Body Awareness Group Therapy for Patients with Personality Disorders

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe the Body Awareness Group Therapy (BAGT) designed for patients with personality disorders. The BAGT is a body-oriented small group therapy conducted by a physiotherapist and a cotherapist. The aim is to foster personal growth and development by use of individual and group exercises. The therapy is a synthesis of earlier clinical experiences, mostly based on works of Reich, on elements of encounter and of eastern body tradition.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy v. mirtazapine for chronic fatigue and neurasthenia: randomised placebo-controlled trial

“…Body awareness therapy emphasises increased awareness of bodily sensations, breathing, posture, balance and muscular tension, and focuses on how increased body awareness can help gain greater control over physical and mental tension. 28 Treatment was conducted by physiotherapists trained in this therapy.…”

Body Awareness Group Therapy for Patients with Personality Disorders

“…This paper is part of a comprehensive study of 97 patients admitted to the unit during the period in question. Details about the total sample and the selection of patients for the BAGT are given elsewhere [Skatteboe et al, 1989;Vaglum et al, 1989]. Details about the 72 included patients are given in tables 1,2.…”

“…The number of patients usually varies from 6 to 8. In another paper [Skatteboe et al, 1989] we have described the theoretical background and the design of the therapy. Several body therapies have previously been introduced [Alexander, 1932: Reich;1949;Laban, 1960;Christrup, 1961: May et al, 1963Feldcnkreis, 1972;Pearls, 1973;Lowen, 1967;Schachter, 1984: Dropsy, 1984Roxendal, 1985], But except for the pioneering efforts of Christrup, none of the authors have tried to investigate empirically the treatment process.…”

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“…Body awareness treatment is thoroughly described earlier (45,46). Home exercises played a prominent part and at every session the exercises which had to be practised would be a subject for negotiations.…”