Patients' Comments and InsightsP lease scroll here to read comments patients have made about their experiences with Primal Therapy, and insights that have resulted. (All comments are presented with patients' permission. Many of the comments are unedited. In some cases, the comments are written by people for whom English is not a first language.)
"The upshot of me having such good therapists and having double sessions each week is that the therapy has now gone down very deep for me. So deep I almost can't believe it. I've broken through to some of my most powerful needs, and its left me half stunned - as if for the first time, the pieces deep down in you finally fit. As if you're literally being reborn before your very eyes. But reborn into what you already are. How's that for a thought twister! I"m also writing this to say thank you again. You've literally helped save my life. I can't really find words to tell you how grateful I am." It's so good to hear from you. When I write to you and Dr. Art J. it's partly an attempt to stay or feel connected from across the distance. Hearing back from you--your kind words--certainly stenghtens my sense of connection to you both and to the center. I realize this month marks my fourth anniversary--four whole years--at the center. I feel in that time like I've lived a whole life almost. And in spite of this period of crisis I'm still in it seems because of the therapy that I grow a bit stronger each day. Which gives me hope (the real kind) and confidence for the future. Please by all means feel free to use my comments on the website. And once again I want to say I can never fully express my gratitude to you and Art and to the center. Best Wishes, Dear Dr. Art J. and Dr. France J.: France: I just had to drop you a note of thanks for you help in getting me hooked up with Brenda Craven for my therapy. I could not be more pleased. I had some concerns about being able to open up over the phone to someone I'd never met in person, but as soon as I talked with Brenda, her warmth and empathy came right through. I've had two sessions with her thus far, and they have been wonderful in terms of relieving the pain that I've been carrying for a long time and that has been exacerbated by Michael's passing. Art: I had to send additional thanks your way for developing such a wonderful and powerful system of therapy. Deprived of it for so many years, I had forgotten the tremendous healing and release that come from deeply feeling feelings without letting the intellect get in the way. I have always been and forever will be grateful to you. Love to both of you, Jenny died two months ago as a result of breast cancer spreading through her body. The agony of her loss is shaking my world. Yet I am happy at the thought of our life and love in the post-Primal Therapy years together. Thank you for that. A little by little the blockbuster old feelings are ground smaller by the never ending feelings and connections. Your life gets better all the time. We are the privileged ones. Jenny always cherished the moment, Art, when you met us in the corridor on our way home after the group, and said to her "You look good, kid!". Yes, she looked good, and she lived a great life. Thanks, Art! Jenny and I have often discussed writing up our sometimes amazing post-Primal Therapy experiences and send them to Art . I had to throw out all my shoes when my size changed from 37 to 42. With much sadness, - J. K., Melbourne (Australia) 2008 "The upshot of me having such good therapists and having double sessions each week is that the therapy has now gone down very deep for me. So deep I almost can't believe it. I've broken through to some of my most powerful needs, and its left me half stunned - as if for the first time, the pieces deep down in you finally fit. As if you're literally being reborn before your very eyes. But reborn into what you already are. How's that for a thought twister! I"m also writing this to say thank you again. You've literally helped save my life. I can't really find words to tell you how grateful I am." - R.A., NY (USA) 2008 It's so good to hear from you. When I write to you and Art it's partly an attempt to stay or feel connected from across the distance. Hearing back from you--your kind words--certainly stenghtens my sense of connection to you both and to the center. I realize this month marks my fourth anniversary--four whole years--at the center. I feel in that time like I've lived a whole life almost. And in spite of this period of crisis I'm still in it seems because of the therapy that I grow a bit stronger each day. Which gives me hope (the real kind) and confidence for the future. Please by all means feel free to use my comments on the website. And once again I want to say I can never fully express my gratitude to you and Art and to the center. Best Wishes, LIGHT YEARS BEYOND ANY OTHER PSYCHOTHERAPY!
LIGHT YEARS BEYOND ANY OTHER PSYCHOTHERAPY! Frank Robinette, CA, March 2007
Thank you so much to Primal for saving my life many years ago, and in the last few years improving my quality of life. I live today "mostly" pain free. A.E.
Primal theory is the only psychology (really psychobiology) that relates to
what I personally experience both externally and internally. It's the only
theory asking the why of behavior and ones physiology. Only it says "man is
the creature of the mind, feelings & emotion and body". Only it relates ones
behavior to what he feels inside. Only it offers cure to what ails me
mentally, emotional and medically. I've studied all the books on primal
therapy. D.A., NY June 2006
All I can say is that Primal is the only therapy that ever felt right
for me. My year in therapy has not changed my belief that Primal is
the only way for people to make real and lasting changes. Everything
else I have ever read in the field of Psychotherapy does not even
come close. S.M., CA August 2006
I would like to thank Brenda, my therapist,
and all the people at the Center for the two weeks I
passed in there. I feel that it's been a small but fundamental step toward
the knowledge of who I am/was. I could not hope for anything better than what I've got and
I hope I can come back again next year. G.G., Italy
There have been many times in my life where I have felt sad, betrayed, and lonely. In the past I never knew why though. It was always something that just lingered in the back of my mind. I always felt like that pain/anxiety would never get better or go away. After having two therapists before, I never got anywhere until I was introduced to a therapy based on this book. I then took the step to enter into this program and I don't regret it, even in the slightest. It's helped me so very much to be more comfortable under my skin, to free myself from anxiety and to help me feel my pain and get it out of my system so that I can live a productive life. D.G., CA
All I can say is that Primal is the only therapy that ever felt right
for me. My year in therapy has not changed my belief that Primal is
the only way for people to make real and lasting changes. Everything
else I have ever read in the field of Psychotherapy does not even
come close. S.M, CA August 2006
... In any case ...I am touched by your response in that ....Art has been a Hero to me for over half of my life. Would that the earth be fortunate enough to have Primal available to every inhabitant we as a species might survive. The discovery and methodology certainly is there thanks to Dr. Janov. I remain utterly devoted to the Paradigm. B F , CA September 2006 My own experience in Primal Therapy has helped me to live in the present. I know that the suffering from the present connects to deeper Pain on the second and first line and that feeling that pain helps to allieviate my suffering. The connections that are made help me to know how the valance of the Pain drives my acting out behavior. Not only do I know why I behave the way I do but I also gain direction in being able to change the way I live my life. K.S , NY August 2006 Best therapy in the world. Only one that brings about permanent change. INCOMPARABLE. IT ROCKS ! G.B, NY 2006 Primal Therapy is the perfect solution to emotional healing. It is natural, practical, human -- and most of all -- IT WORKS ! J & L, NH Sept 2006 Primal theory is the only psychology (really psychobiology) that relates to
what i personally experience both externally and internally. It's the only
theory asking the why of behavior and ones physiology. Only it says "man is
the creature of the mind, feelings & emotion and body". Only it relates ones
behavior to what he feels inside. Only it offers cure to what ails me
mentally, emotional and medically. I've studied all the books on primal
therapy. D A, NY June 2006 Dear France and Art, ...I am absolutely certain that I could not have made these changes if it had not been for Primal Therapy. Things can seem completely bleak and hopeless. It was truly wonderful to be able to have sessions during this time. I have been able to feel more and more, and I have found out some amazing things. I didn't even know until recently that I live with a constant feeling of dread. Weeks ago when, I realized I am not worried about anything. It was amazing. I am always moved about something, always dreading something. Most of the time I am not sure what it is. But recently I have had truly happy days with nothing to fear or worry about. It might not sound much but to me it is extraordinary. I studied the impact of birth experience on personality. I am really pleased because recently I heard that my poster is going t be presented at the annual conference of the division of health psychology within the British psychological society. My tutor very much to believe that my research will get published but I am not so sure. I think I would like a time some spare time to have a social life. This has also been a big change for me actually being out there in the world. I have made a couple of really good new friends. I am extremely fortunate to have been able to do Primal Therapy and to have help from the foundation. It has made all the difference. This year would have been unbearable without Primal Therapy. I really could go on and on thanking you. It is difficult to express what an enormous difference it has made to me. So thank you. My life is completely different to how it was when I left LA. I feel like it is my life now and I am in it. I can feel so excited about life and enjoy being in the moment and being with other people. Wow! She will always be very special to me, as will the two of you. Thank you for everything. I hope you are both well. Maybe see you in September?
— V.L., England, 2006
"The meaning of being human"
Dear France & Art -
Thank you both from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me. For showing by example the meaning of being human; what it is to be there for someone; what it means to dare. You have selflessly lain the greatest gifts at the feet of mankind - led the way in showing the difference individuals can make in the world, in a life.
— J.R., Massachusetts, June 2006
"Know who I am"
"An opportunity to feel" — F.D., Germany, Christmas 2005
"Let the feelings come up"
I am absolutely certain that I could not have made these changes if it had not been for primal therapy... Things can seem completely bleak and hopeless. It was truly wonderful to be able to have sessions during this time... I have been able to feel more and more, and I have found out some amazing things. I didn't even know until recently that I live with a constant feeling of dread. It was only a few weeks ago when I realized I am not worried about anything! It was amazing. I am always worried about something, always dreading something. Most of the time I am not sure what it is. But recently I have had truly happy days with nothing to fear or worry about. It might not sound much but to me it is extraordinary...
....It is not the case that I am always feeling happy and content in life, and the past year has been extremely difficult with many times that I have felt very desperate. However I now understand how this therapy works, and it has given me the tool to "feel" my way through life. Many things that can feel so real - the dread, the feelings of being useless, unlovable, no point etc. still come up but now I have a way to "feel" what is behind them and know that these feelings do not belong in the present. I know that I will need to keep feeling for the rest of my life but I see this as a good thing. Before I lived my life trying to keep away from my feelings but it was very restrictive, now I can feel like anything is possible and if doing something brings up feelings then most of the time I am able to feel those and move on. I don't have to live a restricted life in order to avoid my feelings. What this year has really shown me too is how important it is to make changes in order to benefit from the therapy. No amount of feeling will automatically make things better. If you find it difficult to be sociable but friends are really what you would like, don't just wait for the therapy to work. Do the difficult thing, try and be sociable let the feelings come up, feel them and try again. My experience has shown me that it is extremely difficult in the beginning but it gets easier and easier and the feelings get less intense. I think it is too easy to wait for the miracle cure when it doesn't exist.
... Now I am looking forward to a time with stability in my work and some spare time to have social life. This has been a big change for me- actually being out there in the world. I have made a couple of really good new friends... I am extremely fortunate to have been able to have done primal therapy and to have had help from the foundation. It has made all the difference. This year would have been unbearable without PT. I really could go on and on thanking you. It is difficult to express what an enormous difference it has made to me. So thank you. My life is completely different from how it was - I feel like it is my life now and I am in it. I can feel so excited about life and enjoy being in the moment and being with other people. Wow!... The two of you will always be very special to me. Thank you for everything.
October 2005
"There was no one to let it out to"
I know you must receive many much deserved "Thank yous" on a regular basis. But I feel you deserve another heartfelt "Thank you" from me. I found a copy of The Primal Scream while I was at a local used bookstore and the funny thing is the book literally fell into my hands. It was like I was meant to read it. Once I got through the introduction I knew that your book was IT. The book I have been searching for the last several years. I have spent a lot of time in the self help and parenting sections of every book store within a few miles of my home. So, after the introduction of The Primal Scream, I spent the next half an hour looking for a highlighter to highlight everything I knew I would need to come back to.
Now I will admit I have not finished your book. And maybe this letter to you is premature. But I can't tell you how much I have benefited from reading what I have read thus far. Things make sense now. I make sense to myself now. I have spent years trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Like I said, I have read many MANY books in the self help sections of the bookstore and nothing has ever clicked. I have taken a few things from this book and that book, but your book, oh my, was like it was written for me about me.
I have always tried to figure out why things never seemed real to me. It was like things were real but didn't feel real. Everything has always had to be BIG in a BIG way for me to even begin to have an emotional connection at whatsoever. Over the years my tension has come to an all-time high due to build up from things that have happened to me from when I was 5 years old. I literally have memories of the day that I refer to as "The day my life went to Hell." At the age of 5! Everything just kept building up inside and there was no one to let it out to. But let me tell you that your book has opened me up inside. I can feel things because I understand now. Your book has given me a boost of energy in my lifelong journey of recreating myself. I know now that what is wrong with me has a name and it is indeed neurosis. I may even be considered a classic case judging by how much is highlighted in this book that applies to me. I don't want to mislead you into thinking that I am going to try to literally heal myself. I have just become aware and with that awareness I feel the strength I have been needing to move forward and to live in the now.
I wish there was some way to thank you for what you have done for me. And I feel that I finally have the strength and the beginning of knowledge to become a better Mommy for my children. I even feel that I can give more love to my husband. Because IT IS OK to feel Love! I have always been secure with the fact that he thinks he loves me more than I do because at least I know if he loves me more than I love him than he must really love me a lot. But really, I think I might be able to let my wall down that was built around my heart. It's been there for so long it is almost like it is imbedded in me. I guess it is huh!?! It has been my way of protecting myself from further damage. As long as I did not let love in (or at [least] was selective) I wouldn't get hurt and so I could function and appear somewhat normal. Really on the inside I felt like my life was a TV show or something and that everyone was watching. Little hints that suggested I was suffering from neurosis. The funny thing is (well not that funny) NO ONE noticed. No one knew. There was no one!!!!
I have known for a long time that anything could cause me to completely be gone inside. But because of my defense of not allowing myself to "feel" completely, I have survived. All of this emotional damage had stayed locked inside that when that "something" did happen to lead me into an episode of what I call temporary insanity, I scared everyone. I scared myself. A flow of emotions from age 5 all came to the surface and I could not stop it! Now that I am reading your book, it all makes sense. So ~Thank you~ from the bottom of my newly awaken heart. I know now that I can swim above the water and I will, I promise you! I am going to have my husband read this highlighted copy of your book so he can understand and hopefully quit trying so hard. I think he has tried so hard to help me in all the wrong ways that I fear if it continues he too may be a candidate for primal therapy... Thanks again for helping me. Not only will I be a better mom, I will be a better wife, and a better ME all because of your book. You are special. (and so is everyone that had a hand in your book:) Just wanted you to know.
Sincerely,
A truly Thankful Person
October 2005
"Deep strong life"
Dear Art, — R.A., July 2005
A thank-you note
Dear Art, dear
France, — Anonymous, June 2005
"People who weren't pretending that everything was wonderful"
The following was addressed to Dr. France Janov
I am sorry that I didn't get to meet you during my three week intensive in April. I'm planning on returning in the fall, and maybe it will happen then.
In any case, I wanted to write and say how much I appreciated the time, energy, and patience that David put into my therapy. Valerie and Marie were wonderful as well.
I have been a long time believer in Primal Therapy. However, what surprised me most about my trip was how deeply moved I was in Group. I didn't anticipate what a relief it would be to associate with people who weren't pretending that everything was wonderful. The degree of vulnerability that people were willing to expose in Group was astounding. I will always remember it.
I was only able to participate in the May retreat on Friday evening, but I could tell that it was a special event and something that I want to do in the future. I think that sort of thing is a great idea.
Finally, I really appreciate the effort that you and your husband have put into helping others. I know that it is a labor of love - "easy" is not a word I would associate with any aspect of an operation that tries to help those who most need help. I also appreciate your husband's efforts to explain the therapy in scientific and quantifiable terms. Such explanations are sorely wanting in other types of therapy.
I would certainly recommend your center to anyone who seriously wants to try to recover her or his real self.
Thanks again,
Cristal Weber Seattle, WA (USA) June 2005
Poems: The Need; Screaming Relief
The Need — Genevieve Simperingham, March 2005
"Proper training"
Dear France,
Thank you for your email. You mentioned the three years of training and if I'm
able to stay this long. You know that it's not easy for Europeans to stay longer
than 3 months and I was thinking to come to L.A. once a year for one trimester.
As you don't have enough trainees to keep the training running at the moment I
guess it's not possible to 'just take part' in the training for only one
trimester. To tell you what I feel about the training I took part in two years ago: it was amazing to see how you handle the patients. I tried to find out how therapists are trained in Germany and it's just terrible that they finish their studies and do therapy just based on their books and theories. Nobody ever show them how to actually DO therapy. I guess the primal center is the only place in the world where proper training is given, especially tape review with you was incredible. You knew exactly what to say or do to show the patients the right track.
— March 2005
"It is part of human nature"
During the first two years of training, when you taught me thinking, I felt
strongly that you are the Philosopher of the 21st century. Of course, you can't
be recognized by the world, although you deserve it: the world will be lied to,
religions and politicians are the proof of it. I'm sad that you didn't get the
recognition you truly deserved. Because of you I have and still will save many
people's life. I will always make sure that they know that you have been my
teacher. You will be in my heart until the end of my days and thereafter in the
heart of the people I helped and so on. What you discovered can't get lost
because it is part of human nature.
Thank you Arthur for everything.
With all my heart and deepest feelings of love, Esther
— November 2004
I "share how I felt when I was little or feel now in my life"
.
. . . Things worked out well in many ways. My relationship with my mother is so
much improved - it is the first time in my life that I actually feel that I do
have a Mom! Thanks to Primal! I just do not accuse her anymore but simply share
how I felt when I was little or feel now in my life. So she does not need to
defend herself and she simply shows compassion. All I ever wanted and I now get
from her [is] the positive dialectic to feel how much I needed her back then.
The accusing I did and can do in my sessions where I yell at her to finally find
the hurt need which is the essence of ME! That is so nice to have a Mom! — C.G., November 2004
"Much thanks"
.
. . . I keep reading your books and I just want to thank you and cheer for your
writing and the light you've shed on psychology and birth and feelings and all.
So thanks. It is great stuff and much appreciated. . . . Thanks again. I look
forward to your next book. With much thanks and appreciation, L.B. — L.B., June 2004
Comments on the May 2004 Mini-Retreat at the Primal Center
I think retreats are definitely a good idea. Seeing the therapists in an informal setting as well as spending time around other patients seems to break through some barriers and bring up feelings. Round table was also good. Helps to focus things.
— E.H.
I thought the mini-retreat was well planned, the food was excellent and I got a lot of benefit from attending it. I felt very comfortable meeting new patients and learned more about how the therapy works when listening to the discussion on Saturday evening. For me it was the best mini-retreat I've attended so far.
— B.P.
Dear France,
I think it's clear that being with people (enjoying them) puts me in pain. It brings up all the times long ago when I desperately needed love and companionship and didn't have it. So the mere fact of being on the retreat stirred up my feelings. I could see this in both my private session on Saturday and group Sunday morning. In both cases I had intense feelings, deep crying. In private session it was over my grandparents whom I loved and who loved me (I was triggered by opera music I heard in the group room - my grandparents loved opera). In Sunday group it was about having to go back to New York where I would be alone again. It was also about my intense need for Carole, my therapist, at this point in my life.
With so much stirred up in you I think it's very important to understand what exactly is happening. For that reason I found your Roundtable very helpful. It gave us a context, a better sense of the theory. It helped me to understand all that's been going on for me. The only criticism I would have is that I'd have liked to be able to talk with you a bit after the Roundtable, ask additional questions in a more casual, informal setting.
Anyway, that's how it was for me, France. A weekend I'm very happy about.
— R.P.
The mini retreat was very helpful as I was able to feel about how I can't get close to others, my fear of being judged and criticized, and most importantly about others not liking me. I have come out feeling less self conscious then when I first came in.
The roundtable was helpful, although I mostly couldn't concentrate enough to hear everything and the new patients were asking questions I already knew the answer of, but I understand they are lost as I was at first.
The food was good, David and Carole were very present all along for me, and that was really nice although I am still kind of feeling I am not worth it.
Dear France,
The thing that made me the most happy was when I found out that people were being helped with the cost. Even though it seems reasonable to you, the cost is prohibitive for so many patients. It is not the same as other retreats, because most of those are more like weekend intensives with constant therapy. Of course, the therapy at those is worthless 'cause its not primal and it is just another way of rearranging people's pain and defenses. But when most people add up what they are going to receive at the mini-retreat they don't understand the cost. I have heard this discussion many times over the last 4 years and usually I just say there is something that happens there to me (at the retreat) that is more than the sum of its parts. But, I don't think I convince anyone. I got in my feelings after the last one in the fall 'cause the food problem triggered me. But thankfully I was able to feel a bit about it so I was able to give myself the chance to go again this time. It always happens that I open up a whole lot deeper. Even if I don't get through the feelings, by the end of the weekend, I am on a more intense path because I touched on things that don't come up in my normal life. Because I have to be able to function, my body just does not let me go there usually. It has convinced me to have a mini-week with David, if it can be arranged. It was also great to see new people there and watch new friendships forming. There was a lot of "guy bonding" going on at this retreat. You should have seen ____, ____, ____ and others singing and laughing together.
— G.P.
This is not so much an appreciation of the mini-retreat as of the therapy as such. I would definitely take part in another mini-retreat should the opportunity arise.
— J.A.
Dear France et al.:
The mini-retreat was a surprisingly powerful time. The feelings generated by the continuous contact with other primal people in that atmosphere ultimately brought me to a deeper, longer, and more intense period of feeling in the morning group than I had ever experienced before. I was more "surrendered" to the feelings and I was aware that there was a huge backlog and inventory of unfelt feelings queued up. I hope that I will continue to feel this intensely and this freely in regular groups and sessions.
— R.B.
I really got a lot out of the mini retreat. It certainly put me in touch with my defenses, I mean, I could see really clearly what I was doing to avoid my feelings. It also really brought up lots of feelings, which surprisingly, I was unable to get to most of. I think they will just continually come up, and awareness of them is the main thing I gained. Along with some friends and a closeness to people which will be very valuable for my time here in LA. Watching the films was good as it brought up some powerful feelings, though I was too scared to ask for help with them, which would have been really good. I'll know for next time!! It was great to spend time with the group and to feel a companionship in therapy - I'm not doing this alone. Also to see how people behaved to together, like cuddling and stuff, gave me a sense of freedom to express myself more emotionally in group and with other people and therapists. That was a really valuable thing actually.
The round table was excellent also, and explained a lot for me.
— A.T.
"It's begun to show me who I really am"
Dear Art,
I am a new patient at the center and have just finished three weeks intensive. I wanted to send you a short note to say: thank you. Your therapy is so amazing, I still can't quite believe it. It's begun to show me who I really am, and what it means to feel. This is such a great gift to us all. I feel certain Art you've made the world a better place.
— R.A., May 2004
"To be there for them with all my heart"
Dear Art, France, Brenda, David, Ralph, Ruth, Jim, Carole and Marie,
— March 2004
"More clarity . . . and more strength"
My year at the Primal Center
— March 2004
"I don't deserve to be mistreated"
In my last session I was able, after resolving something in the present, to really cry for my dad to be nice to me, my mom, and my brothers and sisters and to not hurt us.
Since then there are big differences in my life, I am not constantly feeling
helpless anymore about what's going to happen next and my future, I am actually
not worried at all. Most importantly I don't deserve to be mistreated and I will not get into abusive relationships anymore.
— V.P., March 2004
"Courage to go against what psychology teaches"
I want to thank you from my very heart for all the support and encouragement you have given to me. I couldn't have done it without your constant work running the Center. And for the courage to go against what psychology teaches therapists to do.
— C.G., February 2004
"Waking up with the royalty of the plain"
Please note: This poem was originally
written in French. English translation appears below.
SECRET LOVE
— Nhc, Paris
"Seeing and feeling beauty"
— Lisa M. Powers, March 1, 2003
"Somebody cares"
This story is not from a Primal Center
patient. However, he writes to us on a regular basis. We thought his last
message to us was interesting: — January 2004
"It began to set me free"
One day, I relived in its entirety my tonsillectomy when I was four and a half years old. It was quite an experience. It took me almost three weeks to get into feeling it.
I lay on the floor at least two hours a day feeling my body go numb. This was from the ether they gave me for the operation (I guess I had to feel that total numbness and what lay beneath it to get to the experience). I could feel the body of a little boy inside me which became more prominent each day until it took over. Once that happened, my mind went for the ride while my body began to move around. I could feel hands holding my wrists and then they were twirling my arms around (the hands belonged to the nurse who was trying to get me to wake up from the ether).
Finally, after feeling a burp come up my throat, I began to cry just like a little boy. When that happened, my mind and my body came together all at once. I was that little boy as I rolled around on the floor. That is when what I call "the greased with silk" feeling began to come over me. I screamed at my parents how much I hated them doing this to me, leaving me in a hospital alone all night. Also, my Dad for calling me a "baby" when I was crying because I was so scared. He actually left the room, walking out angry because I wouldn't stop crying. I tried hard to stop crying for him and finally did by splitting off from the experience.
After I relived it, I was filled with insights for the next hour or so. From that moment on, my life was changed forever. It began to set me free. The tension was gone.
Primal Therapy, and only Primal Therapy, could accomplish that.
— V.M., September 2003
"I feel quite OK"
My sister told me that she and my mother are surprised how I react to my personal problems: how the therapy changed me. I would have been completely destroyed as I was in the past when I broke up with a girlfriend.
Today, I feel quite OK, even if I'm a bit sad that the relationship did not work: I thought she was the woman of my life.
— V.M., France, September 2003
"Precious"
I wanna say to you that those days of Primal therapy were really precious to me. I am very thankful for your help.
— A.F., Argentina, August 2003
"I was always waiting for someone"
As a child I had tremendous pain because I couldn't talk except when asked something and I couldn't reach out to others, but I knew there was a reason why I couldn't and everyone else could and I was always waiting for someone to pull me out of that state.
At 11 I told everyone I was a foster child and that my real parents would come and get me, I would constantly daydream that they were holding me. I always knew for some reason that there were answers.
In my twenties, I saw a psychologist for three sessions, at the end of the third I asked him what he thought, he told me he was only there to listen to me. He didn't have the answer.
Then I read "The Primal Scream", I had found the answer.
Primal therapy is a tool for me to resolve my pain and get the answers I had always been looking for that are only inside of me.
It has been months since I am able to talk and communicate with others and I am just beginning now to feel genuine empathy towards others.
This has always been an unreachable dream that has come true
Thank you so much Art for discovering primal therapy, I don't know what I would do without it and there will never be words enough to thank my therapists.
— P.J., August 2003
"Important"
You cannot imagine how important Primal Therapy is for me and I cannot express my gratitude towards you.
— B.L., August 2003
"Permanent"
It is always difficult to find adequate words and analogies to express improvement when it occurs. But I must say that all progress I have made through Primal Therapy has been permanent.
— P.R., August 2003
"Connecting the hurt to the need"
Of all what is so exceptional for Primal Therapy compared to other therapies one thing seems to me utterly important to stress: The feeling of the primal NEED in the primal situation. I do not know of any other therapy that does emphasize the importance of feeling the NEED connected to the primal situation.
In talking therapies I was encouraged to talk about how for instance I did not receive attention. I could cry about it and occasionally even cried in a memory. But nobody ever suggested for me to feel and ask for what I need. The longer time went on I remembered more situations of neglect, but I kept suffering in the memory and even later, coming out of the memory, I continued feeling sorry for myself and suffered. It lead to me being eventually overloaded with hurting memories and shutting it all down again. I never could go even near to a memory of being sexually abused. It all remained hidden.
Feeling need has now become such an important point for me because I begin feeling about my father sexually abusing me. Strange enough, I find that most of my time in the feeling I spend pleading him to be there for me and to love me and to support me (instead for abusing me - my needs). Having done that since weeks, crying my heart out pleading him, I have the insight that feeling the hurt of a primal situation is the start but it HAS to lead into connecting the hurt to the need. It's in expressing this need where the healing lies. Without that a feeling is not finished, and going on feeling hurt even in primal scenes without expressing the need in that scene would eventually lead to an overload (and a shut-down) such as it did to me in my talking therapy... meaningless suffering through a scene all over again. I find now that a prerequisite for new aspects of the sexual abuse surfacing is ALWAYS that I feel what I really needed from my father. This makes me understand that and why it was impossible for me in talking therapy to approach memories of the abuse. Only in feeling the need is the final seed for growth and healing - and for going deeper into the primal scene and resolving it. And only Primal gives that - no talking therapies.
And even though I go through horrible times theses days (before I am able to drop into the feeling) I feel often very very lucky that what has misshaped my sex life is now surfacing, giving me with time my own sex life back. I still want to write an article about it. Currently though I am so much IN the feeling of it that I do not have enough distance to write about it yet.
— C.G., July 2003
"Deep and durable"
Please note: This comment was originally written in French. English translation appears below.
La thérapie primale m'a beaucoup apporté et il me fait plaisir d'en vanter l'efficacité à mes amis lorsque nous parlons de croissance personnelle.
Récemment, une de mes amies s'est montrée très intéressée par cette approche. Nous avons fait des recherches sur Internet et y avons découvert votre site web.
Je suis heureux de voir que votre "Primal Center" est toujours bien vivant, tout comme vous, d'ailleurs. Vous avez toujours le feu sacré, toujours à l'oeuvre, en train d'écrire sur le sujet. Bravo! Ce que vous faites, même si peu de gens peuvent le reconnaître maintenant, sera très utile pour le bien de l'Humanité.
Je vous suis personnellement très reconnaissant pour les bienfaits profonds et durables que cette thérapie m'a apportés. Considérant l'ampleur de votre oeuvre, vous aurez probablement, comme bien d'autres avant vous, une reconnaissance posthume.
Merci, monsieur Janov! Je vous considère sincèrement comme un grand de ce monde.
— G.M., France, July 2003
English translation:
Primal Therapy brought a lot of things to me and I enjoy bragging about its
effectiveness to my friends whenever we are discussing personal growth. — G.M., France, July 2003
Improved vision
My eye sight has improved 20% in both eyes. The doctor told me that this is a pretty big improvement.
I've noticed after feeling that I was able to sit in front of the television without my eye glasses. Sometimes after feeling I would take my glasses off for a few minutes while driving just to see if there was an improvement . . . same thing, I noticed a huge difference.
— R.P., USA, June 2003
We are publishing this letter from R.P. because several patients have reported the same improvement.
Some patients who wear contact lenses but did not wear them during Primals have noticed that they do not need them or glasses for up to 3 days after their Primals.
I have personally experienced that same phenomenon quite often. You can hypothesize that perhaps the blood pressure in the eye is reduced as a result of feeling.
— Dr. France D. Janov
"I would not have made it to this day"
I'm a former primal patient. It really changed my life. I can't express how much I developed from going through the primal process. I want to thank Dr. Janov for saving my life, because without that therapy I would not have made it to this day.
It was quite an experience for me. Having repressed all my feelings for so many years as a child, I immediately had great results. I just wanted to let you know that the therapy was a success.
Th |
Dr. Arthur Janov's
Primal Center
For treatment, training and research
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