Body mapping as a therapeutic activity in psychotherapy practice: A scoping review

Body mapping has gained popularity as a research method across diverse disciplines and is frequently reported to offer therapeutic benefits. However, a synthesis of studies specifically using body mapping as a therapeutic activity has not yet been undertaken. As a result, there remains limited understanding of how body mapping is applied therapeutically and in what contexts. This scoping review aimed to synthesise the available literature on body mapping as a therapeutic activity, identifying the clinical populations involved, how body mapping was used, and clients’/participants’ reported experiences and outcomes. Medline, Scopus, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, and citations were systematically searched to identify studies that used body mapping as a therapeutic activity. Fifteen studies were included that explicitly reported on the use of body mapping as a therapeutic activity, where eight were qualitative exploratory studies and seven were case studies. Body mapping was used in both one-to-one and group contexts. The majority of studies used body mapping in the context of trauma therapy or as a tool for fostering self-empowerment and self-compassion. Body mapping shows strong potential as a therapeutic activity, offering a creative and embodied pathway to emotional insight, empowerment, and client engagement across diverse clinical settings. While the existing literature affirms its promise, much of the work remains small in scale and exploratory in nature. Examining how body mapping as a therapeutic activity is therefore important to understand how it has been applied therapeutically, the clinical populations it has engaged, clients’ experiences and acceptability of body mapping, and to identify limitations and gaps to inform future practice and research. • First scoping review to examine how body mapping has been used as a therapeutic activity • 14 studies included: eight qualitative exploratory studies and six case studies • Highlights body mapping’s role in trauma therapy and to foster empowerment and self-compassion • Applied in both individual and group therapeutic contexts • Findings highlight its promise for emotional insight and client engagement, with implications for broader integration into therapeutic practice and research