ASIA was established in 1995 to provide a national and professional organisation to support and advance the practice of Somatic Psychotherapy. It is a non-profit professional organisation made up of members who have undergone professional training as psychotherapists. It provides a membership accreditation process, a Code of Ethics, ongoing professional development and a framework for enhancing standards of practice. Its aim is to provide a stimulating and creative forum which fosters professional identity, exchange of ideas and experiences, support, public accountability and excellence in the practice of somatic psychotherapy

ASIA is a member of the Psychotherapy and Counseling Association of Australia (PACFA) which was formed to regulate the practice of psychotherapy and counseling in Australia, and is required to conform with the guidelines for membership of this governing association.

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Somatic Psychotherapy provides a safe non-judgmental space and relationship in which to explore and develop awareness of the self. Emphasis is on the uniqueness of the individual, inclusive of body, mind and spirit, and the inherent movement of the human bodymind towards health and growth. Somatic Psychotherapy, whilst inclusive of "talking therapies" can also be informed by bodily experience and somatic techniques including the recognition of non-verbal signals and with permission, appropriate therapeutic touch.

Practitioners are experienced in the observation of breath, posture, energetic patterns of expansion and contraction and unconscious movements of the body - all of which convey information about the clients' emotional state. By including these bodily experiences, greater awareness of both the conscious and unconscious patterns is gained.

Within the safe holding of the developing therapeutic relationship, clients are supported in increasing wellbeing by:

• exploring, recognizing and understanding established patterns of responses, both conscious and unconscious, stemming from early childhood and/or more recent experiences
• transformation of outdated, problematic patterns and integration of these changes
• developing a stronger sense of self which provides a firm foundation for freedom and choice and the responsibility for such choices
• establishing healthy satisfying relationships

It is within the therapeutic relationship, guided by the body's innate capacity to heal itself and facilitated by the awareness, presence, holding and experience of the therapist, that perception of life is transformed.

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A broad range of client issues are addressed: personal development, curiosity, meaninglessness, anxiety, relationship difficulties, emotional instability, grief and loss, recovery from trauma and/or abuse, despair, spiritual issues and overcoming addictions as well as uncomfortable physical symptoms which often have an underlying emotional or stress related cause.

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Quarterly professional development evenings are organized and while there is no charge for members, an attendance fee of $20 is charged for non-members. Details of the upcoming professional development evenings can be seen on this website.

There is also a group discussion site - asiadiscussiongroup - administered by Steven Lendrum, which can be accessed by emailing Steven at steven@aliveness.com.au. Professional development matters are discussed by members and interested participants on this site.

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A.S.I.A. holds an annual conference, usually in Sydney which is open to all members, other associations and those interested in the area of somatic psychotherapy. The aim has been to create an atmosphere of warmth and support for members and interested speakers to present and exchange information and offer insights and discussion from clinical experiences as well as to foster and support a sense of community.

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