primal scream therapy

noun

Definition of primal scream therapy

: psychotherapy in which the patient recalls and reenacts a particularly disturbing past experience usually occurring early in life and expresses normally repressed anger or frustration especially through spontaneous and unrestrained screams, hysteria, or violence

— called also primal therapy

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Over the weekend, Arthur Janov, the psychotherapist who created primal therapy, otherwise known as primal scream therapy, died in his home in Malibu, California, reports Margalit Fox at The New York Times. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "The Founder of Primal Scream Therapy Has Died. What Exactly Is Primal Scream Therapy?," 5 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'primal scream therapy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of primal scream therapy was in 1971

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primal scream therapy

noun

\ -ˈskrēm-

\

Medical Definition of primal scream therapy

: psychotherapy in which the patient recalls and reenacts a particularly disturbing past experience usually occurring early in life and expresses normally repressed anger or frustration especially through spontaneous and unrestrained screams, hysteria, or violence

— called also primal scream, primal therapy

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