DOHSA-HOU

What is the Dohsa-hou (動作法) ?

Dohsa-hou is a Japanese body-oriented psychotherapy developed by Professor Gosaku Naruse, Ph.D. (1924–2019), a pioneer in clinical psychology. Originating in the 1960s and initially called psycho-rehabilitation, it was first applied to support children with cerebral palsy by improving movement and posture through intentional body movements, bodily sensations, and relaxation experiences (Naruse, 1973; Fujino, 2013). Naruse observed that while physiological conditions underlie cerebral palsy, these disabilities are also shaped by mental activities such as will, effort, and body movement. He later emphasized that many psychological problems are deeply connected to the body, since the body is the source of lived experience (Naruse, 1997).

Over the decades, Dohsa-hou has expanded beyond its original scope. Research has demonstrated its clinical utility for stress-related disorders involving autonomic nervous system dysregulation, such as anxiety (Ikeda, 2001), depression (Koga, 2001), and schizophrenia (Tsuru, 1993). Studies also show that Dohsa-hou enhances parasympathetic activity and heart rate variability, supporting its role in regulating mood, deepening bodily awareness, and reducing psychological distress (Fujino, 2012; Yamanaka & Tominaga, 2000; Kuwashima, Sakakibara, & Yoshikawa, 2023).

Unlike approaches that emphasize verbal analysis, Dohsa-hou engages healing through direct embodied experience. Simple actions—lifting an arm, shifting weight, standing still—become opportunities to notice bodily sensations, regulate emotions, and reconnect with a grounded sense of self. This is particularly effective for individuals navigating dissociation, psychosomatic symptoms, chronic stress, or difficulty with emotional expression.

Since 2007, I have practiced Dohsa-hou under the guidance of Professor Naruse and later with Takako Mogami (–2021), a clinical psychologist who developed her own original techniques. While Mogami modestly described her methods as “heretical,” placing them outside the traditional Dohsa-hou framework, I believe her work captured its very essence. With deep respect, I call the practices she shared with me “Mogami Dohsa.”

Today, I integrate Naruse’s Dohsa-hou and Mogami Dohsa with contemporary findings from somatic trauma researchin the United States. This evolving approach—Trauma-Informed Dohsa-hou—brings together Japanese clinical wisdom and modern trauma theory to support healing, resilience, and embodied self-connection.