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Short-term group body psychotherapy had a positive effect on a small group of cancer patients after six sessions, according to a study published on F1000Research. In this guest post, the authors, Astrid Grossert, Gunther Meinlschmidt and Rainer Schaefert, discuss what the sessions involved and how the patients benefited from them, attaining new insights into their perceptions of their body and the relationship between their feelings and their body. 

Body image

Disturbances in bodily wellbeing can play a considerable role in psychosocial suffering and impairment related to cancer. The psychological distress can lead to body image disturbance due to the displeasure of a change in physical appearance, or impaired function of a bodily part.

We thought the overarching connecting element is the subjective bodily experience affected by both cancer and its treatment. Looking from the perspective of embodied cognition, the concept of bodily disturbances builds on the fundamental understanding of the polar relations between bodily and mental processes and their experiences.

Improving wellbeing

Improve patients’ awareness of their body by connecting their physical and mental experiences

Our group body psychotherapy uses an experience oriented approach, to improve cancer patients’ awareness of their body by connecting their physical and mental experiences.  The sessions help patients learn to cope with untoward bodily sensations, feelings, and disturbances, such as changes in overt body image, as well as changes in attitudes towards their own body, including feelings of insecurity and vulnerability, stigmatisation, impaired functioning, and feelings of disconnectedness from one’s own body. The body psychotherapy group offers a creative space to share intra- and intersubjective experiences.

Body psychotherapy sessions

The six sessions covered the following topics: 1) General introduction, fostering of group cohesion and focus on bodily perception; 2) Focus on bodily resources and grounding; 3) Focus on closeness and distance regulation; 4) Focus on social interactions and bodily impulses; 5) Focus on embodied emotions; and 6) a closing summary and transfer session.

Every session followed the same structure. Each started with a brief bodily exercise and exchange, followed by psychoeducation and exercises to trigger embodied experiences, focusing on the specific topic.  To finish, all patients would share their  experiences.

Greater awareness of the self

At the beginning of the group body psychotherapy a majority of participants felt alone and partially helpless with the disease

The group body psychotherapy was well received by all six patients. Despite having undergone different types of oncological treatment for different cancer types, including breast, bladder and prostate cancer, all patients reported an improved perception of their self and were more comfortable with their body. As it is a personal experience, the responses varied between individuals.

At the beginning of the group body psychotherapy a majority of participants felt alone and partially helpless with the disease, reported disturbances of bodily wellbeing and feelings of insecurity. Most patients indicated that sensations, perceptions, and other mental activities related to their own body intensified across the group body psychotherapy sessions.

At the end of the six body pscyhotherapy sessions, participants reported improvements in their wellbeing. They mentioned being more aware of physical and emotional boundaries and having better knowledge about their coping strategies, along with reduced stress in daily life. One patient said: “I feel the own space that I need; I will use this to allow for more time and to be more aware for myself, to be conscious about my needs, and to seek opportunities to fill up my own batteries”.

All patients reported an improved perception of their self and were more comfortable with their body

Participants stated being supported by the intersubjective exchange, getting to know similar or even totally different experiences related to cancer, solidarity and empathy within the group as well as having time and room to explore subjective bodily wellbeing.

What next?

This case series encourages us to plan further studies to scrutinise the effectiveness of  body pscyhotherapy in post treatment cancer patients and investigate the related mechanisms of action. The observed heterogeneity shows that we need to focus on comprehensive indicators of changes in disturbances of bodily wellbeing in future clinical trials.