Page 133 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 13

Comment to

“Somatic Psychotherapy and Gwen White,
Psy.D., is Pro-
Divine Unity: A personal fessor Emerta
from Eastern
perspective“ Uni v er s i t y

where she for-
merly served
by Gwen White (USA) as Director of
the Doctoral
Programs in
Marriage and Family therapy. She is
Pidcoke gives us a compelling personal account a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania
of her journey as a somatic psychotherapist and and founded Circle Counseling in 1997,
an extensive and comprehensive literature review a counseling center in Philadelphia offe-
of the field. Her chart compiling various models ring professional mental health services
and forms of somatic technique and theory alone grounded in faith. Having served at the
is worth the price of admission! She has woven Hospital of the University of Pennsylva-
into her argument insights from Christian my- nia in the neuropsychology wing of reha-
stic, Agnes Sanford, and added apt references to bilitative medicine, her research interests
the Old and New Testaments. Her main argument include: the application of neuroscience
that research in neuroscience and trauma has va- to helping relationships, counselor trai-
lidated the reality of “our inherent unified being,” ning and supervision, spirituality and
that is that our bodies, minds and spirits are one counseling practice, mentoring relation-
and must be treated accordingly, is well supported. ships, compassion fatigue, trauma and re-
I applaud her turn away from Descartes and the ligious experience. She and her husband,
Greek separation between mind and spirit. This Rod, live in West Philadelphia and enjoy
false dichotomy has been thoroughly debunked in their four adult sons and their growing fa-
the literature related to our treatment of clients in milies with nine grandchildren nearby to
distress, particularly those who have experienced play with.
trauma.

The author notes a series of connections between
science, nature and a Christian understanding of
life and relationships. She explores links between
Epigenetics, cellular memory and the interdepen-
dence of the Body of Christ pictured in Romans
12 as a singular human body with systems func-
tioning as a unified organism. Central to Pidcoke’s
Christian integration of somatic psychotherapy is
her focus on Jesus’ oft repeated command in the
New Testament to “fear not.” She recommends
that clinicians pay close attention to what is hap-
pening in their own bodies as well as asking clients
to explore where they might be feeling emotions
in their bodies. This connection between counter- holy work aimed to assist clients in the release
transference work and unconscious and unpro- of fear. This seems fundamental to our work as
cessed emotions in the therapy room seems par- therapists or as Pidcoke comments, our task of
ticularly important to me and I echo her image of offering “embodied love” to those who come to
this attention and invitation offered to clients as us seeking help.
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