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Santa Barbara Graduate Institute Newsletter, September 2006

Bill Smythe, a Somatic Psychology graduate of SBGI, has been practicing Rolfing® for over 27 years. In 1990 he became a teacher for the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and has taught Rolfing and somatic therapy workshops and trainings internationally. He has extensive training in Somatic Experiencing®, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, and Native American Shamanism. He is a 2nd degree Black Belt in Aikido and lives and practices in Santa Fe, NM.

The interviewer: Arabella received her B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University, completed one-year's M.A. coursework in clinical psychology, and spent many years in business management.  A Buddhist student and practitioner for thirteen years, Arabella has written a book on Buddhist reform that is in its final editing stages.

Bill Smythe's paper The Intersubjective Field Of Healing - Beyond Technique is one of this newsletter's new articles, accessible through our website's News Center.  While reading it isn't necessary toward following this interview, it forms the basis of the questions asked and the references made.

Arabella: There have been a lot of myths and mis-perceptions about Rolfing.  So, may I ask you, a Certified Advanced Rolfer: what is Rolfing?!

The Intersubjective Field of Healing - Beyond Technique

Published in: The Journal of the Rolf Institute, September 2006
                      IASI 2007 Yearbook of Structural Integration

INTRODUCTION

Recent advancements within neuroscience confirm that the therapeutic alliance (i.e., the collaborative relationship between patient and therapist) plays a major role in the outcome of therapy, even more so than technique. A primary component of the alliance is the emotional bond that is formed and the regulation of feelings between patient and therapist. With an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, the phenomena of transference and countertransference are seen to be fundamental to the process of psychotherapy. Although, we as Rolfers attend to the physical nature of our clients, issues of transference and countertransference are present in our work with others.

Dr. Rolf's real passion related to human potential. In addition to improving posture and relieving chronic pain, she was intent on increasing vitality and feelings of wellbeing in her clients. Her unique vision continually informs us regarding how genetics, trauma, habit, and culture shape the human form and that each person's shape constitutes their personal history and suffering.