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. Psychotherapy is a set of techniques intended to improve mental health, emotional or behavioral issues of individuals, family members or a whole familys interactional climate. ... Dr. Arthur Janov is the inventor of Primal therapy and directs a Primal Center in Venice, California, USA. He is a licensed psychologist in that state. ... Perinatal defines the period occurring around the time of birth (5 months before and 1 month after). ... Prenatal means before birth (is widely used in biology). ...

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. John Winston Ono Lennon (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was best known as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist for The Beatles. ... Tears for Fears are a successful British pop band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, which emerged after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate. ... Nick Blinko is the lead singer for the British band Rudimentary Peni and an outsider artist. ...

Disambiguation

Primal therapy should not be confused with the similar but philosphically different Primal integration. Primal Integration is a form of personal growth work first formulated by the Canadian Bill Swartly in the mid 1970s. ...

External links

• Dr. Janov's Primal Center home page
• Primal Psychotherapy Page
• International Primal Association