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The Practice of Therapy and the Knowledge of Neuroscience
By Gary Wareham
(This article appeared in the International Primal Association Summer Newsletter-August 2003.)
One of my passions is in the area of neurobiology and the neurosciences (I know I'm a little weird, but it's me!). My light reading when I curl up on the couch to relax consists of such "popular favorites" as THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN by Joseph LeDoux, THE BODY REMEMBERS by Babette Rothschild, and THE DEVELOPING MIND by Daniel Siegel. This keen interest in areas that tend to put many people to sleep, originated as a therapist trainee while under the tutelage of pioneers in the field of primal therapy…Jules and Helen Roth. The Roth's were not only phenomenally gifted as therapists, but were way ahead of their time.
Originally the Roth's were affiliated with Arthur Janov at the initial Primal Institute in LA, but eventually left to start their own center in Denver, CO. Helen was one of the first patients and therapists at the LA Institute to recognize and honor the reexperiencing of preverbal trauma including birth and in-utero history. The Roth's were a dynamic and talented therapeutic team. Jules was the original director of therapist training at Janov's Institute and Helen was renowned in primal circles for her expertise when working with birth and preverbal trauma. In fact, her skills and knowledge in these areas were legendary. Helen's gifted ability to work with preverbal trauma occurred during the same period of time when Janov still did not believe the re-experiencing of birth trauma in patients was real. I believe that the Roth's belief in biology as the "ground zero " of all feelings was a major reason that Helen could recognize and "name" emerging birth trauma in her clients while others dismissed these feelings and memories as fantasy. When the Roth's left LA to come to Denver to open their own Center, people literally came from throughout the world to undergo primal therapy. So when I was able to go to their Denver Center, first as client and then as a therapist trainee, I hit the proverbial "jackpot"!
Jules and Helen's influence and insistence that biology was the foundation of all feelings first sparked my interest in the neurosciences. I was incredibly fortunate to have had such exceptional mentors and to this day I am eternally grateful for this grounding in neurobiology as it keeps me centered while working with clients. Over the years I have constantly sought to remain updated on what other researchers and scientists are discovering. When compelling, I integrate these new neurobiological pieces into my previous primal background. By keeping abreast of the latest in brain research when it comes to trauma and (Continued on next page)
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