PMT therapy: body and mind working together

Psychomotor therapy, usually abbreviated to PMT, is a form of treatment in which the body and movement are central to psychological and social complaints. Instead of just talking about feelings or behaviour, you literally go about it. You explore yourself through movement and physical activities, which makes this form of therapy unique.

The thinking behind PMT

PMT believes that body and mind are one. What you feel, think and experience is reflected in your body. By working with those signals, you can quickly come to new insights. PMT is therefore very suitable for people who have difficulty putting their feelings into words, or get stuck in rational thinking.

For whom is PMT suitable?

• PMT is applied to a variety of help issues, such as:
• Anxiety and mood symptoms
• Stress and burnout
• Trauma and loss processing
• Behavioural problems and anger
• Difficulty expressing boundaries or self-confidence
• Autism and ADHD

Research by the National Knowledge Centre LVB shows that PMT works especially well for people who benefit from experiential learning. Doing, feeling and moving create space for change.

What do you do during a session?

.Each PMT session contains exercises that match the help request and possibilities. Sometimes these are active and physical, sometimes restful and reflective. Movement is always the means, not the end.

Commonly used exercises within PMT:

• Collaborative games for assertiveness and contact
• Mirror exercises to explore self-image
• Boxing exercises for regulating anger
• Yoga or breathing exercises for tension complaints
• Stillness and relaxation exercises to learn to recognise body signals

Example from practice

Samuel came to a psychomotor therapist because of persistent anger and tension, at home and at school. In conversations, he had difficulty explaining what was going on inside him. During physical exercises, such as boxing and stopping on command, it became clear how quickly he became tense. Together, they worked on recognising signals and practising self-regulation. The new insights made him calmer in his behaviour and communication.

What makes PMT unique?

What sets PMT apart is that you gain new experiences with your whole body. Practising physically with different behaviour creates space to experiment. Instead of just watching what happens, you experience how something feels and what the effect is. This often makes it stick better than just talking. You learn how to deal with emotions, set boundaries or find relaxation in a safe environment.

Want to know more?

Are you curious whether PMT is for you? Or would you like to know which therapist suits your situation? Check out our list of psychomotor therapists in your area.