Breathwork in embodied psychotherapies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy: An International Journal for Theory, Research and Practice January 5, 2026 Christopher Lomas
Breathwork techniques, including diaphragmatic, paced, and box breathing, are increasingly used in psychotherapy but their efficacy and mechanisms are unevenly documented. This systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 controlled studies (N = 1278) found that breathwork produced moderate to large reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, along with moderate to large increases in heart-rate variability and activation of neural regions involved in emotion regulation. Slow diaphragmatic and paced breathing protocols, delivered regularly and embedded within psychotherapy, were associated with the most robust effects. The findings support breathwork as a low-cost, scalable component of embodied psychotherapies.