Bioenergetic Analysis (also called Bioenergetic Therapy, or Bioenergetics) is a somatic psychotherapy which combines work with the body and the mind to help individuals resolve emotional problems and to increase their potential for pleasure and joy in living.

Based on the premise that there is no fundamental separation between the mind and the body, Bioenergetic Theory is a way of understanding personality in terms of one's body, its form and movement; i.e., the body and mind are one and interact with each other as a whole.

Emotional stress from many areas of one's life--relationships, family, work, health--produce tension in the body. The body reacts to stress by contracting. Contractions in the muscular system are often the result of carrying unresolved emotional tension. These contractions can have a direct effect on the energy level of the individual, on the capacity for spontaneous and creative self-expression, and on feelings of well-being.

In Bioenergetic Therapy, the focus is on both the psychological issues presented and the manifestation of these issues as shown in each individual's body, energy, and movement. The verbal work focuses on an examination of an individual's past, dreams, associations and current behaviors. It also focuses on the relationship between the client and the therapist.

Work with the body involves addressing disturbances in breathing and chronic muscular tension through a variety of movements, positions, and exercises. Bioenergetic Therapy facilitates change on a deep body level.

In Bioenergetic Therapy, special attention is given to breathing and what is called grounding.

Breathing is essential to living and to feeling. Simply stated, breathing provides the oxygen which is the basis of our energy production. Restricted breathing will limit our energy.

Breathing is also intimately connected to our emotional state. Since we suppress emotion by holding our breath and tensing our muscles, we find that with every emotional disturbance one will find a disturbance in the pattern of breathing. The chronic muscular tensions caused by unresolved emotional conflicts inhibit full and free breathing. Bioenergetic therapists work with the client to raise awareness of one's breathing patterns and to remove the chronic tensions which inhibit free breathing. At times, deepening one's breathing will release held emotions and memories, facilitating the resolution of these emotions and/or memories can then become possible. To breathe deeply is to be fully alive.

Grounding is understood as the quality of one's connection with oneself, one's body and one's surroundings. To be grounded is to have identity and security in who you are. These metaphors express groundedness: holding one's ground, having your feet on the ground, being sure-footed, having a standing in the community, and  standing on one's own two feet.