Becher-Urbaniak, S. et al. (2026). The body and psyche anamnesis (AKuP): a structured approach to embodiment in psychotherapeutic practice

Psychotherapie Forum
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00729-026-00310-z

Abstract

This paper presents the development, structure, and clinical application of the Body and Psyche Anamnesis (AKuP) at the psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Clinic of Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna. AKuP was developed as a structured, body-focused psychotherapeutic anamnesis designed to systematically integrate embodied dimensions into the therapeutic process from the outset. The instrument combines open and closed questions with reflexive observational components and is deliberately positioned as an exploratory tool prior to the formal diagnostic evaluation.

Drawing on exemplary qualitative analyses from student theses, the paper illustrates how AKuP renders bodily-related domains, such as eating, physical activity, social media, and stress, visible as emotionally, normatively, and socially embedded areas of experience. The findings highlight the potential of AKuP as a clinical, educational, and research-oriented instrument for strengthening biopsychosocial perspectives in psychotherapeutic practice. Additionally, AKuP can establish a robust foundation for subsequent diagnostic procedures in psychotherapy.

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