Embodied Communication

Being mindful of a client’s embodied communications is an essential skill for a conscious therapeutic connection. If health professionals are unaware of their body, they can unconsciously communicate things to clients that they do not intend to communicate.

Embodied communication encompasses:

  • Movements

  • Gestures

  • Posture

  • Facial expressions

  • Prosody (the music of speech)

  • Rate and tone of voice

in a moment-to-moment unfolding process between the physical bodies and energetic fields of health professional and client.

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Intercorporeality

Embodied communication is related to the concept of intercorporeality which implies a perception–action loop between the self and the other wherein the one's perception of the other’s action prompts the same action in the self which harnesses the motor system to increase social understanding.

Example

An example is ontagious yawning or smiling in response to another’s smiling face despite what is emotionally happening within the self. Intentional mirroring of gestures, postures, and facial expressions activates reciprocal engagement through the client’s mirror neuron system and contributes to feeling understood and enhanced relational safety.

Noticing incongruency between a client’s verbal and nonverbal communication channels provides clinical insight into how they may be struggling to integrate parts of themselves and their experience(s). Through attending to channels of embodied communication we can track what our clients are communicating underneath the words. In the beginning stages of therapy for individuals with trauma, embodied communication may be most noted by health professionals for its absence or incongruence.

It is common for clients not to be aware of the messages their bodies are conveying. Once trust and safety have been established in the therapeutic relationship, health professionals are invited to gently inquire with curiosity about non-verbal communicators or incongruences they may note. It is imperative that health professionals review the health history of clients to ensure that they are not commenting on an already defined disability or impairment. It is equally important to acknowledge that these are subjective observations from our clinical experience and to honour the client’s subjective truth.

Justice, Equity, Dignity, and Inclusion

Awareness of cultural practices, embodied oppression, and an intersectional lens should all be considered when observing embodied communications of clients. Body language can be misinterpreted depending on our positionality and experiences of privilege or oppression. By remaining mindful of intersectionality when offering therapeutic reflections, we aim to assist the client to strengthen interoception and embodiment which in turn may foster greater autonomy and empowerment.