Psychomotricity
Stuttering, tics, behavioural problems... Some psychological problems are expressed in the body. Through relaxation techniques, gestural learning, body language and artistic expression, as well as games and rhythm and coordination activities, psychomotor therapists aim to correct these fundamentally psychological problems that some adults and a considerable number of children may encounter. This is normally carried out at the hospital but it can also be seen in private practices.
Training: is undertaken 3 years after obtaining the French high school diploma, in one of the training schools approved by the Ministry of Health (Lyon 1, Bordeaux 2 or Toulouse).
Presentation of psychomotricity studies
Psychomotor therapists are health professionals that design, develop and carry out measures relating to psychomotricity education, prevention, health education, rehabilitation, recovery and psychocorporal therapy. They help with patients’ psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration.
They work with patients in a somato-psychic unit and when they are interacting with the environment around them. They base their intervention on movement, action, verbal and non-verbal communication, emotions and images, including body experience, space and time, and on tuning into their mind and body. They support patients in being able to perceive, act, be and express themselves.
Psychomotor therapists work with patients with developmental disorders, difficulties with instrumental skills, somatic and/or psychological conditions and those with disabilities. They evaluate and treat patients’ psychomotricity and psychomotor developmental disorders. They work with patients of all ages.
Psychomotor therapists choose and implement techniques or mediatory measures such as:
- mindfulness of the body
- body expression
- therapeutic relaxation
- acting and playing
- techniques based on sport
- therapeutic touch and wrapping techniques
The practice is regulated by Article L.4332-1 et seq. of the Public Health Code and respects the scope for when other regulated professions should intervene.
Psychomotricity studies, regulations
Training: is undertaken 3 years after obtaining the French high school diploma, in one of the training schools approved by the Ministry of Health .
Psychomotricity studies
Psychomotor therapist’s decree of competence:
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF 6 JULY 1990 MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
DECREE on carrying out certain psychomotor rehabilitation measures
THE PRIME MINISTER, ON the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment report, – HAVING REGARD TO the Public Health Code, in particular Article L. 372, – HAVING REGARD TO Decree no. 74-112 of 15 February 1974, amended in particular by Decree no. 85-188 of 7 February 1985 creating the National Diploma of Psychomotricity, – HAVING REGARD TO the opinion of the National Academy of Medicine, The State Council (social section) heeded,
DECREE:
ARTICLE 1:
Provided that the patient has been referred by the doctor and has had a neuropsychological examination, health professionals that meet the conditions outlined in Articles 2 and 3 below shall be entitled to carry out the following:
1) Psychomotricity checkup
2) Early education and psychomotor stimulation
3) Rehabilitation for the following psychomotor developmental disorders or psychomotor disorders by using techniques involving dynamic relaxation, gestural learning, body language or artistic expression, as well as activities involving games and rhythm and balance and coordination: – late psychomotor development, – maturity and tonic regulation disorders, – body image disorders, – laterality disorders, – disorders related to processing space and time, – psychomotor disharmony, – tonico-emotional disorders, – motor and gestural clumsiness, dyspraxia, – motor weakness, – psychomotor inhibition, – psychomotor instability, – graphomotor disorders, excluding writing rehabilitation.
4) Using body approach techniques, to treat intellectual disabilities, personality or character disorders, troubles with managing emotions and relationships and body image disorders with a psychological or physical root.
ARTICLE 2:
People with a national diploma in psychomotricology may provide the professional services listed in Article 1.
ARTICLE 3:
The professional services listed in Article 1 may also be carried out by people who work as psychomotor therapists as their main job and, in accordance with the conditions outlined in Article 1, who had been psychomotor therapists for at least three years in the ten years preceding this Decree’s publication date and who passed the relevant tests within three years following the publication of this decree. The organisational arrangements, the content of these tests and the members of the selection board are outlined by decree issued by the Minister of Health after consulting the Haut conseil des professions paramédicales [High Council of Paramedical Professions].
ARTICLE 4:
The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and the Deputy Minister to the Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, who is responsible for health and family, shall each be responsible for implementing this Decree, which will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
Paris on 28 April 1988
BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EMPLOYMENT AND THE DEPUTY MINISTER TO THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EMPLOYMENT, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH.
Psychomotricity exams
For each Module, the student must score at least 8 out of 20 points. The candidate must have an average of at least 10 out of 20 across all modules to be able to achieve the National Diploma.
| 1st Year | |
| Module 1 : Public health, medical conditions and education |
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| Module 2 : Anatomy and Neuroanatomy |
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| Module 3 : Neuromuscular physiology and neuro-physiopathology concepts |
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| Module 4 : Neurophysiology |
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| Module 5 : Child and adolescent psychiatry |
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| Module 6 : Psychomotricity |
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| Module 7 : Practical |
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| 2nd Year |
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| Module 1 : Functional anatomy |
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| Module 2 : Neuropaediatrics |
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| Module 3 : Psychology |
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| Module 4 : Adult Psychiatry |
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| Module 5 : Psychomotricity |
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| Module 6 : Clinical theory |
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| Module 7 : Practical |
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| 3rd Year | |
| Module 1 : Theory |
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| Module 2 : Theory-hospital |
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| Module 3 : Practical |
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Intervention locations
Psychomotor therapists work in different types of institutions: public or private hospitals and childcare, paediatrics, psychiatry, neurology and geriatrics facilities. They also work in rehabilitation and recovery centres for adults and children, day hospitals, work-based support centres, psychology medical centres and educational psychology medical centres.
When working in the private sector, psychomotor therapists generally work with GPs, paediatricians, psychiatrists, speech therapists, psychologists and teachers who work in the same field.
There is currently no national agreement for care being covered by Social Security but local agreements may exist, including with some mutual insurance companies.
Partnerships and networking
Psychomotor therapists can intervene when care is centred around a multidisciplinary and coordinated approach: whatever condition the patient may have, the psychomotor therapist is personally responsible for monitoring their therapeutic relationship with the patient.
Intervention from psychomotor therapists are subject to professional confidentiality and to the shared secret regulations. While carrying out their work, only the conclusions of evaluations at the beginning, during or at the end of the course of treatment may be sent to other professionals.
Other areas where the psychomotor therapist can intervene.
The psychomotor therapist can be involved in various measures in the following sectors of activity:
- initial training and supervising students on placement
- further training
- contributing to training other professionals
- working together with other professional sectors besides health, including educational, social and rehabilitation sectors on intervention measures
- developing scientific research in the medical, psychological, social and educational fields
- consulting and advising administrative and community authorities.
From the start of the 2020 academic year, access to psychomotor studies will be carried out via parcoursup. Students will not be required to pass a competition. More information : http://parcoursup.fr
Contact
Pedagogy, internships
Education Director
Ms Anne GATECEL
anne.gatecel@sorbonne-universite.fr
Teaching secretary
Ms Lamia BEN SAID
lamia.ben_said@sorbonne-universite.fr
Ms. Iris Coutellier
iris.coutellier2@sorbonne-universite.fr
Tel: 01 44 27 93 25 / 01 44 27 93 37
50-52, Bd Vincent Auriol
Stomatology Building - Avenue de l'Hôpital Général
Rez-de-Jardin - Porte 10
75 013 PARIS
medecine-dfs-psychomotricite@sorbonne-universite.fr
Open to the public :
Monday and Thursday: 9:30am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm
Tuesday and Friday: 9:30am - 12pm
Wednesday: closed
Schooling - registration
Mrs Astrig Menzildjian
astrig.menzildjian@sorbonne-universite.fr
Tel: 01 44 27 93 24
50-52, Bd Vincent Auriol
Stomatology Building - Avenue de l'Hôpital Général
Rez-de-Jardin - Porte 11
75 013 PARIS
Open to the public :
Monday and Thursday: 9:30am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm
Tuesday and Friday: 9:30am - 12pm
Wednesday: closed