This online meetup on ZOOM will provide you with information about the program, and there will be a presentation on the following topic:
What defines the therapeutic touch? Body oriented interventions
Body-oriented interventions in psychedelic-augmented therapy (PAT) require a rigorous ethical framework and a clearly defined therapeutic contract. Drawing on clinical experience from the OVID Clinic Berlin and data from the EPIsoDE psilocybin study for depression, this presentation explores the criteria and context-factors essential for integrating body-oriented interventions safely and effectively.
A key element of this approach is the "reading" of somatic signals; touch is typically reactive rather than initiated by the therapist, ensuring the patient remains in the lead. We will examine the specific functions these interventions fulfil, from sensory confirmation to emotional regulation, and the psychotherapeutic models that explain their efficacy. In addition, the session will address the vital preparation phase, namely the communication of the rationale and ethics of physical contact to patients. By balancing clinical utility with professional boundaries, we define how medical professionalism can be maintained through consented body-oriented interventions.
Mertens LJ, Koslowski M, Betzler F. et al. Efficacy and safety of psilocybin in treatment-resistant major depression: the EPISODE randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. Pub-lished online March 18, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0132
The meeting in English will take place on Wednesday 15th April, 2026 from 8 to 9 pm.
Sign up here.
