Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Psyche moving: ‘active imagination’ and ‘focusing’ in movement-based performance and psychotherapy

Bacon, J. (2007) Psyche moving: ‘active imagination’ and ‘focusing’ in movement-based performance and psychotherapy. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy. 2(1), pp. 17-28. 1743-2987.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: This paper looks at how "focusing" (Gendlin, 1978) and "active imagination" (Jung, 1935) can operate to enhance one another in therapeutic and creative environments. These approaches to working with psychic material allow an embodied engagement with psychic material which encompasses all of the senses as well as a something more which can be understood in Jung's use and development of the term "transcendent function" and Gendlin's belief that the felt sense is more than sensation. The relationship between these two approaches is charted and examined using case illustrations from the author's creative processes and facilitation work. This paper concludes that bringing these two methods together in creative movement environments is a powerful and often necessary tool for the expression of psychic contents.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Active imagination; focusing; felt-sense; creative processes; performance; dance/movement
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC435 Psychiatry > RC475 Therapeutics. Psychotherapy > RC489 Arts therapy
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater > PN2041 Performance studies
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation. Leisure > GV1787 Ballet. Modern dance
Creators: Bacon, Jane
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: Faculties > Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology > Journalism, Media & Performance
Date: 1 March 2007
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 17-28
Journal or Publication Title: Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy
Volume: 2
Number: 1
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17432970601025360
ISSN: 1743-2987
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/323

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item
Altmetric