To be able to re-program addiction one has to go to the root cause of where it might have started.

That, in my experience as a Body-Psychotherapist, takes us far back to the years from birth to seven, also called the sensitive years. During this time we build the foundation for our psycho-physical and spiritual responses, since the brain records and expands to around 80% of its capacity of the human life cycle then.

While this is happening, we are flooded with sensory information, and we learn to build sensory intelligence and form emotional responses.

If this important self exploration is only minimally interfered with, then our emotional intelligence grows up well balanced and intellectual pursuit (how the world is constructed and interacts) follows naturally.

If, however, the adult world interferes too much with the child's creative self exploration, then the young person stops trying to ‘figure things out' and therefore can not build a world view that is based on physical or emotional self-support. Rather the human being defers his/her authority to others. She/he becomes a clever imitator to fit in, strives to become lovable and “successful”. She gets rewards for ‘good behavior' and good grades in school, which further creates self abandonment, insecurity and no substantial belief in self-worth.

If, in addition, the adult interferences were emotionally or physically abusive, then sensory intelligence is developed and used for creative hyper-vigilance of self protection, like contracting the body to become 'invisible' as much as possible and disassociate from sensory experience, or becoming abusive to others (since that was role modeled).

In other words: escaping, numbing, abusing self and others becomes the choice for survival.

This early behavior response is the first step to addictive behavior and therefore its root cause ! Since this is now programmed in the cellular body memory it accompanies the person night and day and determines the choices he/she gravitates to, in order to deal with, and override the early experiences and triggers.

Often the choices made to cope are alcohol, sex, compulsivity or addictive behavior of any kind. Feeling and sensing has become dangerous and the body's voices need to be shut off.

The good news is that with skillful and a certain quality of caring touch, talk, movement, creativity and the healing forces of nature body and psyche can be carefully and naturally re-programmed.

If one immerses the addicted person in a safe and creative environment, then a certain quality of touch can re-program touch abuse and neglect.

While accompanied with body dialogue and psychophysical movement the person will learn to sense the kind of self support that was aborted earlier and feel self empowered enough to slowly, gently and safely confront the abusers . The person will finally take charge of his/her own life.

This is how habitual responses are re-programmed, and addictive behavior is overcome and re-channeled into self supportive choices.

A skilled Body- Psychotherapist is needed to accompany a person on such a journey. This is not a ‘fast-food therapy' and takes a deep commitment on the part of the person and the Body-Psychotherapist alike.

I have developed the Unergi Body-Psychotherapy method to take individuals and groups on such a journey. Since 1993 I have also directed the non-profit Unergi Body-Psychotherapy School to train people in becoming professional Body-Psychotherapists and/or introduce professional body-workers, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists to this holistic therapy that simultaneously includes touch, talk and movement.