Body . Mind . Life
seeing the whole person
We believe that people cannot be understood by looking at one part of their experience in isolation.
The body affects the mind.
The mind affects the body.
And both are shaped by the life we live - our relationships, environments, experiences, responsibilities, routines and the things that matter to us.
Our approach brings together three interconnected areas – Body. Mind. Life. with the person at the centre. Rather than asking only “What is wrong?”, we are interested in understanding:
“What is happening for this person, in this life, at this time?”
BODY
Our bodies are constantly communicating with us through movement, posture, sensation, breathing, tension, fatigue, energy and arousal. Our bodies respond to what is happening both within us and around us.
Sometimes these signals are easy to recognise. At other times, they can be confusing, overwhelming or difficult to interpret. Our experiences have taught us the importance of becoming curious about the relationship we have with body rather than simply trying to make uncomfortable sensations disappear.
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What might the body be communicating?
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What helps the person feel safeness, settled or ready to engage?
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What might be making participation more difficult?
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And how can we support someone to develop a greater sense of awareness and connection with their body?
MIND
Our minds are constantly making sense of our experiences. Thoughts, emotions, memories, beliefs, expectations and patterns of responding all influence how we experience ourselves and the world around us.
Sometimes our minds protect us through vigilance, avoidance, worry or self-criticism. These responses often make sense when we understand the experiences and circumstances from which they have developed. We therefore approach the mind with curiosity and compassion rather than judgement.
Our understanding is informed by approaches such as Compassion Focused Therapy, helping us explore how people relate to themselves, particularly when life is challenging. We are interested not only in what someone is thinking or feeling, but in how these experiences influence what they are able to do and how they participate in their everyday lives.
LIFE
Life is the context in which everything else happens. It is our occupations, relationships, homes, workplaces, communities and routines. It is the roles we have and the responsibilities we carry. It is our culture, experiences, expectations and environments. It is the things we love, the things we have lost, the things we hope for and the things we want to change.
This is where occupational therapy has such an important role. We are interested in what people do, what they want to do, and what gives their lives meaning and purpose.
Sometimes the difficulty lies within the person.
Where body, mind and life meet....
The three areas of Body, Mind and Life are not separate, they continually influence one another.
For example, poor sleep may affect our energy and concentration. Feeling overwhelmed may change how our body responds to everyday situations. Physical discomfort may make it harder to participate in activities we enjoy. Difficult experiences may influence how safe we feel in our bodies or how we relate to ourselves.
And the opposite can also be true. Movement can influence how we feel. Connection can support our sense of safeness. Meaningful activity can improve our sense of purpose. Changing an environment can reduce stress and make participation possible.
A small change in one area can sometimes create a ripple effect across the others. This is why we place the person at the centre. It is not about treating three separate parts, it is about understanding the unique relationship between them for each individual.
The person at the centre
At the centre of our model is the person. Not the diagnosis. Not the symptom. Not the difficulty. The person. Their story. Their experiences. Their strengths. Their relationships. Their values. Their hopes. Their identity. And their understanding of what matters.
Two people can experience the same diagnosis or difficulty and have completely different experiences because their bodies, minds, lives and environments are different.
From understanding to action
Understanding is important, but we also want understanding to translate into everyday life. Our Body. Mind. Life. approach helps us move between awareness and action.We might explore how someone experiences their body during a particular activity. We might consider sensory needs or patterns of regulation.
We might explore thoughts, emotions or self-critical patterns. We might look at routines, relationships or environmental demands. And then we bring these perspectives together to ask:
What can make this person's life more manageable and meanigful?
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Sometimes this might involve:
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Changing an activity
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Changing the environment
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Developing a new skill or strategy.
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Reconnecting with something that has been lost.
A whole-person approach
Our Body. Mind. Life. approach reflects how we understand occupational therapy.
We see the body, mind and life as interconnected, and we see the person as inseparable from the environments and relationships in which they live. Our roots in yoga have taught us the value of awareness, presence, connection and compassion. Occupational therapy gives us a framework for understanding how these ideas translate into meaningful everyday living.
Our other approaches and experiences including posture and movement, sensory processing and the Sensory Matrix®, and Compassion Focused Therapy provide additional ways of understanding the person and their experience.
But none of these approaches stands alone. They are ways of looking. Ways of listening. Ways of understanding. And ultimately, ways of helping us work alongside a person to find a way forward that makes sense for their life.