Lesson 1Resource and baseline assessment: internal resources, grounding anchors, social supports, body literacyHere we look at checking internal and external resources, grounding ability, community support, and body awareness. This builds a starting point of strength to guide speed, careful dosing, and choice of psychocorporal methods.
Identifying internal strengths and coping skillsAssessing grounding and orienting capacityMapping social and community supportsEvaluating body awareness and interoceptionDetermining pacing and window of toleranceLesson 2Explaining psychocorporal therapy to clients: simple language, session flow, aims, expected sensationsThis part gives straightforward ways to explain psychocorporal therapy using everyday words, covering session structure, goals, common feelings, and how clients can share feedback to ease worries and build teamwork.
Describing psychocorporal therapy in plain termsOutlining typical session structure and pacingNormalizing bodily sensations and emotionsClarifying roles, responsibilities, and limitsInviting questions and ongoing feedbackLesson 3Mapping somatic complaints: pain, tension patterns, breathing, posture, movement limitationsLearn to map body complaints closely, noting pain spots, tight areas, breath style, standing position, and movement blocks, creating a detailed body picture for safe, focused psychocorporal help.
Pain mapping and intensity tracking toolsIdentifying chronic tension and holding patternsAssessing breathing style and restrictionsObserving posture and alignment habitsTesting range of motion and movement limitsLesson 4Practical session agreements: clothing, private space, breaks, safe words/signals, session terminationThis covers everyday agreements for safe body sessions, like what to wear, private spots, rest times, safety words or signs, and ways to pause or stop sessions together when necessary.
Negotiating clothing and use of blanketsSetting up a private, interruption-free spacePlanning breaks and hydration pausesEstablishing safe words and nonverbal signalsCollaborative criteria for pausing or endingLesson 5Boundaries and consent for touch and body interventions: types of touch, explicit consent process, opt-out statements, consent documentationThis defines right boundaries and agreement for touch and body work, listing touch kinds, clear agreement steps, opt-out words, records, and fixing issues when limits feel tested.
Clarifying scope and limits of touchExplaining each proposed touch interventionUsing explicit consent and opt-out phrasesOngoing check-ins and micro-consentDocumenting consent and boundary incidentsLesson 6Intake structure for 1–2 sessions: consent, rapport, presenting problems, somatic symptomsThis lays out a clear intake plan for first one or two meetings, blending agreement, building trust, main issues, and checking body symptoms key to psychocorporal care planning.
Opening the session and informed consentBuilding rapport and therapeutic allianceClarifying presenting problems and goalsExploring somatic symptoms and body historyPrioritizing focus for early interventionsLesson 7Risk screening protocols: suicidal ideation, self-harm, dissociation, medical red flags and referral criteriaThis offers structured checks for suicide thoughts, self-injury, spacing out, and health warnings, plus when to hold body work, get advice, or send clients for more specialist care.
Suicidal ideation and self-harm questionsScreening for dissociation and psychosisIdentifying medical and neurological red flagsUsing structured risk scales and checklistsReferral pathways and emergency planningLesson 8Confidentiality, mandatory reporting, and coordination with other providersThis explains keeping things private while meeting legal report needs, and working right with other helpers via permissions, shared plans, and clear talk limits.
Explaining confidentiality and its limitsMandatory reporting laws and thresholdsObtaining and documenting client releasesCoordinating with medical and mental health teamsSharing information while minimizing intrusionLesson 9Comprehensive history collection: developmental, attachment, trauma, medical, sleep, substance use, medicationsThis guides full history gathering on growth, bonds, past hurts, health, rest, substance habits, and meds, to see how life shapes body ways and plan treatment.
Developmental and family-of-origin historyAttachment patterns and key relationshipsTrauma exposure and protective factorsMedical, sleep, and medication overviewSubstance use and behavioral risk review
