{"id":4636,"date":"2021-10-17T18:19:42","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T17:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/psychosomatic-osteopathy.com\/?p=4636"},"modified":"2026-05-31T10:02:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T09:02:38","slug":"video-concept-of-potency-interview-with-torsten-liem-english-german","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psychosomatic-osteopathy.com\/en\/video-concept-of-potency-interview-with-torsten-liem-english-german\/","title":{"rendered":"[VIDEO] Concept of Potency – Interview with Torsten Liem (English\/German)"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. When did you first encounter the concept of potency?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In my osteopathic education around 1989 and, for example, when I worked with Alan Becker in his office or with Rob Fullford during his workshop and with Ann Wales.<\/p>\n

2. Would you be able to provide me with a definition of potency? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Potency is a metaphysical vitalist concept in the field of cranial osteopathy. A historical definition could be: “potency” described as that which sets things in motion or a kind of intelligent, moving force, or a kind of organizing factor in the living organism, a kind of active, targeted, intelligent force in the organism. According to this concept, the osteopath would be a kind of supporter, so that this “potency” can do its work in the sense of a healing process. For Becker, “potency” is also similar to potential energy in the center of a hurricane. According to Sutherland, “potency” in the cerebrospinal fluid is also a fundamental principle in the functioning of the Primary Respiratory Mechanism with an intelligence of its own. So it could be used in his concept for diagnosis and treatment in the fluctuation of the cerebrospinal fluid. These ideas can be traced back to Swedenborg. Actually, I think there are many slightly different views on potency: for example, “potency” of the “breath of life” enters the midline from outside, etc. <\/p>\n

3. In your opinion, how important is potency in your practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The concept of potency has changed for me over time. In the beginning, I followed this concept almost like a religious adept. Over time, I questioned the religious and absolutist statements of this doctrine, which often moved outside of any scientific discourse and mostly showed itself rather as a discourse of power in teaching courses. For me, especially during the treatment process, it means that I focus on the healing potential and resources of any kind in the patient. <\/p>\n

4. Can you please describe your perception of potency during your treatment process? How do you palpate\/experience potency? <\/strong> <\/p>\n

I use the concept, for example, in such a way that during the palpatory approach I am open to and align my awareness with the homeostatic forces in the patient, e.g., internal tissue dynamics, breathing, pulse, and other rhythmic activities, and give them space in the tissue to express themselves, and I follow their dynamics in the tissue with my palpation. By resonating with the forces contained in the Fulcrum through palpation, the bound “potency” can, so to speak, be released and become accessible again and flow into the affected structures, expressing itself. <\/p>\n

But it also means much more to me, namely to get in contact with all resources in the patient for the healing process, which means, for example, that the patient again participates proactively in the healing process. In this sense, I would also like to awaken their understanding of their involvement in the healing process and motivate them to appreciate what is going well in their life. A kind of salutogenetic approach. <\/p>\n

5. How would you teach students to perceive potency both theoretically and practically? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Theoretically, students should read Sutherland and Becker and discuss what it means for them, as well as critically reflect on it from a hermeneutical, historical, phenomenological, structuralist, system-theoretical, and interobjective point of view. <\/p>\n

Secondly, I would support palpation exercises to experience what I have already described for myself. <\/p>\n

Furthermore, I would not limit their palpation to this concept and give them space to sincerely follow their palpation and train interrater reliability among themselves.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, I support students to be aware of many different palpation skills, including as many different forms of palpation and competencies as possible. <\/p>\n

6. From your perspective, using a scale of 1-5, with 1 being least important, how important does the profession consider the concept of potency and why? <\/strong><\/p>\n

The profession is a very vague description. For the cranial protagonists, it has great importance, perhaps a 4. For the rest, less, perhaps a 1. Specifically in scientific discourse, it has less importance. The reason for this seems to me that the community which relies on this concept often acts outside the scientific community and shows less openness for critical discourse, as well as misuses scientific work just to prove their own prejudices. <\/p>\n

7. Is it possible to work as an osteopath without understanding the concept of potency?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course. If not, I would deny many osteopaths who do not follow the concept of potency that they can support healing processes in the patient and ignore all the studies that prove they do. I think it is not so much concepts of faith or personal meanings that count here, but clinical investigations and results. After all, the patient does not come to the osteopath to be converted. <\/p>\n

8. Do you have any questions concerning potency that you would like answered for yourself? And, were there topics you would have liked to discuss that weren\u2019t covered? <\/strong><\/p>\n

What I am missing is the scientific discourse on this topic, for example, on the advantages and disadvantages of metaphysical language in the osteopathic concept, as well as the critical reflection of the concept “potency,” for example, from a hermeneutical, historical, phenomenological, structuralist, systems-theoretical, and interobjective, biopsychosocial point of view, and chaos theory, complexity theory, empirical views, e.g., possibilities of objective measurement methods in the discussion.<\/p>\n

It would be interesting to examine in more detail the effects and limitations of the \u201cpotency\u201d concept. Also the question to what extent osteopathic concepts on potency reflect current scientific discourses on healing processes in the patient as well as how we can design studies on the effectiveness of treatment in relation to the concept of potency or to exam interrater reliabilities in relation to the palpation of potency. If there wouldn\u2019t be any interrater reliabilities, what would be the conclusion and significance of a \u201cpotency\u201d finding and for a teaching process? <\/p>\n

What I often miss are deeper reflections on the topic, e.g., if patients tend to hand over their bodies to the osteopath to be treated, and if osteopaths accept their role and play the game of a metaphysical healer being able to be in contact with something like potency or other energetic or invisible forces, could there be a certain danger of missing the most important point for healing, which is that the patient becomes proactive for their health and life? <\/p>\n

Interview with Torsten Liem on the concept of “potency” in osteopathy<\/b><\/p>\n

Candice Nesrallah interviews Torsten Liem<\/p>\n

In: Osteopathische Medizin. Vol. 22, Issue 1\/2021, pp. 2\u20133,<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Download original Article as .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mdfMAlCxKvg<\/p>\n

German Version<\/h2>\n

When did you first encounter the concept of “potency”?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In my osteopathic education around 1989 and, for example, when I worked with Alan Becker in his practice in Hawaii, with Rob Fullford during his workshop, and with Ann Wales in her home near Boston.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

2. Would you be able to provide me with a definition of “potency”? <\/strong><\/p>\n

“Potency” is a metaphysical vitalist concept in the field of cranial osteopathy. A historical definition could be: “potency” described as that which sets things in motion, or a kind of intelligent, moving force, or a kind of organizing factor in the living organism, a kind of active, targeted, intelligent force in the organism. According to this concept, the osteopath would be a kind of supporter, so that this “potency” can do its work in the sense of a healing process. For Becker, “potency” is also similar to the potential energy in the center of a hurricane. According to Sutherland, “potency” in the cerebrospinal fluid is also a fundamental principle in the functioning of the primary respiratory mechanism with an intelligence of its own. Thus, in his concept, it could be used for diagnosis and treatment in the fluctuation of the cerebrospinal fluid. These ideas can be traced back to Swedenborg. I think there are no completely uniform, but many slightly different views on “potency”: for example, the “potency” of the “breath of life” entering the midline from outside and many others. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

3. In your opinion, how important is the concept of “potency” in your practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The concept of “potency” has changed for me over time. In the beginning, I followed this concept almost like a religious adept. Over time, I questioned the religious and absolutist statements of this doctrine, which often moved outside of any scientific discourse and mostly showed itself rather as a discourse of power in teaching courses. For me, it means, for example, that especially during the treatment process, I focus on the healing potential and resources of any kind in the patient. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

4. Could you please describe your perception of “Potency” during your treatment process? How do you palpate\/experience “Potency”? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I use the concept, for example, in such a way that during the palpatory approach I am open to and align my awareness with the homeostatic forces in the patient, e.g., internal tissue dynamics, breathing, pulse, and other rhythmic activities, and give them space in the tissue to express themselves, and I follow their dynamics in the tissue with my palpation. By resonating with the forces contained in the Fulcrum through palpation, the bound “potency” can, so to speak, be released and become accessible again and flow into the affected structures, expressing itself. <\/p>\n

But it also means much more to me, namely to get in contact with all resources in the patient for the healing process, which means, for example, that the patient again participates proactively in the healing process. In this sense, I would also like to awaken their understanding of their involvement in the healing process and motivate them to appreciate what is going well in their life. A kind of salutogenetic approach. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

5. How would you teach students to perceive “potency” both theoretically and practically?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Theoretically, students should read Sutherland and Becker and discuss what it means to them. Furthermore, I suggest that students critically reflect on the concept from a hermeneutic, historical, phenomenological, structuralist, systems-theoretical, and intersubjective perspective. <\/p>\n

Secondly, I would use palpation exercises to experience what I have already described myself. <\/p>\n

Furthermore, students’ palpation should not be limited to this concept, but they should be given space to sincerely follow their palpation experience from different perspectives and to exchange views with each other through inter-tester reliabilities.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, I support students in becoming aware of many different palpation skills, including as many different forms of palpation and palpation competencies as possible. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

6. From your perspective, using a scale of 1-5, with 1 being least important, how important does the osteopathic profession consider the concept of “potency” and why? <\/strong><\/p>\n

The profession is a very vague description. For the cranial protagonists, it probably has great importance, I would assume a 4. For the rest of the osteopaths, less, perhaps a 1. Specifically in scientific discourse, it has less importance. The reason for this seems to me that the community that relies on this concept often operates outside of scientific discourse and generally shows less openness for critical discourse, and not infrequently misuses scientific work merely to confirm their own prejudices. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

7. Is it possible to work as an osteopath without understanding the concept of “potency”?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If not, I would deny many osteopaths who do not follow the concept of “potency” that they can support healing processes in the patient, and ignore all studies that prove they do. I think what counts here is not so much concepts of faith or personal opinions, but clinical investigations and results. After all, the patient does not come to the osteopath to be converted. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

8. Do you have any questions about “potency” that you would like answered for yourself? <\/strong><\/p>\n

What I often miss is the scientific discourse on this topic, e.g., about the advantages and disadvantages of metaphysical language in the osteopathic concept, as well as the critical reflection of the term “potency,” e.g., from a hermeneutical, historical, phenomenological, structuralist, systems-theoretical, and interobjective, biopsychosocial perspective, as well as chaos theory, complexity theory, empirical considerations, e.g., possibilities of objective measurement methods in the discussion.<\/p>\n

It would also be interesting to examine in more detail the effects and limitations of the “Potency” concept. Also, the question of the extent to which osteopathic concepts of “Potency” reflect current scientific discourses on healing processes in the patient, and how we can design studies on the effectiveness of treatment in relation to the “Potency” concept or to investigate interrater reliabilities in relation to the palpation of “Potency”. If there were no interrater reliabilities, what would be the conclusion and significance for a “Potency” finding and for teaching? <\/p>\n

What I often miss, furthermore, are deeper reflections on the topic, e.g., when patients tend to hand over their body to the osteopath for treatment, and when osteopaths accept this role and play the game of a metaphysical healer who is able to be in contact with something like “Potency” or other energetic or invisible forces. Could there then possibly be a certain danger of missing the most important aspect for healing, namely that the patient becomes active for their health and life? <\/p>\n

A certain danger might then exist if internal experiences or persons are reduced to energetic or physical or quantum physical aspects, without considering subjective aspects such as neurovegetative arousal, emotions, and cognitions of the patient in the treatment process. If an osteopathic treatment has more to do with the concept of “Potency”, I have experienced that it sometimes makes it more difficult for patients to take responsibility for their physical and mental health, as they rely more on the magic of the osteopath’s hands, which synchronize with metaphysical aspects such as “Potency”, quantum physics, cosmic rhythms, or ominous embryological movements, instead of patients being supported in developing a meaningful understanding of lifestyle habits and awareness in the illness and recovery process and an understanding of the meaningfulness of symptoms. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Torsten Liem on the concept of “potency” in osteopathy <\/b><\/p>\n

Candice Nesrallah interviews Torsten Liem<\/p>\n

In: Osteopathische Medizin. Vol. 22, Issue 1\/2021, pp. 2\u20133,<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Download the original article as a .pdf here <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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