Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP): What is in a name?

Al Pesso and Diane Boyden developed PBSP in the 1960s into a comprehensive, flexible, subtle and finely-tuned method for accomplishing therapeutic change, emotional re-education and growth.¹ It is a system based on many years of empathic observation of people’s bodily movements, listening to their reports of physical sensations, discovering what these sensations and movements meant emotionally, and experimenting with diverse ways of facilitating and responding to the expression of feelings through bodily actions and wished-for interactions.¹ Al and Diane recognised that such interactions – the active accommodating responses of role players which precisely fit and match the client’s own emotional interests, actions, and impulses toward action – offer an exceptionally persuasive invitation to the expression of feelings.¹ But PBSP offers more than simply expressing feelings. Through structures – carefully directed therapeutic work with symbolic role-played figures at the right time, right age and with the right kinship relationship – provision is made for resolving a client’s past conflicts, satisfying previously unmet needs, healing past emotional injuries, and enabling hitherto unborn parts of the self to emerge and become integrated into the being and functioning of the whole person.¹

What is PBSP referred to in different areas of the world?

In the USA, Diane and Al decided to call their method “Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor”,  retaining the original designation of “Psychomotor” and emphasising the extent to which it constitutes a well-articulated system of psychotherapy rather than merely a set of techniques.¹ In some parts of Europe, the term “psychomotor” refers generically to a variety of body-oriented methods ranging from massage to martial arts.¹ “Pesso Therapy” or “Pesso Groups” is used to distinguish PBSP from what the French call “Psychomotricite” – though the loss of Diane’s name potentially detracts from her contribution to the method.¹

Psychodrama: What is it and how does it differ from PBSP?

Psychodrama is most often described as an experiential approach that integrates aspects of psychotherapy and role-playing techniques to externalise intrapersonal or interpersonal issues.² A PBSP session or structure appears to be like a psychodrama enactment as they both use role playing within a group to recreate scenes from the past and wished-for interactions.² Like the psychodrama process, the PBSP approach follows the client, constructs a dramatic scene, facilitates de-roling of role players, and ends with sharing from participants in the group.² The witness in PBSP has many similarities to the mirror position in psychodrama.² PBSP has a similar process to psychodrama, but also has its own terminology, theory, and training process.² PBSP is more explicitly trauma- and body-focused than psychodrama.² A PBSP therapist uses microtracking to follow the client’s subtle non-verbal communication.² Overall, the facilitation of PBSP is more contained, scripted, and intentional than a spontaneous psychodrama enactment.²

 

Sources:

1. Pesso A, and Crandell JS. Moving Psychotherapy, 1991. Brookline Books USA.
2. Giacomucci C S. Social Work, Sociometry, and Psychodrama, 2021. Springer Singapore.