In Gestalt therapy we understand a person as a unity of body, emotions and awareness.

And it is the body that is often the part which reacts first to trauma, loss or chronic anxiety.

And it is often the very part we “forget” about before anything else.

But the body remembers.

The body speaks when there are no words yet.

The body is able to show us a map of our real experience — even when the mind is not yet ready to become aware of it.

Especially in times of crisis — during war, loss, immigration, instability — the body becomes a compass.

Through it we can sense where we actually are.

For therapists and coaches, bodily presence is not only a way of supporting themselves.

It is also an essential instrument for supporting clients.

Because without contact with their own body a therapist gradually loses sensitivity.

The subtlety of perceiving the client’s processes disappears.

Gradually fatigue, exhaustion and burnout set in.

Bodily integration in the work is not an “optional bonus”.

It is a basic resource for surviving and preserving professional quality in difficult times.

5 tips on how to lean on the body as a map of feelings and resources in times of crisis:

1. Scan your body regularly during sessions.

Even a brief question to yourself — “What is happening in my body right now?” — helps you notice early signals of tension, fatigue or overload.

2. Allow yourself small bodily micro-movements.

Changing your position, taking a deeper breath, rubbing your palms — all of this helps you avoid “freezing” in the stillness of on-screen work and to hold contact better.

3. Listen to fatigue as a signal, not as an enemy.

Fatigue is not weakness. It is a map that tells you: “Here I need support or a change of rhythm”.

4. Ground yourself through support.

Press your feet into the floor, feel the weight of your body on the chair — this helps you stay present even when it feels anxious or empty inside.

5. Give your body a voice in the dialogue.

Ask yourself from time to time: “How is my body speaking to me right now? What movement, breath or sound would I like to make?” — and let it show itself, if only for a moment.