License to touch - A qualitative study on how to treat eating disorders with the use of touch

Abstract

Purpose: To shed light on the role of psychomotor physiotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders and to gain knowledge about the therapist’s experiences with the use of touch in treatment. Design: A qualitative interview study with a phenomenological approach. Material and method: Empirical data was collected through semistructured interviews with five psychomotor physiotherapists treating inpatients with eating disorders in specialized mental health care. The analysis was conducted using systematic text condensation. Findings: The therapists viewed their opportunity to work from the point of view of the body as important in approaching the patient’s body image issues.Furthermore, their license to touch provided them the opportunity to give the paitents positive experiences with their bodies. Conclusion: This study adds important knowledge within experiences in psychomotor physiotherapy and the use of touch in the treatment of patients with eating disorders. The patients may experience the use of touch in treatment as challenging. However, the therapist’s ability to read the patient’s bodily signals may contribute to a feeling of comfort and security.

Keywords

• body image
• eating disorders
• norwegian psychomotor physiotherapy
• physiotherapy
• touch