IJFS - Interdisciplinary Journal of Family Studies

Traumatized individuals can suffer from an array of mental and
physical conditions. Repeated traumatic memories can result from a chronic effort
of the body to complete an action that was interrupted during the original
traumatic event(s). Biodynamic psychology theorizes that trauma can result in the
repression of painful emotions through muscular tension, and the contraction of
muscles which leads to the storage of the effects of trauma within the body. Our
research explores the application of Biodynamic methods to eliminate the
biochemical, hormonal and emotional effects of trauma, and foster mind-bodyspiritual
healing for eight women who were receiving domestic violence support
services in the West of Ireland. We present case examples and Biodynamically oriented
theoretical analysis of how psychodrama techniques can be beneficial.