If this book is able to present a wide vision of the domain of body psychotherapy, it is because my project has been sustained by the discussions with many trainers, colleagues, friends, and patients to whom I want to express my gratitude. The meetings within the European Association of Body Psychotherapy (EABP) permitted me not only to meet individuals that represent many diverse approaches but also to discuss with colleagues the types of trainings that would be beneficial to develop in the future. Courtney Young, when president of the association, had even used the term Academy to designate a form of general instruction that would complement the more specific knowledge taught in each psychotherapy school. I also thank all those who have inspired me throughout my life. I would like to give thanks here particularly to those who have helped me write and publish this book.
Above all, I discussed the ideas in this book with Claire Colliard, George Downing, and Philippe Rochat. Even though we were not always in agreement, they insisted that I detail the themes I wanted to elaborate here with as much precision and clarity as possible. I thank them for their important intellectual support and friendship. George Downing also provided me with crucial references. Claire Colliard initiated the project in conversation with De Boeck Publishing. I thank Frederic Jongen and Julie Sansdrap from De Boeck Publishing for having made this project possible.
Maud Struchen, Claire Colliard, and Jean-Marie Baron helped me improve the French version.
For the English project, I must first thank the translator, Marcel A. Duclos, who first supported the book in a warm review (Duclos, 2008), and then courageously took up the project of translating it. Our collaboration was extremely comfortable, efficient, collegial, and friendly. Jacqueline A. Carleton, board member of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) and editor of the journal of this association, has also supported the translation project, helping and rereading it as it developed. As Marcel A. Duclos is also a board member of the USABP, it can be said that the present translation was strongly supported by members of that group. Professor Ed Tronick helped me present the translation project to W. W. Norton and then convinced them to accept the project. The EABP and the Swiss section supported the translation project and sponsored most of the translation costs.
Deborah Malmud and her team at W.W. Norton publishers have supported this project in a supportive and efficient way. Jean Blackburn and her editorial team at Bytheway Publishing Services have also brought useful corrections and remarks that helped Marcel Duclos and myself to improve the original translation.
Many colleagues helped me with different parts of this book: Maartin Aalberse, Béatrice Bajetta, Jean-Marie Baron, Beatrice Beebe, Angela Belz-Knôferl, Lucio Bizzini, Bjørn Blumenthal, Berit Heir Bunkan, Yves Brault, Urs Daendliker, Alison Duguid, Ernst Falzeder, Anne Fraise, Siegfried Frey, François Fleury, Peter Geissler, Ulf Geuter, Marulla Hauswirth, André Haynal, Véronique Haynal-Reymond, Rubens Kignel, Sander Kirsch, Michel Meignant, Nic Minden, Maryvonne Nicolet-Gognalons, Kaj Noschis, Bjørn Skar Ødegaard, Cédric Papazian, Claudia Passos, Alain Ringger, Magalie Rochat, Florin Roulet, Georgette Salveson-Delvaux, Michael Salveson, Roger Tellenbach, Ed Tronick, Joop Valstar, Judyth O. Weaver, and Courtenay Young. They helped me be as precise as possible, and often inspired me by discussing some aspects of the book. They also helped me improve the content after the French edition came out.
I also thank my wife, Nicole, for having so well protected the space and time that I needed to write this book.
It is extremely rewarding to write a textbook for a field that has so often and so kindly helped me become as creative as possible.