Education and Research

USABP research is the study and testing of somatic psychology theory. The USABP recognizes the value and need for research in somatic psychology, both basic and applied, and works to encourage and support the development of our members’ research ideas. We do this in several ways:

  • Education about research
  • Assisting with publishing
  • Award Recognition

We fully support experimental and correlational studies. However, given that the field does not easily lend itself to controlled studies and statistics, we also support various styles of empirical research that also include but are not limited to: action research, artistic inquiry, ethnography, grounded theory, and of course, phenomenological inquiry.

Below are some guidelines for determining a good research study, outlined by seven principles set forth by Alice Ladas, (as quoted in Young, 2012):

1. Does the study add to the knowledge base about body psychotherapy?

2. Are the objectives of the study clearly stated?

3. Are the protocols and procedures used to test the objectives clearly described?

4. Can the study be replicated using the same or different body psychotherapy modalities?

5. Does the treatment of subjects conform to ethical guidelines?

6. Are the results presented in a clear and well organized fashion?

7. Are the conclusions clearly stated and justified by the data?

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For Clinicians:

For clinicians who are interested in research and have an idea that they want to develop, the USAABP Research Committee is ready to assist in the development of projects and to match clinicians to researchers in auxiliary fields who are interested in our field. Adjunct fields such as physiology, sociology, neuropsychology, and anthropology are a few of the fields in which researchers are interested in what we do as clinicians and are willing to partner with us.

“I’m a clinician and I’m terrified of research, but really interested in it. What do I do?” For starters, there are some readings that offer insights into the ways in which clinicians can offer great value to a research project.

For starters, read:
Caldwell, C. and Johnson, R. (2012) Research 101 for body psychotherapists: Cultivating a somatically-informed research mind. In C. Young (Ed.) About the science of body psychotherapy. London: Body Psychotherapy Publications.

For more information about how you can get started on developing your research idea, please contact Jennifer Tantia, Research Chair at: research@usabp.org
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For Students:

You’ve spent a year or seven, writing your thesis or dissertation, and are now a graduate from a psychology or counseling degree. You’ve been told that your paper has promise and your thesis advisor might have even encouraged you to publish it. However, now that you have graduated, you don’t really know how to go about doing that. There are two options; the thesis can sit on your bookshelf and you can admire what potential it has, or you can publish it in a peer-reviewed journal!

The research committee is dedicated to assisting students in translating their master’s theses and doctoral dissertations into journal articles.* To that, we have devised a mentor system that will pair up a student with a member of the research committee who will assist in this process.

For starters, please read an article from body psychotherapist Courtenay Young, (2010). Reflections about starting to publish professionally for trainee psychotherapists. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 5(3), 268-276.

For more information about getting help with publishing, please contact Jennifer Tantia, Research Chair at: research@usabp.org

*Please note that assistance with your thesis and submission to a peer-reviewed journal does not guarantee publication in that journal.