Reichian therapy

Reichian therapy

Fringe psychiatry
A form of psychotherapy developed by Wilhelm Reich, who believed that the repression of energy associated with sexual orgasms (orgone energy) results in emotional and psychological defects. Reichian therapy encourages a person to become aware of postural and muscular tension (body armouring), which affects emotions. Manoeuvres used in Reichian therapy include deep breathing and massage, manipulation of the gag reflex to release body armouring, unmasking of facial expressions and forced pressure on the chest by the therapist, who uses physical movement and postural adjustment to free the tension caused by sexual repression.

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