Exercise and Movement as an Adjunct to Group Therapy for Women with Chronic Mental Illness

Abstract

A variety of techniques to promote movement and exercise were used as an adjunct to therapy in an ongoing support group for women with severe and chronic mental health problems. Three women and a therapist had met weekly for 16 weeks at the time of this writing. A short case history of each of the women including a psychiatric assessment, notes on medication regimen, symptomatology, psychosocial history and immediate challenges is presented. Life styles by self-report ranged from sedentary to moderately active. Techniques to “jump start” greater mobility and exercise included: (a) completion of partner interviews on sport, exercise, and movement, (b) construction of a genogram rating the activity level and sport/movement/exercise history of family members, (c) games involving throwing and general movement, and (d) individual walk-talk therapy sessions. As an adjunct to therapy, these techniques followed other expressive therapeutic techniques such as art therapy, sandtray, and dream work. Therapeutic board games and client-centered therapy were also part of the milieu. Most of the techniques to facilitate movement and exercise took place during the last six weeks of the support group. Attitudes toward these techniques and results varied among the participants.