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The aim of this qualitative study is to find out how body psychotherapists describe their approach to promoting health, and their methods of treatment and signs of recovery in depressed clients. Using Grounded Theory, literature studies and analysis of open questions were conducted in parallel. The open questions were sent to the members of the Swiss National Association of the European Association of Body Psychotherapy (CH-EABP). The answers from 18 participants were analyzed using open axial coding with the method of constant comparison until saturation. Four main categories were identified as selective coding emerged from the data: 1) attachment and the therapeutic alliance; 2) body awareness; 3) contact with grief enabling healthy, creative aggression; and 4) self-regulation and rhythm. These categories form a theoretical core for treating depressed clients. Findings indicated that body psychotherapists have therapeutic tools to work with resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the concepts of the reflective practitioner, evidence-based practice, and different ways of doing qualitative research. By asking questions beginning with "what" and "how" qualitative research seeks the specific quality typical of a phenomenon. Today, one of the most used methods in qualitative research is Grounded Theory. A pattern of meaning-carrying units becomes visible among the observations or answers to open questions, and are then coded into categories. This coding process is described; it is called constant comparison and is pursued until a saturation of a theme occurs, which crystalizes the central meaning of a phenomenon. Useful standards of the themes of validity and reliability in qualitative research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]