, such as breathing exercises or by expressing it through shouting.

It may be necessary to to establish periods of rest between sessionsor the subject may have to isolate him/herself again in order to weaken his/her defenses even more.

4. Group therapy

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

Critique

Janov's primal therapy has not been widely accepted 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 of the therapist himself as a transferential element. Another element that has been criticized is that it is demanding in terms of time and effort, which can be difficult to carry out.

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

Bibliographical references:

• Almendro, M.T.; Díaz, M. & Jiménez, G. (2012). Psychotherapies. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 06. CEDE: Madrid.

• Janov, A. (2009). El Grito Primal. Edhasa.