Brief Body Scans

(Bonus materials for the textbook, Trauma-Focused ACT)

If working with trauma, consider modifying body scans in various ways:

A) Make sure you’ve covered all the groundwork for safe therapy, as outlined in chapter
4: Keeping it Safe
B) Initially only focus on areas of the body the client is ready and willing to notice with
curiosity; over time, through a process of values-guided graded exposure, encourage
them to gradually bring their attention to areas of the body they usually avoid.
C) For clients prone to dissociative states and freezing, consider doing shorter body scans
initially, with eyes open. In some cases, you may encourage the client to do this
standing up.

Duration of Body Scans

For a three-minute exercise, spend about 15 seconds on each bullet-point

For a six-minute exercise, spend about 30 seconds on each bullet-point
For a nine-minute exercise, spend about 45 seconds on each bullet-point
For a twelve-minute exercise, spend about 60 seconds on each bullet-point

Basic Body Scan Script:

(Note: The script below will sound stilted and unnatural if you read it exactly as
written. Use it as a rough guide only. Improvise around it. Change the words to suit your way
of speaking.)

Get yourself into a comfortable position and either close your eyes or gently fix them
on a spot in front of you.
The aim is to slowly scan your body, fully focusing your attention on the feelings you
encounter — no matter how faint they may be.
Observe each sensation as if you’re a curious child who has never encountered
anything like this before.
Don’t fight with, struggle with, or try to avoid or get rid of the sensations you notice;
whether they are pleasant, neutral or unpleasant, observe them with curiosity and allow them
to be there.
As you do this, let your mind chatter away like a radio playing in the background (but
don’t try to ignore it or silence it).

© Russ Harris 2021 www.ImLearningACT.com

 Naturally, from time to time you’ll get hooked by your thoughts and lose track of the
exercise. The moment you realise this has happened, acknowledge what hooked you, then
refocus on your body.
Now notice, with openness and curiosity, the sensations you can feel in your …
• feet and toes
• ankles
• calves
• thighs
• buttocks and pelvis
• abdomen (tummy)
• chest
• hands and fingers
• forearms
• upper arms
• shoulders
• neck

Additional Instructions

Regularly make helpful, encouraging comments, to punctuate each period of silent observing.
Options include:

Just noticing …

Noticing with curiosity …

Observing whatever is there …

And whatever sensations you notice, just allowing them to be there …

Allowing those sensations to be as they are, in this moment … whether they are pleasant,
neutral or unpleasant … not clinging to them … not pushing them away … not fighting with
them … not ignoring them … simply allowing them to be as they are

Really bringing in that curiosity … noticing these sensations as if you’ve never encountered
them before … noticing where they are, what they’re like …

Noticing any movement … vibration … pulsation … temperature … pressure … tingling …

or other types of sensation …

The moment you realise you’re hooked, acknowledge what hooked you …and refocus on
your body …

If your mind hooks you 1000 times, then 1000 times, acknowledge it, unhook, and refocus …

© Russ Harris 2021 www.ImLearningACT.com