Breathwork in body psychotherapy: Clinical applications
Himmat Kaur Victoria, Christine Caldwell
Body Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy November 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1080/17432979.2013.828657 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Conscious breathing practices balanced breathing exercise |
| Topics | Breathwork |
| Keywords | Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key points | Proposes six clinical themes, a balanced breathing exercise, and four clinical models for integrating conscious breathing into body psychotherapy practice. |
Abstract
AbstractThe use of conscious breathing practices for the purpose of physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual healing has a long and extremely varied history, yet little work has been done to bring these practices into a coherent and unified form that contributes to the field of body psychotherapy (BP). This article focuses on translating theoretical themes developed in a previous publication (Caldwell & Victoria, 2011. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 6(2), 89–101) into practical applications in the BP profession. The authors propose six clinical themes for the use of breath in BP, a balanced breathing exercise, and four clinical models for integration into BP practice. Recommendations are made for future research and training in this crucial area of BP.Keywords:: breathbreathworkbody psychotherapyconscious breathingbreath therapy Notes1. A gender neutral pronoun used to refer to a person that identifies outside of male/female gender norms.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breathwork as a Therapeutic Modality: An Overview for Counselors | 2010 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Enhancement of inter-hemispheric brain waves synchronisation after Pranayama practice | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Relationship and Mechanism Underlying the Effect of Conscious Breathing on the Autonomic Nervous System and Brain Waves | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Holotropic Breathwork, Second Edition | 2023 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Pranayama: a divine power in sports | 2010 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- High ventilation breathwork practices: An overview of their effects, mechanisms, and considerations for clinical applications. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews December 1, 2023
- Effects of conscious connected breathing on cortical brain activity, mood and state of consciousness in healthy adults Current Psychology September 8, 2023
- Breathwork in embodied psychotherapies: a systematic review and meta-analysis Body Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy January 5, 2026
- Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Conceptual Framework of Implementation Guidelines Based on a Systematic Review of the Published Literature Brain Sciences December 22, 2023
- Breathing and relating: exploring a therapist’s heuristic experience October 1, 2020
Cites 3
- Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine August 1, 2005
- Holotropic Breathwork: The Potential Role of a Prolonged, Voluntary Hyperventilation Procedure as an Adjunct to Psychotherapy The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine September 1, 2007
- Breathwork in body psychotherapy: Towards a more unified theory and practice Body Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy May 18, 2011