On body memory and embodied therapy

Koch, Sabine C.; Caldwell, Christine; Fuchs, Thomas

doi:10.1080/17432979.2013.775968

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For this reason, the opening for temporal “elasticity” that the participants in our study experienced (such as remembering past experiences and making sense of these in the present) is particularly relevant and provides an area for future research. The temporal elasticity in the experiences of BBAT, expressed through immediate embodied recognition, recalling, and verbalization of life-events, could be regarded as an aspect of body memory (Koch, Caldwell, & Fuchs, 2013 ). Our results can also be related to the recent studies of Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy, which illuminate patients’ process of transformation through new experiences in movement and in sensation, with the new experiences feeding their narrative imagination and reshaping past plots, embodied identity, and future prospects (Sviland, Martinsen, & Råheim, 2014 ; Sviland, Råheim, & Martinsen, 2012 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opening toward life: Experiences of basic body awareness therapy in persons with major depression

Danielsson

Rosberg

2015

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although there is a vast amount of research on different strategies to alleviate depression, knowledge of movement-based treatments focusing on body awareness is sparse. This study explores the experiences of basic body awareness therapy (BBAT) in 15 persons diagnosed with major depression who participated in the treatment in a randomized clinical trial. Hermeneutic phenomenological methodology inspired the approach to interviews and data analysis. The participants’ experiences were essentially grasped as a process of enhanced existential openness, opening toward life, exceeding the tangible corporeal dimension to also involve emotional, temporal, and relational aspects of life. Five constituents of this meaning were described: vitality springing forth, grounding oneself, recognizing patterns in one's body, being acknowledged and allowed to be oneself, and grasping the vagueness. The process of enhanced perceptual openness challenges the numbness experienced in depression, which can provide hope for change, but it is connected to hard work and can be emotionally difficult to bear. Inspired by a phenomenological framework, the results of this study illuminate novel clinical and theoretical insight into the meaning of BBAT as an adjunctive approach in the treatment of depression.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opening toward life: Experiences of basic body awareness therapy in persons with major depression

Danielsson

Rosberg

2015

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…TBMA helps patients to connect cognitive and emotional aspects with reference to their sensory/bodily states through the enactment of expressive movement in structured exercises. Cognitive activities are inseparable from the body as the brain takes an important part in intentionality which involves the process of perceiving and meaning-making (Mills 2005;Koch, Caldwell, Fuchs, 2013).There is no explicit involvement of any underlying psychological conflicts or the interpretation/identification (or subsequent modification of) unhelpful thought patterns. Patients learn to notice their bodily signals and explore their symptoms often without the need for verbalisation (McWhinney, Epstein, Freeman, 1997), thoughts change as a result of the embodied experience.…”

Section: The Bodymind Approach™mentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical outcomes from The BodyMind Approach™ in the treatment of patients with medically unexplained symptoms in primary health care in England: Practice-based evidence

Payne

Brooks

2016

The Arts in Psychotherapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article builds on Payne (2015) and reports on practice-based evidence arising out of the delivery of a new and innovative service using The BodyMind Approach™ (TBMA) for the treatment of patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) in primary care in the National Health Service (NHS) in Hertfordshire, a county near London, England, in the UK. The analysis of data collected for three groups (N=16) over 18 months used standardised assessment tools and other relevant information at pre, post and at a six month follow up. The outcomes for patients in this small scale piece of practice based evidence indicated that there were reductions in symptom distress, anxiety and depression, increased overall wellbeing and improvement in activity levels. Patients developed self-management of their symptoms through understanding, acceptance and coping strategies. The increased knowledge, exchange of experiences together with understanding and acceptance from others promoted a sense of wellbeing. Thus, the programme was experienced to be a beneficial intervention. In addition to the clinical outcomes reported here there are other benefits for NHS England for example, savings on medication and referral costs and General Practitioner (GP) capacity enhanced. The clinical service is based on previous research conducted by Payne and Stott (2010). This article focusses solely on the analysis and interpretation of clinical outcomes from the practice-based evidence.

show abstract

“…A phenomenological perspective outlines body memory in three spheres: habitual, traumatic, and erotic (pleasurable) body memory ( Casey, 1987 ). Fuchs (2012) and Koch et al (2012 , 2013) propose a more detailed categorical differentiation, which specifies aspects of body memory that hold information about the surrounding environments and incorporate social habits and embodied patterns. This is echoed in the proposal made by Pylvänäinen and Lappalainen (2018) : reciprocity in interaction and attachment style are embodied ( Schachner et al, 2005 ; Bentzen, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Profiles of Body Image Associate With Changes in Depression Among Participants in Dance Movement Therapy Group

Pylvänäinen¹,

Hyvönen

Muotka

2020

Front. Psychol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This mixed-methods study analyzed the body image quality of 143 patients with depression. The participants received a 20 × 75 min dance movement therapy (DMT) group treatment, sessions twice a week. Body Image Assessment (BIA) was the data collection tool, with pre-, post-, and 3-mos follow-up assessments. Pre-intervention body image quality characteristics were low energy and activity levels, discomfort, shame and disgust toward the body, tension in social interactions. On the BIA scores, a statistical method of Latent Profile Analysis was utilized to identify participant profiles in the data. The two identified profiles were participant with initial negative body image and participant with initial neutral body image. Depression symptoms were measured with BDI, and symptoms decreased for both participant profiles following the DMT intervention. The neutral profile participants had a significantly lower depression level, better energy level, and more frequently used mindfulness factors of acting aware, non-judgmentality and non-reactivity (measured with FFMQ). Findings suggest a systemic interaction between depression symptoms, body image, attachment style, activity level, and mindfulness skills. In an interactive DMT setting it is possible to address all of these factors simultaneously.

show abstract

On body memory and embodied therapy

Cited by 32 publications

References 23 publications

Opening toward life: Experiences of basic body awareness therapy in persons with major depression

Opening toward life: Experiences of basic body awareness therapy in persons with major depression

Clinical outcomes from The BodyMind Approach™ in the treatment of patients with medically unexplained symptoms in primary health care in England: Practice-based evidence

The Profiles of Body Image Associate With Changes in Depression Among Participants in Dance Movement Therapy Group

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About