Anne L Ryan (T)

Anne L Ryan 

Body Psychotherapist, Biodynamic Massage Therapist 

Body Psychotherapy 

Body Psychotherapy works with our feelings and our emotions and how we experience these in our body. It offers a supportive, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship, drawing on body-orientated methods, along with offering you space to talk and reflect.  Working with the body in psychotherapy, we explore habits and holding patterns with a view to understanding how our own behaviour is contributing to our difficulties. This may include encouraging a deepening of awareness of breath, sensation, exploring images, vocal sound, working with movement and affective touch. By working this way, we become more 'in tune' with ourselves. Body Psychotherapy values this and the self-regulating potential of each individual. It draws on a person's innate ability to connect with their own personal wisdom to heal and transform themselves. 

Body Psychotherapy is a humanistic psychotherapy. It is underpinned by the values of humanistic psychology which means it works with the whole person to address difficulties across mind, body, emotion and spirit.  Body Psychotherapy is seen as the third force, with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as the second force, and Psychoanalysis as the first force. 

Biodynamic Massage Therapy 

Biodynamic massage is a psychological massage that helps to balance mind and body.  It affects all aspects of our being – mental, physical, emotional and spiritual.  It uses a wide range of touch techniques, working with the skin, connective tissue, muscle and bone, as well as the subtle levels of the human energy fields. In each session the therapist selects the technique(s) best suited to meet the emotional and physical needs of each client. A biodynamic massage can be experienced by one person as extremely gentle and calming, and by another as energising and enlivening.   

Biodynamic massage is aimed at those who, at any age, aspire to maintain their well-being, and is a pro-active step in contributing to living a happy and fulfilling life. 

You can go to www.abmt.org.uk for a comprehensive description of the techniques used in biodynamic massage.   

About me 

My enthusiasm to be a body psychotherapist comes from my curiosity about the voice. As a voice coach I am aware of the complexities in using the voice, and in how we express ourselves in our communications with the world.  My voice coaching experience and my training in body psychotherapy combine to work with this more deeply.  

I have been a performance artist for over 30 years using the creative arts such as music, art, movement, sound, with special attention to movement, breath and vocal sound.  I find that this brings balance to my own sense of well-being. I have worked with community choirs and, earlier in my career, I worked as an environmental lawyer facilitating community groups in stakeholder dialogue.  

I aspire in my practice to work with the uniqueness of each client, and to support you in your process to be at ease with who you are.  

I am in my fifth year of a six year course in Body Psychotherapy at the Cambridge Body Psychotherapy Centre (CBPC). I am working towards accreditation and registered as a trainee with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).  I am a Biodynamic Massage Therapist and registered with the professional body Association of Biodynamic Massage Therapists. 

I hold a BA (Law) from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. I am a practitioner member of the Natural Voice Network.