In this episode we delved into Jim's profound journey into Bioenergetics, exploring its life-changing impact. Jim shared how this powerful practice helped him connect deeply with his emotions and body, spurred by a lifelong pursuit of self-discovery. His unique blend of art and Bioenergetics brings an emphasis on creativity, community, and healing.

One notable takeaway: "It's about recognizing we're part of a pulsating, vibrational world, and our need for connection and being seen is vital."

Bio:

Jim Elniski, MFA, MSW, LCSW, CBT maintains an independent bioenergetic therapy practice
in Chicago, Illinois and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has been the local trainer and former Director of the Chicago Society for Bioenergetic Analysis, is currently on the Board of Trustees of the IIBA, and a local trainer of the Southern California Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis.

Jim is also a practicing artist whose individual and collaborative work has been profiled in
Visual Inquiry: Learning & Teaching Art, Launching the Imagination, and Parabola and is
Professor Emeritus at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

He was the co-editor, together with Jacqueline A. Carleton, of the USABP Journal issue
commemorating Alexander Lowen.

His special interest, as therapist, clinical consultant, educator, and artist, is the pulsatory
nature of being alive and how we contact, shape, and are shaped by the world around us.
In collaboration with his wife, artist Frances Whitehead, he has developed three projects that repurposed existing buildings as sustainable live/work spaces. Jim's particular
contribution to these projects is his focus on the literal ways we are all interconnected and to
make visible aspects of the communal common ground that all too often remains invisible.

Jim has been an urban beekeeper since 2005. Through the metaphor of Hive Mind, he has
begun to formulate a more explicit set of theoretical and practical connections between
community-centered art practice, clinical social work, somatic psychotherapy, and service work
with art for marginalized, special populations.

Jim's Website

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Sponsored by Sciba

Find a Bioenergetic Therapist

https://sciba.org/

Maring Higa's (host) website

Andrea Vaz Antunes (host) website

@bio.body.talk (instagram)

In this episode, Fernando Suarez shares his personal journey into Bioenergetic therapy, starting from his early life in San Diego to his introduction to Bioenergetics through his therapist, Garet Bedrosian. Fernando delves into his experiences with various forms of therapy, his passion for breathwork, the impact of spiritual practices, and how he has integrated Bioenergetics into his life. He discusses the concepts of armoring, healthy aggression, and the significance of relational connections in therapy. Fernando also highlights his experiences at bioenergetic conferences and his aspirations of pursuing a career as a certified bioenergetic therapist.

Bio:

Fernando has an undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of San Diego School
of Business and has worked in the Supply Chain Management field for over 20 years, currently
with a large international emphasis, primarily in Asia.

His personal work with Bioenergetic Analysis influenced and inspired him to pursue and
complete a master’s in counseling psychology with the intention of becoming a certified
Bioenergetic Therapist. He completed a Bioenergetics one-year introductory program as well
the first year of the Bioenergetic Analysis certification program through the Southern California
Institute of Bioenergetic Analysis. He is currently awaiting his Associate Marriage and Family
Therapist Number from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to work toward his
licensure.

Fernando views the values and principles of bioenergetics as helpful to creating a way of life
with greater self-awareness and freedom.

Sponsored by Sciba

Links mentioned from episode:

The Way To Vibrant Health

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Find a Bioenergetic Therapist

https://sciba.org/

Maring Higa's (host) website

Andrea Vaz Antunes (host) website

@bio.body.talk (instagram)

Vincentia Schroeter, PhD. has practiced as a Bioenergetic Analyst since 1980. She is past editor of the clinical journal of Bioenergetics (2008-2018), is a member of SCIBA, and teaches nationally and internationally as part of the IIBA faculty.

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In this episode, co-host Maring interviews Vin, an expert in bioenergetics, about the profound ways in which somatic therapy intersects with attachment theory and character styles. Vin shares her journey into bioenergetics, highlighting the impact of grounding and the mind-body connection on personal growth.

The conversation covers

• the foundational aspects of attachment theory
• the development of various character structures in early childhood
• and how these influence adult behavior.

Vin explores how different attachment styles — avoidant, anxious, and disorganized — relate to character structures such as schizoid, oral, borderline, narcissist, masochist, and rigid.

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Links:

-"Bioenergetics" by Alexander Lowen
- "Pleasure: A Creative Approach to Life" by Alexander Lowen
- "Depression and the Body" by Alexander Lowen
- "Betrayal of the Body" by Alexander Lowen
- "Character Transformation" by Stephen Johnson
- Works by Guitonella on attachment style and bioenergetics

Find a Bioenergetic Therapist

https://sciba.org/

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Maring Higa's (host) website

Andrea Vaz Antunes (host) website

@bio.body.talk (instagram)

Kristen Smith tells us how she came to find Bioenergetic Analysis and the lasting impacts it has had on her life.

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Show Notes:

Bio:

Kristin is both a healer and on a journey of healing. She has a masters in psychology and has spent time counseling in private practice and in clinical settings, as well as guiding and supervising therapist trainees. Her undergraduate work was in philosophy which, along with her experience and training in psychology, informs her humanistic and nuanced approach to healing for herself and others. Kristin practices and advocates a holistic view of healing through art, poetry, movement, connecting to intuition and welcoming all parts of ourselves as part of her daily healing practice.

SCIBA Website

bio.body.talk@gmail.com