Somatic developmental psychology
Psychological development, mapped through the body.
Bodynamic is a Danish-founded approach to body-oriented developmental psychology. It understands psychological development as something that takes shape in the muscles and movement patterns of the body, and that can go on developing long after childhood. Today it trains practitioners in 30 countries.
- Established in Denmark
- 1982Established in Denmark
- Countries teaching today
- 30Countries teaching today
- Muscles mapped for psychological function
- 125+Muscles mapped for psychological function
01/The approach
The body has a story to tell.
Muscles hold the record of how a person learned to meet the world. Bodynamic maps that record — which capacity formed at which stage, what happens when it comes under strain, and which resources can be drawn on to steady it — so that something vague becomes specific enough to work with.
02/Who it's for
Different paths. A shared foundation.
Personal development
For people interested in self-understanding, boundaries, connection, and personal growth. Most begin with the Foundation Training, and many never go further — it is a complete piece of work in itself.
Foundation TrainingProfessional training
For therapists and professionals interested in body-oriented developmental psychology. The Practitioner Certification builds on the Foundation and leads to the professional designations.
Practitioner Certification03/Featured trainings
Discover what's coming up.
Explore upcoming programmes, workshops, and international trainings.
04/Upcoming trainings
Start your journey.
Voices from the field
Perspectives on Bodynamic.
I believe that most schools of psychology and therapy have failed to understand fundamental ways humans use to make meaning about themselves in the world. Marcher, Fich, and their Bodynamic colleagues make a stunning step forward in overcoming this error.
Bodynamic Somatic Developmental Psychology is probably the most body-oriented and comprehensive developmental psychology and character structure model there is. I highly recommend the Bodynamic foundation level training as a must to all those who are serious about being a body-oriented therapist.
Bodynamic Training is the premier program for developing knowledge and skill in Developmental Psychology. Offering grounded theory and practical healing protocols with precision and heart.
05/Our story
A body of work, built over generations.
Lisbeth Marcher began the research in the 1960s, noticing that particular muscles surfaced particular psychological themes again and again. In 1975 she formed a development group with ten colleagues, and by 1982 that work had become a training institute.
Three generations have carried it since, and all three remain active in teaching and development — which is rare among psychotherapy schools.