Exploring New Pathways to Psychosomatic Harmony The doctoral course "Psychomotricity and Rehabilitation" in July was successfully concluded in Shenzhen

Recently, the intensive two-day doctoral seminar of the French Institut Supérieur de Rééducation Psychomotrice (ISRP)'s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Health Psychology program successfully concluded in Shenzhen

Themed "Psychomotricity and Rehabilitation", the course integrated Eastern and Western wisdom, focusing on a new paradigm of psychosomatic rehabilitation centered on the "integration of movement and stillness". Blending cutting-edge theory with innovative practice, it systematically unlocked the full spectrum of psychomotor rehabilitation techniques - from bodily perception to social cognition. This empowered doctoral candidates to deeply explore pathways to mind-body integration and gain new clinical perspectives on "healing the mind through movement".

Core Focus: The Path to Rehabilitation through Mind-Body Integration

Psychomotor rehabilitation, as an interdisciplinary field spanning medicine, psychology, and neuroscience, centers on understanding the holistic existence and functional expression of the "person" within their environment (body, mind, brain). It emphasizes the synergy between brain and thought, emotion and body. By intervening in psychomotor functions (e.g., motor coordination, body awareness, spatiotemporal structuring, attention) and their expressions (e.g., social skills, adaptive behaviors), it aims to promote harmonious psychosomatic development across the full spectrum - from prevention and education to treatment and care - helping individuals "exist in life in their own way".

Day One: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Exploration

Theoretical Deepening: On the first morning, grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework, the session systematically deconstructed the components of the psychomotor system - covering body functions & structures, activities & participation, and environmental factors. It deeply explored how psychomotor functions (the convergence of motor, sensory, and cognitive processes) interact with the environment to form unique psychomotor expressions and socially adaptive behaviors.

Practical Experience: Theory was immediately translated into practice. The "Energy Ball Transfer" activity allowed participants to physically experience the flow of bodily energy, while "Mirror Imitation" effectively cultivated empathy and keen observation skills through synchronized movements between partners. These interactions vividly demonstrated the relationship between muscle tension regulation and emotional expression, reinforcing the innovative concept of "the body as a therapeutic medium".

Afternoon: Therapy Refinement and Mind-Body Experience

The curriculum delved into Psychomotor Rehabilitation Therapy (PRT), viewing it as a psychopathological pathway to restore bodily experience. PRT can work "bottom-up" (from function to expression) or "top-down" (from expression to function), with the core objective of restoring psychosomatic harmony by altering the environment and activating personal resources. Five core techniques were highlighted:
 Sensory Integration Techniques: Correcting faulty perceptions, establishing muscle tone-emotion dialogue.

 Perceptual-Motor Integration Techniques: Promoting socialization across all ages through play-based approaches.

 Psychomotor Relaxation Therapy: Harmonizing alert bodily and mental functions.

 Expressive and Creative Techniques: Facilitating self-discovery and creation through bodily expression of the inner world.

 Digital Media Techniques: Aiding cognitive and praxis development.

Practical Immersion: Guided by instructor Sandy, DBA candidates experienced scientific methods of psychosomatic relaxation through breath regulation and progressive muscle relaxation, grasping the principle that "relaxation is emotional release". An improvisational dance segment became a channel for emotional exploration, demonstrating its role in trauma healing.Sensory integration simulation training using tools like balance pads and tactile balls provided profound insights into the clinical value of multisensory integration (vestibular, tactile, etc.) and key considerations for personalized intervention design.

Day Two: Social Focus and Practical Application

Psychosocial Dynamics and Relational Reconstruction: Emphasizing humans as social beings, the session underscored the critical role of interpersonal relationships in psychomotricity. PRT aims to build therapeutic relationships, helping individuals progress from bodily participation toward enhanced security, adaptive communication, and ultimately, self-actualization through competency recognition. It analyzed factors influencing relational expression and the essence of psychomotor expressions (communication, nonverbal communication, social skills) and psychosocial functions (emotion recognition, social awareness, theory of mind, empathy).

Skill Development Workshops:

 "Context Recognition Game": Trained candidates in rapidly interpreting social cues within environments.

 "Emotion Recognition Game": Focused on identifying the 93% of nonverbal information (micro-expressions, tone), including unique patterns for recognizing anger in Chinese contexts.

 "Empathetic Life Story Sharing": Through authentic sharing, candidates practiced applying theory of mind, forging "embodied empathy" skills.

These exercises significantly heightened candidates' sensitivity for assessing and intervening in conditions like autism and social communication disorders, fostering a culturally sensitive rehabilitation mindset.

Case Studies: Integrating Eastern and Western Wisdom

The seminar culminated in practical case analysis. Candidates worked in groups to tackle three complex cases: childhood social communication disorder, adult coordination dysfunction, and geriatric fear of falling. Synthesizing their learning, they designed innovative rehabilitation plans blending Eastern and Western wisdom:

 Integrating the traditional Chinese health practice "Baduanjin (Eight- Section Brocade)" into elderly balance training.

 Utilizing role-playing games to enhance empathy in children.

The format of group discussions and presentations effectively honed candidates' clinical reasoning, interdisciplinary collaboration skills, and personalized intervention design capabilities. It particularly strengthened practical skills in developing rehabilitation plans based on the ICF framework, addressing impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions - laying a solid foundation for managing complex future cases.

Conclusion: Planting the Seeds of Innovation

This ISRP doctoral seminar was not merely knowledge transfer; it was an innovation in thinking and methodology. As instructor Sandy stated: "True healing begins when you start listening to your patients with your whole body, not just your ears." The DBA candidates experienced the profound connection between bodily movement and psychological state, explored the power of innovative methods like energy transfer, mirror imitation, and dance therapy, and successfully integrated Western assessment tools with traditional Chinese wisdom in their casework. The seed of "healing the mind through movement," planted in the fertile ground of China's health psychology landscape, is poised to yield uniquely impactful practices, contributing invaluable Eastern wisdom to the global advancement of psychomotor rehabilitation.