Cultivate awareness of the processes of body and mind. Both your body and mind are the greatest instruments you work with in this lifetime.
How wonderful of you to find this website. My name is Ben and I am a body-oriented therapist, holding practice at Plantage Dokhuis (Plantage Doklaan 8, Amsterdam) on Tuesdays.
As a sensitive person, who used to have a complex relationship with my body, I often found life to be very overwhelming in many ways during most of my life. I was also looking for a sense of purpose, a drive for what to do in this world, and how to make a difference. With body-oriented therapy and bodywork, I found the tools and practices to be in contact with my body, and a deep willingness to be present for others.
People fascinate me, in their diversity and uniqueness. Authenticity, gentleness, compassion, connection, understanding, confidence, visibility, growth, desire, boundaries, vitality, sensuality, protection, capacity, longing, loyalty, choice – all of these are vital aspects of the human experience. Helping others to be the person they want to be, make the choices they want to make, motivates and moves me deeply.
I choose to specialise in guiding people who feel blocked or stuck, and unable to express the identity of who they are or who they want to be – people with identities that fall outside of the dominant cultural norm, be it in terms of sexual orientation, gender identity, choice of relationship structures, race, neurodiversity.
I look forward to getting to know you!
To heal is to touch with love that which we previously touched with fear.
– Stephen Levine –
Sessions
A standard session of body-oriented therapy takes approximately 75 minutes. At the start of each session we look at what to focus on. What is going on in your life right now? What would you want to do and look at during the session? What are your needs, desires and challenges?
A session may involve talk and thinking. However, body-oriented therapy is also about experiencing. This may be in the form of bodily exercises, for more contact with your body and emotions, or breath techniques, or systemic work. All working methods intend to mobilize you, to be more present and connected. An improved connection with and between body and mind, knowing how to be in contact with and handle your emotions, and more focus to move towards the directions you want to head to.
I also offer bodywork, either as element of a session, or as full session. We would employ touch as a method for investigating body awareness, to look into how physical symptoms, personal history, challenges and behavior express themselves in your body. This may be done both laying down, as well as in other positions. The emphasis lies on experience rather than theoretical understanding. With your active participation, awareness and attention, and the use of breath, we may dive into the patterns and expressions of your body. Bodywork is particularly useful for increasing body awareness, which may in turn play an important role in dealing with or reducing chronic pain, or learning to listen better to your own body signals, which may be invaluable when dealing with stress or recovery from burn-out, for example. It may also help to change your relationship with your body, to approach situations differently, and as such, improve life quality (in short-term or long-term). Finally, integration of various types of intense experiences, possibly traumatic, by means of physical experience and touch, is also possible.
Session
€40 / €60 / €80* (sliding scale dependent on factors such as income and length of session)
It is hard to move forward when you keep re-reading the previous chapter.
Time to write a new pattern into your life!
I strive for inclusivity and employ a sliding scale for pricing dependent on income, background and other factors, such as a deviating length of session.
Accessibility is important to me, if lack of financial means is the sole reason to prevent you, then please reach out.
For who?
Are you experiencing a lot of stress, or stress-related complaints?
Do you have bodily pains and issues your doctor cannot help you with, because they may be psychosomatic? Or do you have difficulties accepting the limitations of your body?
Do you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of life?
Is it important for you to have a therapist or bodyworker who is attuned to LGBTQIA+ challenges and needs? Who has experiences and knowledge when it comes to relationships considered ‘unconventional’ (non-monogamy / polyamory, kink, or otherwise)?
Is it difficult for you to be in contact with your emotions, or not to be overwhelmed by them – especially unwanted emotions?
Everyone has a different story, different needs. You may recognise some of the themes mentioned above, or your problems might be different. Integral Psychotherapy and/or bodywork may be able to help you. Don’t hesitate to contact me, and we can see if I can help you.
Ben van Kempen
Integral Psychotherapy & Bodywork
Body-oriented Therapy Practice
Sessions possible in English or Dutch
T: +31(6)28296022 (messaging preferred)
E: benvkempen@gmail.com
Address: Plantage Dokhuis, Plantage Doklaan 8, 1018 CM Amsterdam
Current working day: Tuesday (daytime preferred, evening may also be possible)
Alternatively, online sessions may be available on days in the week other than Tuesday.