Introduction and Background to IIBA
The Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis began in October 1956 with Alexander Lowen, Alice Kahn, John Pierrakos, Robert Sturz and William Walling as trustees. It was created to provide medical care, education and research for the benefit of the general public. (INDENTURE OF TRUST, p.2 Article III) Since inception, Trustees do not receive any compensation for their services. (INDENTURE OF TRUST, p. 10)
The Institute grew, and interest in Bioenergetic Analysis spread. In June 1983, the name changed to the current International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis, to more accurately reflect what was happening - Bioenergetic Analysis was being taught and practiced in many countries, the Institute was holding International Conferences, was publishing, and was involved in research.
The Board of Trustees were faculty and were elected by faculty. The number of Trustees expanded to a maximum of 21. This model continued until Alexander Lowen stepped down as executive director in 1996. At that time a Restructuring Committee (Vivian Guze, Louise Frechette, Angelika Schretter, Eliana Isola Rodrigues Silva, and Edsel Stiel) was created to propose a structure for IIBA that would fit the current reality. This committee consulted with IIBA membership, local societies, and received feedback from the European Federation. It was at this point that IIBA
“move[d] from the status of a Teaching Institute to the status of a professional association for Bioenergetic Analysis psychotherapists, which would enable CBT’s to participate in the management of the organization at higher levels than in the past.”(Proposal for a New Structure for the IIBA, 1997, P.3)
The Bylaws were amended to reflect a balance of faculty and CBT’s on the volunteer Board of Trustees, and to reflect the number of members in the 3 regions - Europe, Latin America and North America/New Zealand. International Faculty are an additional membership group.(BYLAWS OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR BIOENERGETIC ANALYSIS, 2000. p. 5) Membership in IIBA is through societies or by being a member at large.
As stated in our current Bylaws (2004, p. 1), the purpose of IIBA is to
“promote and develop an interest in the theory and techniques, principles, and practice of Bioenergetic Analysis throughout the world
encourage and sponsor the development and growth of local societies, training groups, and study groups
sponsor and organize regular international conferences on Bioenergetic Analysis
publish a newsletter, journals, monographs, books, periodicals, and other papers in the field of Bioenergetic Analysis on a national and international scale
sponsor and carry out research in all aspects of Bioenergetic Analysis.”
The structure described above is our current structure. We (IIBA) are an international professional association whose members affiliate either through their local society or by being a member at large. Federations exist in two of the regions - Europe and Latin America. The two Federations are important, but separate entities to IIBA that act independently and cooperatively with IIBA.
Within
our Institute membership, we have several vital communities:
trainees, CBTs, faculty, Societies, and the Board of Trustees and its
Executive Committee. We are a single entity with different pulsations.
We continually review and revise how we can most effectively organize
and relate to each other and to the world outside the Bioenergetic community.
• What is Bioenergetic Analysis?
• Bioenergetic articles
• Bioenergetic Training Program
• The Curriculum
• Find a Bioenergetic Therapist
• Testimonials
• Other Bioenergetic Societies
• About IIBA
“To be an integrated individual, [you] must be identified with [your] body and with [your] word... To achieve this integration, one must start with being the body - You are your body... One must end with being the word - You are your word. But the word must come from the heart.” Alexander Lowen, Founder of Bioenergetic Analysis