Training Program in Medical Orgone Therapy

Overview of the Training Program
The training program of the American College of Orgonomy is dedicated to providing its participants with a solid understanding of the theoretical foundation of medical orgone therapy, and with the clinical skills necessary for the responsible practice of this unique form of biopsychiatric treatment developed by Wilhelm Reich, M.D., a student and colleague of Sigmund Freud.

Medical orgone therapy provides a particularly effective treatment for many emotional illnesses, including some currently thought to be incurable. It is based on the knowledge that emotional problems are rooted in physical processes deeper than verbal psychology, Medical orgone therapy, therefore, integrates the best of the verbal techniques, character analysis, with somatic techniques that directly address muscular tensions and respiratory inhibition. By relieving characterological and muscular rigidity (armor), it restores to the individual a more natural way of functioning.

Dr. Reich, in the early 1950's, appointed Dr. Elsworth F. Baker, M.D. to continue the training of medical orgonomists. In 1968, Dr. Elsworth F. Baker, M.D. founded the American College of Orgonomy. One of its functions was (and is) to maintain the highest standards in the practice of this therapy. Toward this end, training is provided exclusively by medical orgonomists who are psychiatrists board certified by both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as by the American Board of Medical Orgonomy.

The American College of Orgonomy offers training in medical orgonomy to qualified physicians in the fundamentals of orgonomic medical science, clinical assessment of character structure, character analysis and psychiatric orgone therapy. Training consists of personal characteranalytic and biophysical restructuring, didactic and clinical seminars, and clinical supervision and laboratory work in orgone biophysics. Periodic examinations are given to evaluate the participant's progress.

Curriculum of the Training Program
Features of the overall course of the training program are as follows: A candidate may apply to the Chairman of the Education and Training Committee and be referred to a training therapist to begin character restructuring, or he may, during the course of his personal therapy with a training therapist express, an interest in training. When his therapist has determined that the candidate has sufficiently resolved both characterological and biophysical armoring so that they would not interfere with his participation in training, the training therapist recommends application to the training program.

The candidate is then interviewed by the members of the Training Committee in part to determine the soundness of his motivation. If approved he is invited to begin the basic theoretical course (Didactic Course) which lasts two years. Toward the end of the first year of this course, when didactic material on general principles and specific character types has been completed, his progress is reviewed by the Training Committee and a determination is made as to whether he is ready to take the next step. If so, he is invited to join the clinical seminars. At the end of the Didactic Course the trainee's progress is again reviewed by the Training Committee. If judged ready, he is invited to join the clinical seminars (assuming he has not already done so).

At the same time, a decision is made as to his readiness to begin the treatment of patients with medical orgone therapy. If approved, he is assigned an individual supervisor to oversee his treatment of patients. At this point in his training, the orgonomist-in-training may also request to sit in on sessions in order to observe therapy conducted by other training therapists.

The course of training is open-ended from this point on. At some time of his own choosing, the trainee must complete the Advanced Laboratory Workshop in Orgone Biology and Biophysics.

Admission and Participation Requirements

Overview
In addition to using all the resources available to the traditional psychiatrist, the medical orgonomist employs highly effective therapeutic interventions that are based on a clinically grounded understanding of character and muscular armor, the psychosomatic relationship and the relationship between patient and therapist.

The therapist's capacity for deep energetic and emotional contact with the patient is essential for successful treatment. Chronic armor impedes this capacity. Therefore, the primary requirement of orgonomic training is suitability and readiness. In other words, because the therapist's perceptions, sensations and capacity for contact are his most essential tools, restructuring is the cornerstone of the training. The decisions for acceptance as well as advancement in the program are determined by the individual's structure. For this reason the duration of training is indeterminate.

Prerequisites for Admission

1. The recommendation of an approved treating or training therapist.

2. Graduation from an approved medical school with a degree of M. D. or D. 0.

3. Participation in or completion of an approved specialty training program.

4. Satisfactory interview and approval of the ACOTraining Committee.

Specific Requirements for Admission and Participation in the ACO Training Program

1. Continuation in or completion of personal therapy with the ongoing approval of the training therapist.

2. Ongoing supervision by an approved supervisor.

3. Attendance of the clinical seminars and presentation of cases as scheduled. Written reports and case presentation will be considered for publication.

Until the Training Committee determines that he is ready to practice independently, the orgonomist-in-training must maintain active status in the program. After this point, he may choose to attend seminars for continuing education. Note: from time to time, nonmedical professionals are admitted to individual courses offered by the American College of Orgonomy. Acceptance into the training program, however, requires graduation from an approved medical school as well as other requirements described above.

ACO Training Seminar Descriptions

Didactic Seminar in Medical Orgonomy
This is the first seminar in the training program. Its function is to help the trainee develop a clear understanding of the basic theory of all aspects of medical orgonomy. The curriculum of the approximately two-year course of study includes: the history of medical orgonomy from its origins in psychoanalysis, the orgasm theory, genitality, basic principles and techniques of orgone therapy (respiration, direct work on the musculature, and character-analysis), principles of character diagnosis and the features, genesis, and therapy of each character type, the biophysical exam, the somatic biopathies, examination and treatment of infants and children, as well as other general principles. While it is theoretical and didactic, the seminar approaches theory in practical terms through the use of live patient presentations and videotaped, or verbally reported clinical material. This seminar meets alternate months on Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 10 am the same weekend as the Sunday seminars. It is led by Peter A. Crist, M.D.

Principles of Character-Analytic Techniques
This is a case presentation seminar that focuses on the character-analytic aspect of medical orgone therapy. With the aid of videotapes members present clinical cases for discussion, sometimes in a continuing case format. The emphasis is on character-analytic understanding and treatment including the determination of a biopsychiatric diagnosis. Reference to the relevant orgonomic literature is made. This seminar meets the first Sunday of each month, 10 am to 11:30 am. It is led by Peter A. Crist, M.D.

Medical Orgone Therapy: Beginning Phases
This is a case presentation seminar that is of particular value for those in the first years of clinical practice. Technical problems related to the beginning phase of orgone therapy, especially diagnosis and the introduction of the modalities of treatment available to the medical orgonomist, are discussed. Each month, in rotation, a member makes a case presentation with the aid of videotapes or a live patient interview and examination. The active participation of those in their first few years of clinical practice is encouraged. This seminar meets on the first Sunday of each month from 12:15 pm to 1:45 pm. It is led by Charles Konia, M.D.

Elsworth F Baker Technical Seminar: Advanced Aspects of Medical Orgone Therapy
This case seminar addresses issues and problems related to the advanced phases of orgone therapy, including the management of deeper layers of emotional structure, advanced biophysical techniques, ongoing character-analytic issues, and the end phase of therapy. Each month, in rotation. a member presents one or more cases or clinical situations with the aid of videotapes or live patient interviews and examinations. This seminar meets on the first Sunday of each month from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. It is led by Richard Schwartzman, D.0,

Referral Service Seminar
In this seminar, in conjunction with the A. C. 0. reduced fee referral service, patients are evaluated to assess diagnosis and suitability for orgone therapy. Videotaped clinical material, from the first moment of contact with the patient is reviewed. This allows for an in-depth look at the process of establishing a diagnosis, developing a differential diagnosis, and assessing factors regarding the patients suitability for therapy. Follow-up of each patient, presented verbally and with videotape, allow for a longitudal perspective. The emphasis is on basic principles applicable at any level of experience. The seminar meets two Thursdays each month from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.. It is led by Peter A. Crist, M.D.

Advanced Laboratory Workshops in Orgone Biology and Biophysics
The educational approach of these four day workshops is designed to acquaint the student with fundamental phenomena in orgonomic biology and physics through direct experience and experiment. The first workshop, Orgone Biology, includes the microscopic study of bions, the natural organization of protozoa from grass, the development of life from mass-free orgone energy, an introduction to the Reich Blood Test, and the study of blood and tissue of cancer mice. The biology workshop is a prerequisite for the second workshop, Orgone Biophysics and Research, during which the atmospheric orgone is observed and measured thermally and electroscopically. The effects of the orgone energy accumulator are observed and its principles demonstrated. Each workshop includes time for individual research projects that are presented in brief at the end of the fourth day. The teaching staff includes Drs. Dee Apple, Howard Chavis, and Peter Crist. Mr. Steven Dunlap, Drs. Robert Harman, and Charles Konia. Dr. Konia contributes his many years of experience in orgonomic research to the discussion of the individual projects. Successful completion of both workshops is a requirement for Board certification. They may be taken at a time of the member's choosing during the course of training. The workshops alternate annually in the Spring and run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday through Tuesday.

Sociopolitical Seminar
Because human irrationalism can be manifested in the soclopolitical sphere, from time to time a soclopolitical seminar will be presented to bring to awareness and to clarify important timely issues of interest to the medical orgonomist. The content and structure of these seminars depend on the relevant current social events.

Training Levels

Participants in the program are designated as follows:

Trainee: from acceptance into the program until approval to treat patients in medical orgone therapy under supervision.

Medical orgonomist-in-training: from approval to treat patients under supervision until fulfillment of all requirements for Board certification.

Board eligible medical orgonomist: from fulfillment of all Board requirements until successful completion of all compo-nents of the board examination process.

Board certified medical orgonomist: from Board certification on.

Certfication of Training
The American Board of Medical Orgonomy is an authoritative and responsible body of physicians whose primary function is to set standards and test the qualifications of physicians for the practice of orgonomic psychiatry and medicine.

Board certification in medical orgonomy requires that Board-eligible candidates must have graduated from an approved, accredited medical school, completed postgraduate training and passed board examinations in an approved specialty with at least one year of residency training in psychiatry, undergone characterological restructuring by a qualified medical orgonomist, received at least three years of didactic, clinical, and laboratory instruction by qualified instructors in orgonomic medicine, and be in good standing as described in section 3. The candidate must then pass written and oral examinations in orgonomic theory and practice.