Forming Form : how movement shapes psychotherapists’ practical knowledge

In a culture that often privileges abstract and quantifiable knowledge, this research highlights the frequently overlooked value of practical and bodily knowing. Focusing on how psychotherapists respond to the shifting dynamics of each therapeutic session, it explores their ability to relate to not-knowing and to hold the therapeutic situation as a bodily knowing that can be cultivated through practice. Grounded in Aristotle’s concept of phronesis —the ability to act wisely and appropriately in specific situations—the study shows how movement and bodily awareness contribute to professional judgment. This form of knowledge is often under-verbalized and rendered invisible. Helena’s research argues that clearly defined concepts, grounded in a coherent system of thought, are essential to give weight to practical and bodily knowledge. This edition expands on Helena Kallner’s PhD thesis, submitted to Middlesex University in May 2024