Asty Barbarin
Certified Sophrologist in Grenoble
Practice of Caycedian Sophrology
astybarbarin@gmail.com
06 18 50 74 19
Faq
Is Sophrology a therapy?
Sophrology can be used as a compliment to paramedical therapies but does not replace them.
Depending on the objective, one could refer to a session of basic sophrology or to a session with a therapeutic approach.
A session of Caycedian Sophrology with a purely therapeutic objective is only possible if a specific diagnosis has already been established by a practitioner (doctor, psychologist, physiotherapist, etc.) and if the practitioner estimates that Sophrology constitutes a suitable therapy for the diagnosed disorder.
How many sessions are required to get better?
It is difficult to answer, because we are all different and we react in different ways, depending on the circumstances and concerns. A sophrologist is no miracle worker!
It takes 2 to 3 consecutive sessions to begin to feel the physiological benefits from relaxation: mastering the breathing and reducing muscle tension requires a minimum amount of learning.
As for the (re)discovery of the body through sensations, there is a period of adaptation, related to different psychological barriers and other reflexes that have been acquired so far: one must learn to "lower one's guard". This process, depending on the person and their personality, can be more or less long.
So to get an idea, it is recommended to attend 5 to 6 sessions (once a week) to become accustomed to the environment as well as to become familiar with the techniques. These sessions provide time to develop confidence and adaptability.
One session per week is a rhythm to be maintained in order to benefit from the positive effects in the long term.
Patience and motivation are important factors: for Sophrology, as with everything else, nothing works by itself.
Sophrology and Mindfulness?
The mindfulness and sophrology have some common points: concentration practice, medical purposes, inspiration from oriental techniques, acceptance without preconceived ideas or judgements, and investment in the self-reliance of the participants.
But contrary to mindfulness meditation, which is often centered on the present moment, sophrology works on the past (memories, past experiences, conditionings), the present, and the future (projects, ideas, etc) and values. It also simulates a certain deformation of reality with a positive attitude which contrasts with the meditation which aims to accept the given of reality.
Watch videos (in french) :
Interview with Christophe André on Sophrology and Mindfulness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JaxBTZsMIw
Christophe André and Natalia Caycedo on Sophrology and Mindfulness:
Sophrology et yoga?
The two disciplines share a common quest for altered levels of consciousness, to achieve a form of psychological and physical balance, with a holistic approach that takes into account the physical, mental and emotional dimensions. Breathing control is very important in both cases: conscious and intentional breathing, vs the automatic pilot.
Mais en sophrologie, contrairement au yoga, il n'y a aucun travail sur les postures. N'exigeant aucune disposition physique particulière, elle est accessible à tous. Les exercices de sophrologie s'effectuent dans les positions courantes du quotidien : debout/assis. Ensuite, la sophrologie n'a aucune dimension spirituelle ; elle est totalement laïque. Il s'agit davantage d'un apprentissage que d'un enseignement car les élèves ont un professeur, non pas un maître, qui transmet des techniques pour rendre les élèves aussi autonomes que possible afin qu'ils puissent pratiquer seuls.
Grâce à la sophrologie, les pratiquants peuvent vivre leur quotidien de manière plus apaisée.
Sophrology and hypnosis?
Sophrology is partly inspired by hypnosis. Indeed, the sophrologist as the hypno-therapist use their voice as a supportive support. In addition, the modification of the patient's state of consciousness (from a waking state to a semi-conscious level lying between waking and sleeping) and visualization is used in both fields.
However, sophrology develops autonomy with a particular and precise methodology: it is less general and is part of daily life, encouraging the patient to practice the learned methods by himself. In this sense, it is more person-centered. In addition, it works on the mind and body as well as on the emotions. Finally, sophrology is concerned with consciousness while hypnosis is linked to the unconscious.
What is the difference between Sophrology and Caycedian Sophrology?
Caycedian Sophrology is not a branch of Sophrology but rather Sophrology in its authentic form as created and developed by its founder, Dr. Alfonso Caycedo since 1960.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
It is with a resolutely medical and scientific approach that he creates this new discipline called "sophrology" after the Greek roots SOS-PHREN-LOGOS or "study of consciousness in balance".
He will not protect this denomination, far from suspecting at the time of the formidable development that his discipline was going to know.
In 1992, in order to properly supervise his technique and differentiate it from the practices which have developed in a sometimes anarchic way under the name of "sophrology" which has become generic, Professor Caycedo then registers the name "Caycedian Sophrology".
Practicing Caycedian Sophrology or training with a Caycedian Sophrologist is the guarantee to resort to a recognized and controlled practice, and to professionals trained in respect of the authenticity of the method.
What is a phenodescription?
Phenodescription is the time for oral or written expression at the end of the session. It is done by describing the sensations of the body, the images experienced, the impressions.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
During sophronization (the session in the level of consciousness on the verge of sleep), the lived experience and the various sensations felt enter consciousness and are incorporated into the subject's own psychic life.
It is therefore interesting to spot the “living reactions” immediately after the experience and to verbalize them, orally or in writing, to leave a trace of the phenomena experienced.
Collection of fresh sensations of the body, lived images, impressions, without interpretation (which is not easy and requires learning not to judge, interpret ...)
This makes it possible to bring back to consciousness (a bit like when you wake up, after a dream) the elements that are buried in the unconscious: it is a conquest of one's conscious mind.
From a neurobiological point of view, the work of short-term memory is a means of fixing feelings, evocations and lived bodilyities and of allowing the pre-frontal brain to analyze, to sort, and to link all the information.
In a group, these expressions echo his own experience and are a source of openness, allowing to compare with his own experience, to enrich his vocabulary register.
After the recovery at the end of the exercise, I note:
What were my bodily sensations, what are they now?
What mental images, smells or sounds occurred to me?
What impressions, feelings, emotional feelings went through me?
What reflections, thoughts sprang from it?