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The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine

International Society for Arts and Medicine (ISfAM)
18.-20.06.2026
Berlin

Meeting Abstract

The practice of The BodyMind approach for distressing bodily symptoms

Ilka Konopatsch - Pathways2Wellbeing, University of Hertfordshire
Ozlem Lale Kaleli - Pathways2Wellbeing, University of Hertfordshire

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This workshop aims to introduce the practice of The BodyMind Approach (TBMA) for distressing bodily symptoms or medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). Chronic headache, back, joint or muscular pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, vertigo, breathing problems, irritable bowel syndrome, and tinnitus are some examples of these conditions. In this workshop, participants will be briefly informed about the theoretical foundations and methodology of TBMA, primarily built upon dance movement psychotherapy, employing an adapted version of Authentic Movement, embodied cognition, group therapy and adult learning. TBMA was specifically designed for people with MUS and is supported by ongoing research and practice as an evidence-based approach. Participants will then be invited into an experiential practice, beginning with focusing on a symptom, followed by a gesture or movement exploration through the adapted form of Authentic Movement, to engage sensory awareness with their symptoms in mind. This will be followed by mark-making and reflective dialogue to promote meaning-making and connection with the symptoms. This illustrative experience will be followed by a discussion about the the application areas of TBMA, as an embodied, arts-informed learning method in health, wellbeing and coaching.