Holding the target image and the negative cognition in mind, the client scans the body from head to feet, noticing the bodily sensations linked to the trauma: tension, pain, numbness, pressure, heat, cold, a lump in the throat. The sensation that is identified becomes part of the reprocessing "package" — an anchor for the desensitization phase. Skipping this step means an incomplete capture of the traumatic reaction.
Step-by-step guide
- Have the client recall the target image and the NC at the same time
- "Now slowly scan the body from head to feet"
- Ask questions by zone: head, neck, shoulders, chest, belly, legs
- Pay attention to: tension, pain, numbness, heat, cold, pressure, tingling
- Identify one main bodily sensation as the anchor for the work
- Note the location and quality of the sensation
When to use
- The Assessment phase (Phase 3) — before desensitization
- For full capture of the traumatic response: image + belief + body
Key phrases
Recall the image and believe that you are helpless. Now scan the body. Where do you feel it? Head? Neck? Chest? Belly? Legs?
Follow-up questions
Describe this sensation — what is it? Tension, pain, pressure, numbness?
Where in the body is it strongest?
Alternative phrasings
If there are several sensations — where is the most intense?
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not skip — the bodily component is part of the activation of the problem; without it the reprocessing is incomplete
- ⚠️ Dissociative clients may not feel the body — work with descriptions of "emptiness" or "nothing"
Source: Shapiro, 2001, 2018
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.