PBSP or Pesso Boyden System of Psychotherapy (also known as Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor) was created in the early 1960s by Albert Pesso and Diane Boyden. Al and Diane were working as choreographers and dance teachers in Boston, and were looking for approaches to help dancers overcome emotional blocks to movement. This work eventually developed into an integrated body psychotherapy incorporating psychodynamic and system-oriented aspects, as well as mindful awareness and a form of psychodrama.
Al Pesso's work significantly influenced development of several body-based psychotherapy methods and his students included Peter Levine (developer of Somatic Experiencing), Pat Ogden (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy), and Ron Kurtz (Hakomi), as well as Bessell van der Kolk, the author of 'The Body Keeps the Score' who describes his experience of Pesso Boyden therapy in chapter 18 of the book.
Pesso Boyden method is one of the few therapies that can effectively help to fill the gaps in our early development, where some of our essential needs have not been satisfied consistently by our carers. Every baby arriving into the world and every child growing up has the need for the following: (1) Place - both physically safe, and somewhere where we can belong; (2) Nurture - both physical and emotional; (3) Support - both physical and emotional; (4) Protection from harm; (5) Appropriate Limits / Boundaries. Where these needs have not been consistently and appropriately met, we are likely to grow up with a sense of something missing, with emotional wounds and defences that limit our vitality, our ability to connect with others and to be fully ourselves.
With Pesso Boyden therapy, we employ the archetypal figures of "Ideal Parents" to provide us with an embodied experience of what we needed in the past. This is best achieved through role play/psychodrama in a group, and is also possible in one-to-one sessions through the use of our imagination. In the Pesso Boyden method we do not aim to deny the reality of someone's history and do not 'rescript' actual memories of childhood, but provide an alternative experience which the client can remember, connect to and use as a resource.
You can listen to a conversation between Pesso Boyden facilitators Masha Bennett and Clara Charlesworth on this method and some of its benefits here.
One of the world's foremost trauma specialists Bessel van der Kolk himself is on record saying that the Pesso Boyden method is the only thing that works to heal trauma (in one of the videos recorded by NICAMB). Whilst this is likely to be quite an exaggeration on his part, as other methods also work at least some of the time for at least some people, this is a great endorsement of this way of working.
Bessel also talks about his experiences with this approach in Chapter 18 of his acclaimed book, The Body Keeps the Score.
Our 1 day Pesso Boyden workshops are experiential events for healing /personal development. These include four 1-hour individual "structures" for those booked as Client Participants - we will prioritise these client places for people who are new to Pesso Boyden or those who are not able attend our 2-day events. Observer Participants are f
Our 1 day Pesso Boyden workshops are experiential events for healing /personal development. These include four 1-hour individual "structures" for those booked as Client Participants - we will prioritise these client places for people who are new to Pesso Boyden or those who are not able attend our 2-day events. Observer Participants are fully involved but don't get their own structure. Dates below.
Our 2 day Pesso Boyden weekends are experiential events for healing /personal development. These workshops include up to seven or occasionally eight 1-hour individual "structures" for those booked as Client Participants, spread over the two days. Observer Participants are fully involved but don't get their own individual structure. Dates below.
Our 1st Pesso Boyden Residential Retreat was a great sucess, and we will run the next one in April 2027, at Dove Farm in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Please note that we give priority for the residential retreat to those who have previously participated in our Pesso Boyden Experiential workshops. Further details HERE.
This is a closed group which will meet approximately 3-weekly foe 2.5 houra with one "structure" facilitated per session. The group will commence when there are sufficient numbers - to put your name on the waitlist, contact Masha
Masha may be available to facilitate a Pesso Boyden Experiential workshop for your group or deliver a presentation on this profound therapeutic approach at your conference/event - contact Masha with your request. [Photo of Masha presenting at the Deep Release Creative Counsellors conference in September 2025]
Clara Charlesworth (Suffolk) and Pete Joscelyne (Devon) may have availability for regular Pesso Boyden psychotherapy sessions face-to-face or online. Masha Bennett may have availability for occasional ad hoc taster sessions face-to-face at The Sand & Sound Centre in Hyde, Tameside. More information about Clara, Pete and Masha below.
These are personal healing / personal development workshops, and not educational courses (though, of course, you are likely to learn a lot).
Most of our Pesso Boyden workshops are offered at The Sand & Sound Centre in Hyde, Greater Manchester (unless otherwise stated) and co-facilitated by me - Masha Bennett with one of my colleagues - Clara, Mary or Pete.
Please note that, when allocating places for 1-day workshops, we reserve the right to give priority to those applicants who are new to the method and/or those for whom the cost of 2-day workshops is prohibitive and/or those who struggle to tolerate the intensity of full weekend events.
2026 DATES
* Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July (2 days) - facilitated by Masha Bennett and Clara Charlesworth [ALMOST FULL, 1 observer participant place left]
* Sunday 16th August (1 day) - facilitated by Masha Bennett and Mary Hollinshed
* Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October (2 days) - facilitated by Masha Bennett and Clara Charlesworth
* Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th November (2 days) - facilitated by Masha Bennett and Pete Joscelyne
* Sunday 13th December (1 day) - facilitated by Masha Bennett & Mary Hollinshed
2027
Residential Pesso Boyden Retreat with Masha and Clara in Ashbourne, Derbyshire - 9th-12th April 2027 - please see full details HERE.
Please note that Pesso Boyden experiential events are intense and we strongly recommend that you take at least a day or ideally two days off work after the event and do not schedule any demanding appointments or tasks, to allow for rest and processing.
WORKSHOP TIMES
Arrivals 9am for prompt 9am start
Finishing 6.30pm each day
There is 1 hour break for lunch and additional short breaks during the day
WORKSHOP FEES FOR 2026
2 day workshops:
* Client participant (including your own 1 hour structure/session) - £260
* Observer participant (without your own session, but otherwise fully involved) - £130
1 day workshops:
* Client participant - £130, and Observer participant - £65.
RESIDENTIAL RETREAT FEES
See details HERE
Concessions
A small number of concessionary places is available for those experiencing financial hardship who wish to join our Pesso Boyden events - you can enquire when completing the relevant form.
Please use either the Booking Form at the bottom of this page (if you have already attended our Pesso Boyden Experiential workshops) or the Initial Consultation Form (if you have NOT attended any of our Pesso Boyden events previously).
Masha Bennett is the founder of The Sand & Sound Centre and is a creative trauma psychotherapist. She works with adults and children, and has previously worked in the NHS, addiction treatment services and criminal justice system. She offers regular Pesso Boyden Experiential weekends, co-facilitated with Clara or Pete and single day workshops with Mary. You can find out more about Masha here and read her article on some of her own experiences of Pesso Boyden work here.
Clara is a qualified Psychosynthesis counsellor as well as a professional musician. She offers therapy 1:1 both face-to-face in Suffolk and online, as well as co-facilitating Pesso Boyden groups at The Sand & Sound Centre in Hyde, and in Suffolk. Clara has a specialist interest in offering therapeutic support to musicians, and also offers flute journey meditations. You can find out more about Clara here.
Pete is a qualified counsellor and Pesso Boyden therapist who works in private practice in Devon. He is also a registered Children's Social Worker. Pete works 1:1 with clients in person and online, and also facilitates Pesso Boyden therapy groups at The Sand & Sound Centre in Hyde, as well as in Devon. Pete is a father of three, loves the outdoors and is a keen sailor. You can find out more about Pete here.
Mary is a recent graduate of the UK’s Pesso Boyden training programme, and has also been working towards a qualification as a hypno-psychotherapist, after a 30 year career in financial services regulation. She co-facilitates 1-day Pesso Boyden Experiential workshops with Masha.