Body-oriented techniques, affect and body consciousness

Abstract

Traditional clinical perspectives consider body-oriented approaches controversial, in particular the ones using physical contact. In the present work, among the several reasons for such credit, we investigated the one concerning non-specific effect. The aim was achieved by analysing what 36 adults familiar with body-oriented works reported about their affective state and their body consciousness levels, recorded both at the beginning and at the end of two classes planned to enhance their levels of well-being. At the end of each class, most of the participants’ responses tended to be affected by the nature of the technique, and by the index, the responses assessed differ. Results suggested that specific techniques may affect specific psychological domains.