Coming back to yourself: how Art Org inspires my work

People often ask me what a “body-oriented” approach actually means. One of the sources that inspires my work is Art Org, a body-oriented approach developed in Brazil, rooted in the work of Wilhelm Reich and organized mainly by Jovino Camargo Junior. In this post, I’d like to share a few of the ideas that resonate with me most, and how they show up in our sessions.

Drifting away and coming back

We all have the ability to step away from ourselves for a moment, from our body and from what’s around us, like when our mind drifts off somewhere, and then come back. This is natural, and even necessary: it’s a way to rest, to breathe, to take a break from the pressures of everyday life.

Difficulties tend to arise when this back-and-forth loses its rhythm. We may drift away in a disconnected way, come back abruptly, or feel stuck in a daily routine so demanding that there’s no room left to breathe. This can show up as fatigue, a sense of emptiness, burnout, difficulty feeling at home in your own body, or being very hard on yourself. The goal isn’t to stop drifting away, but to learn how to step back and return without losing touch with yourself.

Your relationship with yourself as a starting point

From the Art Org perspective, many of our struggles with the world are connected to how we relate to ourselves: the expectations, the pressure, the feeling of always falling short. That’s why the focus isn’t on interpreting your experience, but on how you feel and perceive yourself, and the space around you.

A central idea is learning to keep yourself company: being present with yourself, noticing what’s happening as it happens, with curiosity and kindness. Over time, your relationship with yourself can become less of a battleground and more of a friendship.

Sensing the whole, listening to silence

Arte Org places a lot of importance on perception. Sometimes, rather than zooming in on a detail or a problem, it helps to widen your attention to the space as a whole: the room, the sounds, even the silence beneath them. This broader way of perceiving often brings a sense of calm and presence that doesn’t depend on “thinking things through” better.

Our sessions are centred on conversation. At times, I may invite you to notice your breathing, your posture, your sensations or an impulse to move. These invitations are always optional and adapted to your comfort and pace, and there is no physical touch.

Respecting your pace

One Art Org principle that guides much of my work is not pushing for depth. When you’re going through a difficult time, the first step is often to find some grounding, calm and connection with yourself, rather than diving into everything that hurts all at once. The process is gradual, it has ups and downs, and that’s part of the path.

Your autonomy at the centre

It isn’t my role to decide who you should be or how you should live. My commitment is to you and to your relationship with yourself: helping you reconnect with your ability to feel, to perceive and to keep yourself company, so you can find your own answers.

My work is relational support with a body-oriented approach (not psychotherapy). It does not replace care from a psychologist, psychotherapist or physician, and it can be a meaningful complement to it.

If you’d like to learn more, feel free to book a free 15-minute introductory call.

By Juliana Camargo