The protocol for positive body experience (PBE); introducing a psychomotor therapy intervention based on positive body exposure targeting negative body image in eating disorders. Issue 4 (2nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rekkers, Marlies; Scheffers, Mia; van Elburg, Annemarie A.; van Busschbach, Jooske T.
• Is Part Of: Body, movement and dance in psychotherapy. Volume 16:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 252
• Page End: 266
• Publication Date: 2021-10-02
• Subjects: Body experience -- body image -- positive body exposure -- body functionality -- eating disorders -- psychomotor therapy; Dance therapy -- Periodicals; Movement therapy -- Periodicals; Exercise therapy -- Periodicals; 616.891655
• DOI: 10.1080/17432979.2020.1863261
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-2979

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Negative body experience is a core characteristic of eating disorders, and poses a serious risk factor for its development, maintenance and relapse. This underlines the importance of specific therapeutic attention to body experience. In the past ten years a body-oriented treatment protocol with the focus on positive body exposure, called 'Protocol Positive body experience' has been developed. The aim of this paper is to describe the scientific basis of the protocol and to give an impression of its content and structure, illustrated by clinical case vignettes. An important and innovative aspect of the protocol is to enhance not only aesthetic, but also functional and tactile body experience. The protocol enables body-oriented therapists and psychomotor therapists to treat negative body experience in an evidence-based way and facilitates further research to validate the effect of positive body exposure.