Paul Bindrim
Encyclopedia
E. Paul Bindrim was an American psychotherapist who is known as the founder of nude psychotherapy which he believed allowed people to access and express repressed
feelings more easily.
under J.B. Rhine who coined the term ESP
.
He was ordained in the Church of Divine Metaphysics in 1958 and served as a minister of the Church of Religious Science in Glendale.
He obtained his psychologist license in California in 1967, and later served as president of the Group Psychotherapy Association of Southern California in 1978-79.
In his early work, Bindrim created a group psychotherapy based around remembering peak experiences previously experienced by the participants, he called this “peak oriented psychotherapy”. This was based in part on ideas about peak experiences described by.
Abraham Maslow
, considered the father of Humanistic Psychology
. The encounter group movement was also an inspiration. After observing that towards the end of a long encounter group its particapants would be easy about nakedness in front of each other Bindrim reasoned that introducing nudity early in the group might accelerate the transition to emotional openness.
, supported.
In 1967, Bindrim conducted his first nude workshop in Deer Park, California
. There were typically 15 to 25 participants.
Bindrim developed his nude encounter marathons into a weekend workshop using nudity and swimming pools, which was recorded in the 1971 documentary film entitled “Out of Touch” by the Canadian Film Board and produced by Bindrim .
The American Psychological Association’s Ethics Committee decided to investigate him prompted by conservative politicians, but, due to the cultural climate of the late 1960s and the fact that the nudity was consensual, this was dropped.
and her publisher, Doubleday
, alleging that a depiction of a fictional pychotherapist in her novel Touching was a veiled depiction of him and defamed him and his profession. In 1969 Mitchel had attended one of his nude psychotherapy marathons and signed a contract never to write about the experience. Bindrim was very concerned about confidentiality, and had produced a lengthy contract that every participant was required to sign. Bindrim won a landmark court decision that now gives all psychotherapists more confidentiality protection and received $75,000 in damages. The court's decision left many novelists fearful of being sued by people who inspired their books.
’s theories, specifically the idea of “orgone energy.” Interest in radical forms of Psychothwerapy declined in the 1980s and Bindam continued to practice with a more conventional model.
Bindrim died on Dec. 17 1997 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he was 77.
Psychological repression
Psychological repression, also psychic repression or simply repression, is the psychological attempt by an individual to repel one's own desires and impulses towards pleasurable instincts by excluding the desire from one's consciousness and holding or subduing it in the unconscious...
feelings more easily.
Early career
Born in New York City, Bindrim earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a master's degree at Duke University, where he did research in parapsychologyParapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
under J.B. Rhine who coined the term ESP
ESP
-General use:* Extrasensory perception, a paranormal ability* English for Specific Purposes, a subset of English language learning and teaching* Effective Sensory Projection, a term used in the Silva Method* Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York, U.S.A...
.
He was ordained in the Church of Divine Metaphysics in 1958 and served as a minister of the Church of Religious Science in Glendale.
He obtained his psychologist license in California in 1967, and later served as president of the Group Psychotherapy Association of Southern California in 1978-79.
In his early work, Bindrim created a group psychotherapy based around remembering peak experiences previously experienced by the participants, he called this “peak oriented psychotherapy”. This was based in part on ideas about peak experiences described by.
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Harold Maslow was an American professor of psychology at Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research and Columbia University who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs...
, considered the father of Humanistic Psychology
Humanistic psychology
Humanistic psychology is a psychological perspective which rose to prominence in the mid-20th century, drawing on the work of early pioneers like Carl Rogers and the philosophies of existentialism and phenomenology...
. The encounter group movement was also an inspiration. After observing that towards the end of a long encounter group its particapants would be easy about nakedness in front of each other Bindrim reasoned that introducing nudity early in the group might accelerate the transition to emotional openness.
Nude psychotherpy
Bindam corresponded with Abraham Maslow on the subject of nude psychotherapy groups which Maslow , who was then-president of the American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, supported.
In 1967, Bindrim conducted his first nude workshop in Deer Park, California
Deer Park, California
Deer Park is a census-designated place in Napa County, California, United States. The population was 1,267 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Napa, California Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its area code is 707. Its zip code is 94576...
. There were typically 15 to 25 participants.
Bindrim developed his nude encounter marathons into a weekend workshop using nudity and swimming pools, which was recorded in the 1971 documentary film entitled “Out of Touch” by the Canadian Film Board and produced by Bindrim .
The American Psychological Association’s Ethics Committee decided to investigate him prompted by conservative politicians, but, due to the cultural climate of the late 1960s and the fact that the nudity was consensual, this was dropped.
Lawsuit
In 1971 he sued the novelist Gwen Davis MitchelGwen Davis
Gwen Davis is an American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, songwriter, journalist and poet.Davis has written seventeen novels, including the bestselling The Pretenders. She has also written songs, reviews, and numerous articles...
and her publisher, Doubleday
Doubleday
-History:It was founded as Doubleday & McClure Company in 1897 by Frank Nelson Doubleday, who had formed a partnership with magazine publisher Samuel McClure. One of their first bestsellers was The Day's Work by Rudyard Kipling. Other authors published by the company in its early years include W....
, alleging that a depiction of a fictional pychotherapist in her novel Touching was a veiled depiction of him and defamed him and his profession. In 1969 Mitchel had attended one of his nude psychotherapy marathons and signed a contract never to write about the experience. Bindrim was very concerned about confidentiality, and had produced a lengthy contract that every participant was required to sign. Bindrim won a landmark court decision that now gives all psychotherapists more confidentiality protection and received $75,000 in damages. The court's decision left many novelists fearful of being sued by people who inspired their books.
Later career
By the late ‘1970s, Bindrim replaced nude psychotherapy with “aqua-energetics.” based on Wilhelm ReichWilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, known as one of the most radical figures in the history of psychiatry...
’s theories, specifically the idea of “orgone energy.” Interest in radical forms of Psychothwerapy declined in the 1980s and Bindam continued to practice with a more conventional model.
Bindrim died on Dec. 17 1997 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he was 77.