Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Developed by Edmund Jacobson as early as the 1920s, progressive relaxation uses the muscular proprioceptive loop as a gateway to the emotional state. Through the successive contraction and release of sixteen muscle groups, it teaches one to perceive and reduce the residual micro-tensions correlated with anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

This therapy is covered in detail (principles, indications, protocol, level of evidence) in Volume 4 of the Mémento des Psychothérapies. See the volume.