Short History of the Clinical Master of Physiotherapy in BBAM: Evolution of the BBAT/BBAM Study-Plans

The international study program, the Clinical Master of Physiotherapy in Basic Body Awareness Methodology (BBAM, 60 ECTS), at the University of Almeria (UAL), Almeria, Spain, celebrates 25 years, by the opening of the 12th study start, January 2026. The study program has, since start in 2003, at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), had student intake every second year. Around 260 physiotherapists, from all continents, have qualified in mental health physiotherapy, completing a degree in BBAT. In addition, about 50 physiotherapists from the Nordic Countries fulfilled a BBAM update-exam (2007-2014), at HVL, as “privatist exam”, including written (clinical project) and oral/practical exam, gaining an official/formal Clinical Competence in BBAT.

The existing master program in BBAM (2026), originates from the start of teaching BBAT in Norway, at the end of the 1970`ties, by UB Skatteboe* and LH Skjærven*, within the Norwegian Physiotherapy Association (NFF), Subsection of Mental Health Physiotherapy (earlier named Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Physiotherapy). The first original study plan provided a four-stepped clinical qualification in BBAT (BK). About 10 years later, a second, elaborate study plan was official accepted within NFF, Subsection of Mental Health Physiotherapy, January 1990. A third development of the BBAT study program, qualifying PT´s in mental health PT, was presented to Bergen University College (BUC), department of physiotherapy in 2000, requesting for an official education in BBAT. Integrating NOKUT`(Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) criteria into the study-plan, lead to a formal acceptance of the study in 2002, by BUC, now: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, (HVL). The official study-start was January 2003, named the International Postgraduate Education in Basic Body Awareness Methodology (BBAM), 60 ECTS, during a two-year, part-time study-period. Every second year, between 2003-2017, the study plan underwent similar NOKUT acceptance-procedure at HVL. In 2018 the education “moved” to the University of Almeria, Spain, with prof. Dr. Daniel Catalan Matamoroes, PT, as head of the education, now condensed into a one- year study of 60 ECTS.

The period between 2003-2017 cleared the path for increased internationalization, teaching BBAT in Erasmus project, in Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, as at University in St. Petersburgh, Russia and Duke University, NC, USA. BBAT has, through a variety of research projects, been presented at World Physiotherapy Congress (WP), from the early 1990`ties and at the International Organization of Physiotherapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH), from its pre-start in 2006.

The international BBAM education and the Norwegian 4-stepped BBAT-postgraduate education (Etterutdanning) in Basic Body Awareness Therapy (Basal Kroppskjennskap, BK), are equivalent.

The Norwegian Institute of Basic Body Awareness Therapy (NIBK) are responsible for the 4-stepped BBAT-postgraduate education leading to Clinical Competence in BBAT and also the education of teachers that leads to pedagogic competence in BBAT. NIBK includes, in 2025, an extended group of BBAT teachers/candidates from Japan (1), Finland (3), Estonia (1), Latvia (1), Spain (2), the Netherlands (1), Faro Island (2), Canada (1), Mexico (1), and Norway (6), with six online teacher-related meetings during a year, in the Society of BBAT, focusing pedagogical and professional quality.

Clarification:

1: BBAT – abbreviation of Basic Body Awareness Therapy, the specific PT BBAT approach

2: BBAM – abbreviation of Basic Body Awareness Methodology, the academic study program

Bergen 29.10.25

Liv Helvik Skjærven, PT, PhD, HVL, Norway / UAL, Spain, NIBK**, IATBBAT**

*At this time, Skatteboe and Skjærven worked within psychiatric hospitals, both having Competence in the Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy (NPMF). During the 1980ties, both gained competence in BBAT, (i) Clinical and (ii) Pedagogical.

**Norwegian Institute of Basic Body Awareness Therapy (NIBK) and International Association of Teachers in BBAT (IATBBAT)