The FAB Body Scan strategy helps promote a functional body scheme. The body scan builds on the foundation of previous FAB Strategies that orient clients to the front-back, top-bottom, and two sides of the body Previous post on body orientation preceding body scan
Research supports that the body scan helps significantly decrease school aggression in adolescents (Franco et al., 2016). However, traditional body scans can take up to thirty minutes and are too complicated for many students with complex developmental and behavioral challenges. The FAB body scan strategy is quick, easy to do, and can be developmentally individualized. It can be used to improve body awareness, interoceptive awareness, sensory processing, mindfulness, and behavior.
The most developmentally basic is the body scan tap strategy, encouraging clients to tap and name major parts of their body. If it is initially too complex for the student to imitate the therapist (who is doing the tapping on herself), the therapist can with permission tap on the child’s head,
then prompt the student to tap on the top of their head. Tapping and all other body scan strategies proceed sequentially on: the top of the head; forehead; shoulder, elbow, then palm (sequentially on both arms); chest; and stomach. Once initial awareness of these body parts is established, the teacher or therapist proceeds to the body scan press strategy, having the youth use their hand following the same sequence to provide slow, deep pressure (Price et al., 2019).
Finally, the most developmentally advanced is the body scan imagination, doing this same sequential body scan with their attention and imagination (Brown & Gerbarg, 2020). It is often helpful to have students imagine a golden eagle lands sequentially on each part of their body, radiating white light that energizes and relaxes them. The FAB body scan strategy is listed in the second row of the Sensory Modulation Section B of the FAB Strategies form
The FAB Strategies form provides a curriculum that is intended to be individualized to the current needs of each student. For example, the body scan can include touch on the face but this component is currently omitted (e.g., not underlined for inclusion, or mentioned in this post) due to current coronavirus precautions advising not touching your face. The therapist also decides whether given the student’s developmental level the body scan should initially be done through imagining, self-pressing, or self-tapping (e.g., if significant developmental disabilities or low registration related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). I hope the FAB body scan is useful in providing body awareness for improved behavior and academics.
References
Brown R, Gerbarg P. The healing power of the breath: Simple techniques to reduce stress and anxiety, enhance concentration, and balance your emotions. Shambhala Publications; 2012 Jun 12.
Franco, C., Amutio, A., Lopez-González, L., Oriol, X., & MartÃnez-Taboada, C. (2016). Effect of a mindfulness training program on the impulsivity and aggression levels of adolescents with behavioral problems in the classroom. Frontiers in psychology, 7.
Price CJ, Thompson EA, Crowell S, Pike K. Longitudinal effects of interoceptive awareness training through mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT) as an adjunct to women’s substance use disorder treatment: A randomized controlled trial. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2019 May 1;198:140-9.
