Mindful-Awareness In Body Oriented Therapy.

Developed by Dr. Cynthia Price. MABT Is an Evidence based approach for developing Interoceptive awareness to promote health and wellbeing. Dr. Price developed this mindfulness-based approach for use in body-centered therapy practice such as massage therapy and other touch based therapeutic practices. MABT works with through three underlying mechanisms wich include; Increased Body Awareness, Reduced Bodily Dissociation, and increased capacity for emotional regulation. Currently, she has developed an 8 week protocol that has been empirically validated protocol as an adjunct treatment for Substance-Use disorder. From the MABT website

“Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) combines manual, mindfulness and psycho-educational approaches to teach interoceptive awareness and related self-care skills. Interoceptive awareness is the ability to access and process sensory information from the body. Interoceptive awareness and self-care skills can be particularly helpful for individuals living with chronic physical or mental health conditions, or in recovery from trauma or chemical dependency, as they provide alternative coping strategies to the bodily disconnection and experiential avoidance that can be quite prevalent and distressing for individuals with these health challenges.”

My Approach to MABT-Informed Bodywork

I am currently in the process of training for MABT certification, which will enable me to practice the full 8-week protocol as designed by Dr. Price. While completing this certification, I am shifting my practice to offer MABT-informed bodywork sessions, which integrate key principles of the approach.

Through these sessions, I aim to:

• Guide clients in cultivating greater body awareness: Helping them recognize and respond to bodily sensations during sessions.

• Create a safe, supportive space for connection: Facilitating an environment where clients can explore their emotions and sensations.

• Enhance the therapeutic benefits of massage: Incorporating mindfulness techniques to deepen the effects of bodywork.

• Support interoceptive awareness: Using touch and psychoeducation to empower clients in understanding and regulating their body’s signals.

These sessions are designed to leave clients with a heightened ability to maintain homeostasis (body regulation),promoting longer-lasting benefits from their bodywork experiences.

If you’re interested in exploring how MABT-informed bodywork can support your well-being, feel free to reach out! If you are interested in learning more about the approach follow this link to a list of research and publications curated by Dr. Price.