6. Trending: Body-based interventions Flashcards
The most common body-based intervention is
Yoga
yoga is an
ancient Indian spiritual, mental and physical practice that incorporates breathing techniques, meditation and body postures (called ‘asanas’).
The types of yoga specifically studied include
relaxation-based yoga (called Hatha), and a strength-based approach that involves holding difficult poses for longer periods of time (Iyengar
there is growing research evidence demonstrating the immense benefits of yoga for psychological well-being such as
decreased stress, anxiety, depression, and enhanced sleep
Specifically, evidence from studies of those who have practised yoga have found
Increased perceptions of quality of life and decreased perceived stress (Gard, et al., 2012);
Lower self-reported stress, blood pressure and respiration rate (Melville, et al., 2012); and
Better overall mood and vitality (Hartfield, et al., 2011).
In clinical settings, yoga has been found effective in patients with
schizophrenia (Vancampfort, et a., 2011) and complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (West, 2011).
West (2011) argues that the effectiveness of yoga is that it focuses on
positive resources and growth, rather than symptom reduction
Breathing enables the immediate release of
tension, attention focus, and anxiety reduction (Wells, 2012).
Body psychotherapy involves using the body and its muscles to help change
maladaptive thoughts and cognitions
The somatic nervous system (SomNS) is the system responsible for the movement of
muscles and has universal properties linked to psychological states
researchers assert that there are common physical reactions to emotional states around the world, such as
tension and a clamped jaw relating to anger; tears associated with sadness, nausea and disgust, smiling and relaxed breathing related to happiness, a racing heart and alertness related to fear, and blushing associated with shame (Rothschild, 2000).
As such, body psychotherapy involves using the body as a tool for
healing and well-being
To improve body awareness and control, individuals may learn to use their muscles through
resistance exercise training and contraction/relaxation methods
Clinical psychologist Kate Hays advocates the use of exercise in therapy to enable therapists to apply a
holistic approach when working with clients, rather than focusing on only the mind
The benefits of exercise can occur with clients who are experiencing anxiety and depression and those who are overweight. The purpose is to improve
coping strategies, provide a sense of control and self-efficacy, and create a sense of self and positive body image
The role of the therapist is to assess a
baseline involvement in an activity, how important exercise is to self-image, and support exercise offering technical advice, acting as a role model, and participating.
The easiest form of exercise psychotherapy is
walking
progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), is often used in the context of
body-based interventions to reduce physiological arousal, lower muscle tension, and manage stress (Andreassi, 2007
Relaxation helps to counteract prolonged states of
stress and arousal, as evidenced in a 10-year study for anxiety.
Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) assumes that movement and emotions are
linked
Dance Movement Therapy is defined as
the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual” (Xia & Grant, 2009, p. 1)
In practice, DMT requires the client to express their
emotions and thoughts through dance, and the role of the therapist is to encourage free expression and interpret the movements
There is limited empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of DMT as a stand-alone therapeutic technique, however, it has been observed to be effective as an adjunct to treatment, particularly for therapeutic goals, such as
addressing flat mood, lack of drive, social withdrawal, poverty of speech, and loss of feeling and spontaneous movement
researchers advocate that body-based therapies, such as DMT, maybe the best intervention to address
body-based traumas and the associated somatic changes, such as pain and limitations in movement (Bradt, et al., 2011
DMT can contribute to improvements in
quality of life, self-esteem, and coping with illness and stress
