What Is Hakomi Therapy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTechniquesWhat Hakomi Therapy Can Help WithBenefits of Hakomi TherapyEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Techniques

What Hakomi Therapy Can Help With

Benefits of Hakomi Therapy

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Close

Although it may seem unorthodox when compared totraditional talk therapy, Hakomi therapy is an alternative, “experiential” psychotherapy approach that tries to aid in psychological growth using touch andpositive affirmations.

It uses a somatic-based approach designed to aid in psychological development.At the core of Hakomi is the belief that the body holds internalized beliefs and thought patterns that have become unconscious. Trained Hakomi therapists can use consensual touch to help comfort patients and to encourage them to stay with unpleasant feelings to uncover and understand these unconscious limiting beliefs.

Hakomi is unique in that it seeks to befriend, rather than remove, uncomfortable elements of the human experience, such asvulnerabilityand pain.

Core Principles of Hakomi Therapy

Techniques Used in Hakomi Therapy

It is important to understand that therapists are individuals and may alter some of the techniques that they use over time to meet what they perceive to be the needs of their clients.

That being said, Hakomi-trained therapists generally follow a sequence in their sessions based on four different components:

There is some evidence of body-centered psychotherapies such as Hakomi being helpful in certain mental health conditions. Beyond this, it may be useful to aid in other situations, including:

The 10 Best Online Couples Therapy Services We Tried and Tested

While there isn’t much research about the long-term effects of Hakomi therapy, there are some potential short-term benefits:

The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested

Effectiveness of Hakomi Therapy

Currently, there is not much research into the effectiveness of Hakomi therapy. However, there is some evidence that therapies such as Hakomi have been helpful indepression,anxiety, andADHD.

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

As with all therapies, reactions and comfort levels are highly individual. Some noted potential problems with Hakomi can include that clients can have a tendency to experience discomfort with physical touch since it can potentially trigger increased distress and “body memories” in susceptible individuals.

Also, this approach may be difficult for people with certain psychological tendencies, such as those found in somepersonality disorders.

The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety, Tried and Tested

How to Get Started With Hakomi Therapy

People interested in pursuing Hakomi therapy can find a directory of practitioners atHakomi Institute. It is important to consider personal limitations and boundaries before meeting with a Hakomi therapist, including your feelings on touch from a professional.

Potential clients with specific needs should talk, and essentially interview, a prospective Hakomi specialist and inquire about the therapist’s training and expertise with that particular issue. For example, a person with an addiction should ask a specialist beforehand if they are qualified to work with someone with an addiction.

The training for a Hakomi-certified specialist does not mean that they will be able to work with specific conditions such as depression,obsessive-compulsive disorder,phobias, or any other psychiatric diagnoses.For this reason, it is important for potential clients to discuss pre-existing conditions and concerns with a Hakomi therapist to learn their strengths and potential limitations before considering a working relationship.

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Günther, U.Hakomi: Strengths & Limitations: Indications and Contraindications for the Use of Hakomi with Clients with Significant Clinical Disturbances.Hakomi Forum.2006;16–17, 35–42.

Ron Hurtz Hakomi Educational Materials.Explaining the Refined Method.

Weiss H, Johanson G, Monda L.Hakomi mindfulness-centered somatic psychotherapy: A comprehensive guide to theory and practice. W. W. Norton & Company. 2015.

Bageant R.The Hakomi Method: Defining Its Place Within the Humanistic Psychology Tradition.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 2012;52(2):178-189. doi:10.1177/0022167811423313

Vivianne S, Ahmed K, Christina T, Anderson M.Hakomi and the Underserved.Hakomi Forum. 2016;(27):59.

The Hakomi Institute of California.Directory Intro.

Hannah Owens, LMSW

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?