Therapeutic Relaxation

Code: DES12080M

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Human Kinetics

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English, Spanish

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Therapeutic relaxation is one of the main tools for clinical intervention. This CU focuses on the fundamentals of relaxation, applied to mental health and chronic pain.

Sustainable Development Goals

3. Saúde de qualidade - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

4. Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

8. Trabalho digno e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

16. Paz, justiça e instituições eficazes - Paz, justiça e instituições eficazes promover sociedades pacíficas e inclusivas par ao desenvolvimento sustentável, proporcionar o acesso à justiça para todos e construir instituições eficazes, responsáveis
e inclusivas em todos os níveis.

Learning Goals

Objectives:
• Recognize the theoretical constructs underlying the relaxation techniques;
• Know the methodological and technical aspects of different methods of relaxation;
• Recognize the impact of each method in the following areas: physiology, structure tonic-emotional
schema and body image, spatial-temporal structure, gnosic and praxic functions;
• Apply techniques-prescription, planning, implementation and evaluation of intervention therapy in
-psychosomatics relaxation before the various medical conditions: psychopathology, psychomotor or
learning problems, using the proper terminology.

Contents:
• Tonus
• Application of Winnicott's ideas
• Modification of surveillance
• Suggestion transfer and communication
• Prescription of therapeutic relaxation techniques
• Practice of therapeutic relaxation techniques
• Body-schema and body image in relaxation
• Breathing and relaxation
• Training-autogenous Schultz
• The progressive-relaxation Jacobson
• Relaxation-active-passive Wintrebert
• Dupont-relaxation dynamics

Teaching Methods

The course unit integrates principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), using active methodologies that promote critical thinking, autonomous learning, and collaboration among students. The theoretical classes are organised according to the programme content, addressing the foundations, research, and application of relaxation in therapeutic contexts, particularly in the fields of pain and mental health. Their delivery is based on active methodologies, namely Problem-Based Learning and Case-Based Learning, using materials presented in diversified formats such as texts, diagrams, short videos, and interactive digital resources that support the analysis of concepts and the discussion of clinical situations.
The theoretical?practical classes follow an experiential and immersive approach, combining demonstration and supervised practice of techniques, simulations of clinical application, viewing and analysis of multimedia resources, collaborative work, and guided discussion, while also incorporating continuous feedback and moments of reflection and metacognition. These methodologies allow students to experience and subsequently master different therapeutic relaxation techniques, reflect on the relationships between bodily experience and contextual and interpersonal factors, and deepen their competencies in therapeutic practice.

Assessment

Continuous assessment requires attendance in at least 75% of the theoretical?practical sessions and is organised into three distinct components. The first component (20%) consists of developing a session plan designed according to the principles of an intervention programme specifically tailored to a clinical context. The second component involves group work in which students select a relaxation method and deliver an oral presentation with visual support, describing the method, its theoretical foundations, instructions for its application, and its potential uses in therapeutic settings. After the presentation, they carry out a brief practical demonstration of the method with their peers. The third component consists of an individual written assignment based on the analysis of a clinical case, in which students must propose a reasoned intervention grounded in therapeutic relaxation techniques appropriate to the case, including the characterisation of the case, justification of the chosen technique, and a detailed description of its application in a therapeutic context.
The final examination includes a written test on the course content and a practical assessment involving the demonstration of techniques or the response to a simulated situation. All assessment components must be passed (>10 out of 20).
Students must not use artificial intelligence tools to write or produce their assignments, except when explicitly authorised for specific purposes; in such cases, they must clearly indicate the tool used and the purpose of its use.