ABSTRACT
Catharsis is primarily concerned with undoing retroflection through facilitating an expression of tension and pent-up emotion held in the client’s body. This retroflective process is invariably supported by introjected beliefs and may be reinforced by cultural ground introjects and gender stereotyping. The releasing of such material can be dramatic, loud and can involve a range of expression in experimentation: screaming, shouting, hitting cushions, expressive art and dancing. For catharsis to be of therapeutic benefit the client needs to be sufficiently well grounded in the therapeutic relationship. Due to the potentially explosive nature of catharsis the therapist needs to be vigilant in maintaining safety in any experiment where catharsis is likely. In the expression of powerful aggressive emotions such as anger, accidents can happen, clients can hurt themselves whilst enacting the experiment.
