Thanatotherapy often sparks a lot of questions for clients. What is it? How does it work? What is it actually for?
Let me share a little more. Thanatotherapy was the very first somatic therapy I ever experienced myself. It was an incredible revelation: over the course of two hours, through complete presence and fine-tuned sensitivity, the therapist unlocked a long-forgotten memory held within my body. It released a torrent of intense emotions, feelings, and a profound sense of liberation that I couldn't yet fully comprehend at the time. Back then, I had no idea such deep healing was even possible, so I simply set the experience aside and forgot about it for a while. Years later, I came across an announcement that the very same therapist was teaching this method to others. I signed up immediately.
Thanatotherapy was originally developed by Dr Vladimir Baskakov, a body psychotherapist from Moscow.
Today, many schools of body psychotherapy have integrated it into their curricula. I even encountered it briefly during my own body psychotherapy training, though I had already studied the method earlier under the guidance of a private teacher.
The word ‘Thanato’ comes from the Greek nameThanatos, who is known in Greek mythology as the god of peaceful, non-violent death or deep sleep. In a similar way, thanatotherapy mirrors the process of sleep or natural dying. As you lie down, gentle, slow movements of your joints guide you to the threshold between wakefulness and sleep—the state of deep theta and light delta.Thetaanddeltarefer to the brainwaves present when we are either drifting off to sleep or deep in slumber. In this frequency, the conscious mind releases its control over the body, allowing subconscious processes to take over. This is when buried emotions, childhood memories, and other unconscious material can safely surface. During the session, you will primarily experience a sense of profound relaxation, the relaxation of muscles that hold control, and a deeply comforting feeling of being held and supported.
I combine this method with counselling and hypnotherapy to address the mind and body as a whole, helping you receive the deepest possible benefit from the process.
Linda Pukk, 29 January 2024
