Nude psychotherapy or naked therapy is a non sexual mental health therapeutic treatment approach. ¹ Nude psychotherapy originated in the 1930’s when a group of German psychologists began to study the effects of social nudity on well being. ². Howard Warren a Princeton psychologist published a paper Social Nudism and the Body Taboo, on the benefits of social nudity after spending time at a German nudist camp.³

On coming into contact with a nudist group, the subjective experience of shame and the objective experience of shock tend to disappear at once or after a short time. Warren, Howard: Social Nudism and the Body Taboo

Nude psychotherapy sessions though now largely nonexistent were a real thing in the sixties. ⁴ In the late sixties psychotherapist Paul Bindrim a protege and student of Abraham Maslow pioneered the nude psychotherapy movement in the United States. ⁵ Grounded in prior work by psychologists like Howard Warren, Lawrence Casler and Maslow, Bindrim hosted several nude group psychotherapy sessions at naturist venues like the Elysium Institute. Nude psychotherapy is considered one of the most flamboyant therapeutic techniques ever developed in American psychology. ⁶

The first nude psychotherapy group session was held on June 16, 1967, at a nudist resort in Deer Park, California. The sessions used the encounter group format that was popular in therapeutic work in those days. ⁷ One of the sessions was recorded for a documentary. The session was observed by outsiders and film makers from Toronto. Eighteen people participated, though not all of them chose to undress. ⁸ Nude psychotherapy got some initial attention from the media, but was not well regarded or accepted by the established psychotherapy community. Despite being support by Abraham Maslow Paul Bindrim and the nude psychotherapy experiment eventually fade into obscurity. ⁹ The history of the nude psychotherapy movement is documented in the books Nudity Therapy and Joy and Experiment in Nude Psychotherapy by Aileen Goodson.

“I still think that nudism, simply going before a lot of other people, is itself a kind of therapy.” Abraham Maslow Eupsychian Management

In recent years there has been renewed interest in nude therapy to help people deal with body acceptance issues.

What is Naked Therapy?

Sara White — White – Photo Naked Therapist

Psychology student turned therapist Sarah White has been offering therapy sessions for a variety of psychological challenges under the banner of the naked therapist in New York City. ¹⁰

“Naked Therapy™ (N.T.) is an experience that combines elements from positive and person-centered talk therapy, experiential therapy, and creative play therapy, with the added component of the client and/or therapist getting naked to facilitate more honest and unique insights through the experience of arousal.”

—Sarah White, the Naked Therapist™ ¹¹I Went to Naked Therapy™

There are questions as to the credibility and validity of the therapy sessions. ¹². Her unorthodox therapy practices like allow men to masturbate during sessions are described in the psychological community as just being “web cam girl” activities. ¹³ Critics say these practices should not be a part of standard therapy but only be utilized by licensed sex therapists and surrogates.

Nude psychotherapy

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