Functional psychotherapy

Domain IV · Body-oriented psychotherapy · Luciano Rispoli · 1993 · Italy

What it is

Functional Psychotherapy is an integrative body-oriented psychotherapy. It is also a general psychological model of development, called Functional Psychology, which Rispoli developed from 1993. The model treats the person as one organism made of interconnected Functions, grouped descriptively on…

Format

• The content of the phases is not drawn on here. The sequence below is built from those headings, the SEF counselling steps and the 2004 case chapter, which runs diagnosis, functional diagram, recurring threads, treatment plan, course of therapy.
• Phase A: Reception and functional assessment (first sessions)

Questions to explore with your client

• What drew you to it, and what are you hoping it will change?
• Is there physical contact? Was it explained beforehand, and do you feel free to say no or stop at any point?
• Does it involve intense or unusual breathing? Have you been told about the medical conditions for which that is not advised?
• Is it a group, retreat or community? How do they respond if someone wants to leave or raises a concern?
• Does it use a device, heat, cold, water or a physical procedure? Has a medical professional checked that it is safe for you?
• Who runs it, and what training or registration do they hold?
• What actually happens in a session or meeting, and how often?
• What does it cost, and is there pressure to commit to more?
• How do you feel afterwards, in the hours and days that follow?
• Does it fit with, or clash with, the work we do here?

What practitioners of it watch for

• pathologising normal variation.
• effortful deep breathing; breath-holding; dizziness.
• staring; freezing; the breath stopping when eyes meet.
• generic answers such as "it was nice". Ask for detail.
• using relaxation to help someone tolerate a harmful situation they could change.

When to involve someone else

• New or worsening physical symptoms, or advice to stop or change prescribed medication: involve the client's doctor or prescriber.
• Signs of coercion, isolation from family and friends, escalating costs or secrecy: discuss openly and consider safeguarding.
• A crisis or thoughts of suicide: follow your crisis protocol. In the US, call or text 988; in the UK and Ireland, Samaritans on 116 123.

Drawn automatically from the guide's own sections. Stay curious: neither endorse nor dismiss what the client values, and check anything that matters against the full guide and its sources. Not medical advice.