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Primal therapy is a trauma-based psychotherapy developed and popularized by Arthur Janov, Ph.D. During therapy the patient is encouraged to express their feelings in whatever way they need to, such as talking, crying, hitting a wall, curling up in a fetal position, and sometimes even screaming - in order to express childhood, perinatal and prenatal feelings. Janov claimed that in primal therapy patients would find their real needs and feelings after experiencing all their "Pain" (a technical term of Primal Theory, see below). The absence of peer-reviewed outcome studies to substantiate this claim led to the therapy falling out of favor in academic and psychotherapeutic circles. However Dr. Janov and his associates have continued developing the therapy and to provide it at his Center in Venice, California.
Connections with ideas of dramatic catharsis should be noted.
Primal Pain
In Primal theory, "Pain" (spelled with a capital "P" to distinguish it from ordinary physical, emotional or mental suffering) is unprocessed sensory input of a highly painful, and therefore generally important, nature being stored by the nervous system for processing during a situation more conducive to learning. An event that creates Pain is by definition "traumatic". Situations more conducive for learning may be removal from the immediate danger of the situation and/or adequate neural maturity (in the case of childhood trauma).
Rock culture
Primal Therapy is sometimes a theme of rock musicians including John Lennon, Tears for Fears, and Nick Blinko, who wrote a book (The Primal Screamer) in which the main character is treated through primal therapy. There is also the Scottish rock band, Primal Scream.
Disambiguation
Primal therapy should not be confused with the similar but philosophically different Primal integration.
External links
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