Colombia graduates the first BBAT Physiotherapists after completing a training full in Spanish

Colombia, August 2023

In a pioneering achievement for the field of physiotherapy in mental health, Colombia has graduated its first cohort of physiotherapists specialized in Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) in Spanish. The milestone was reached in 2023 through the Colombian School of Rehabilitation (Escuela Colombiana de Rehabilitación, ECR), which launched this innovative program in 2021.

The two-year program provided students with a comprehensive mix of clinical practice, theoretical sessions, and master classes delivered by a team of international teachers. This robust curriculum enabled the graduates to develop the clinical competence necessary to become BBAT practitioners, marking a significant step forward in expanding access to this specialized therapy in Spanish-speaking countries.

BBAT is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes movement quality to improve body awareness, balance, and coordination. It focuses on promoting physical and mental health by addressing the interplay between bodily movement, mental processes, and emotional well-being. BBAT is particularly relevant for physiotherapists working in mental health, as well as for treating chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, and other conditions where stress and movement patterns play a critical role in recovery.

The program's success highlights the growing recognition of BBAT as an essential tool in physiotherapy. Its introduction in Colombia and Latin-America offers physiotherapists a new way to address complex health issues, blending evidence-based practice with a patient-centered approach.

This first cohort of BBAT graduates represents a promising shift toward integrating mental health into physiotherapy in Latin America. Their training equips them not only to serve patients more effectively but also to advocate for a broader understanding of health and rehabilitation in the region. With this foundation, the ECR is poised to lead the expansion of BBAT education, paving the way for future cohorts to continue this transformative work.

The new BBAT physiotherapists, who graduated in 2023 from the Colombian School of Rehabilitation, are listed below in alphabetical order by first surname:

1. ACERO HUERTAS ADRIANA DEL PILAR

2. ARIAS PEREZ ANA MARIA

3. CALENTURA DIANA

4. CARRASCAL JACOME GLORIA

5. CORREA RESTREPO MARGARITA LUCIA

6. FANDIÑO RUIZ PIERANGELY CONSUELO

7. GONZALEZ BARRERA PAULA ANDREA

8. GUARIN ESPINOSA CLAUDIA LILIANA

9. HINCAPIE GARAVIÑO SANDRA MILENA

10. MAYA HIJUELOS LILIANA

11. MARTHEYN CEPEDA MAYRA LOURDES

12. MEDELLIN ROJAS GABRIELA

13. MORALES SIERRA ANDREA MILENA

14. RAMIREZ URIBE ANA PATRICIA

15. ROMERO CARRILLO ZULEIMA

16. SUAREZ GONZALEZ INGRID VANESSA

Congratulations to the BBAM group of students in 2021-2023 for their dedication to physiotherapy in mental health!

More information about the BBAT postgraduate program for physiotherapists in Spanish here

First cohort of physiotherapists specialized in Basic Body Awareness Therapy

BBAT is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes movement quality to improve body awareness, balance,

A new way to address complex health issues, blending evidence-based practice with a patient-centered