Lowijs Perquin Memorial Award: Awarded to Bessel van der Kolk M.D. in 2024
In memory of our beloved teacher and friend Lowijs Perquin, this annual award is offered by the UK Pesso Boyden Trainers – Sally Potter, Juliet Grayson and Sandy Cotter – to recognise particular efforts by a Therapist or Trainee or significant person within the PBSP community, who has made an impact in the UK.
This award has two purposes: firstly, to ensure the memory and spirit of Lowijs continues with us as we go forward with our work in this method. Secondly, to acknowledge efforts made by individuals to develop Pesso Boyden therapy and the PBSP community in the United Kingdom.
In the service of these intentions, we chose an object (shown below) that represents the heart of our work with people.
The recipient of the award will keep the statue for one year, and their name will be engraved onto the plinth.
We feel sure everyone who benefited from Lowijs Perquin’s teaching will welcome this award. For those of you who never met Lowijs, please know that the best in each of us trainers was ignited by what we honour in him with this memorial.
2024 AWARD WAS PRESENTED BY DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE TO BESSEL VAN DER KOLK AT THE MASTER SERIES TRAUMA CONFERENCE IN OXFORD ON SEPTEMBER 9TH 2024
The Lowijs Perquin Memorial Award, is given annually, by the Pesso Boyden Training Institute in the UK. Lowijs Perquin was a brilliant psychiatrist, psychotherapist and teacher, a passionate advocate of the work of Al Pesso, who saw both the genius and the originality of Al’s body-mind approach. Lowijs helped to both codify and spread the word about this ground-breaking work. It is both heartening and apt that Bessel and Lowijs should have known each other.
The award is given each year, to someone who has helped the work of Al Pesso, in the UK. This has been done by Bessel’s extraordinary book, “The Body Keeps the Score”, in which he writes an illuminating chapter about the work of Al Pesso… Furthermore, when he talks about trauma, Bessel often mentions, with as much fondness as authority, the impact of Al Pesso’s work. As he said recently in an email,
“Al’s approach, is such a powerful intervention that does not receive nearly as much attention as it deserves”
In the view of the Institute, Bessel van der Kolk stands as a leading contemporary figure, whose word and thought have helped to keep this unique and powerful work in people’s minds and hearts. In a very real sense, he has helped those who might benefit from such a methodology to find their way to therapists who are properly trained in the Pesso Boyden system. Today the Pesso Boyden Training Institute honours Bessel, as he honours the work of Al Pesso.
In 2023 Dr Pete Mann was awarded the trophy. Pete was on the very first training in the UK and has given unstinting support over the years, advising, ensuring that policiies and ethical standards were maintained throughout, serving (long term) as the UK representative on the Psychomotor Institute Board, and being a ‘behind the scenes’ invaluable guide and supporter. We are very grateful to him for the huge contribution he has made.
In 2022 John Dinwoodie was honoured. John created a short film showing the effectiveness of Pesso Boyden Therapy, highlighting that it is a body-based therapy. By cutting extracts of film of client work, alongside interviews from therapists and trainers, John has created a compelling piece.
In 2021 Deborah Clarke was awarded the trophy. In a year particularly challenging for group work, she offered, promoted and contributed to online workshops, and posted talks and other items of interest about the method. At the same time she completed a therapeutic training to add to her PBSP Coach credential, demonstrating real dedication to the development of Pesso Boyden.
In 2020 Kate McGeever was honoured. She generously lent her therapy rooms for PBSP intervision meetings. Her gift of a high quality, central venue enabled training groups to meet, practice and connect – adding significantly to PBSP development.
The first recipient of the award in February 2019 was Tom Corbishley. He worked meticulously and collaboratively with us for untold hours to revitalise and upgrade the contents of the Slide Book that is used in all UK PBSP trainings.
Sally, Juliet, and Sandy