Institute for Eurythmy Therapy at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences

Research Institutions

Institute for Eurythmy Therapy at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences

The tasks of the Institute for Eurythmy Therapy lie in the organization and development of teaching and research for eurythmy therapy at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.

Eurythmy therapy / therapeutic eurythmy is a self-activating movement therapy that is among the most important treatment methods in anthroposophic medicine, which complements conventional medicine. Its modern holistic view of the relationship between the human body, soul, and spirit, as well as the close collaboration between physicians and eurythmy therapists, form the foundation of the therapy. In 2023, the WHO published the training standards for Anthroposophic Medicine for the first time; these had been commissioned and evaluated by the Medical Section at the Goetheanum (WHO Benchmarks for training in Anthroposophic Medicine). Within this framework, eurythmy therapy is explicitly mentioned and described.

The Institute links teaching and research worldwide in a genuinely integrated way, exclusively for eurythmy therapy. It collaborates with the Research Institute for Artistic Therapies, RIArT, and many other cooperation partners.

The close integration and intensive collaboration between teaching and research at the Institute enable students in the Master’s in Eurythmy Therapy to gain an overview of current research topics and contribute to projects. For research, the academic work of graduates provides continuous inspiration for the further development of research approaches and research projects.

Together, we want to lead eurythmy therapy into the future and advance its recognition in medicine and society!

Institute for Eurythmy Therapy at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences

Teaching

Research

The Institute for Eurythmy Therapy is embedded at Alanus University within the Department of Artistic Therapies. Worldwide, it is connected with clinics and research institutes that give special attention to eurythmy therapy in the field of artistic therapies. Particularly noteworthy are the Havelhöhe Research Institute in Berlin, the Institute for Integrative Medicine at Witten/Herdecke University, the Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine at the University of Bern, and the Research Council of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum. Cooperation with the international professional associations is especially important for the work, as their members advance the projects through their work, from which several significant publications have already emerged.

Research is intended to provide foundational work and develop basic principles in order to identify and articulate the original and distinctive features of eurythmy therapy, so that it can be increasingly implemented in society and therapeutic practice. Research is oriented, on the one hand, toward the practical needs of eurythmy therapy and, on the other hand, toward the social and therapeutic environment. The research questions are developed in a working context together with the cooperation partners. In addition to developing project ideas, focus projects should be selected in such a way that they can be advanced cost-effectively and sustainably.

Focus projects:

The case vignette in eurythmy therapy (FAVI-EYT) with the following subprojects:
- COVID-19 rehabilitation with eurythmy therapy: developing treatment options with eurythmy therapy for long COVID
- Multicenter “field study” on the effect of eurythmy therapy in mild depression (ICD10/32.0) in private practices/centers
- Treatment of psychotherapeutic issues with eurythmy therapy
- Master’s and bachelor’s theses as case vignettes
Vademecum therapeutic eurythmy
Eurythmy therapy in schools – design of an evaluation of eurythmy therapy at Waldorf schools
Literature review of eurythmy therapy

Continuing Education and Symposia

Members

Cooperations and Memberships

Publications

Gerlach K, Improvement od spinocerebellar ataxia 3 symptoms treated with Eurythmy Therapy – A case vignette. Complementary Medicine Research. 2023. DOI: 10.1159/000532120
Langmair H, Gerlach K. Eurythmy therapy in a child with ADHD – A case description. Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2023;76(2):108-115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21615-DE
Mehl, A., von Laue, B., Trapp B., Gerlach K., Reif, M. , Pretzer, K. ,.Zerm, R.Berger B. , Gutenbrunner, C., Kröz, M. The Anthroposophic Art Therapy Assessment for Eurythmy Therapy Move (AART-ASSESS-EuMove. A Validation Study, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102957.
Mehl, A., von Laue, B., Trapp B., Gerlach K., Reif, M. , Pretzer, K. ,.Zerm, R.Berger B. , Gutenbrunner, C., Kröz, M. Approaching artistic expression through the therapist’s eye and patient’s self-reported inner correspondence. A conceptual framework to evaluate and better understand the impact of anthroposophic painting- and eurythmy therapy on clinical outcome, Poster WCIMH, Rome 2023
Gerlach, K, Strengthening and healing elements in eurythmy therapy, Newsletter of the Section for the Performing Arts at the Goetheanum, Dornach, 2023
Gerlach K, Mehl, Annette.^b,Trapp Barbara.^d, Pretzer, Kim. ^e, Kröz, Matthias.^b,f,gvon Laue, Hans-Broder^.c, Revision of a validated peer-report questionnaire to assess assessment of Eurythmy Therapy: AART-ASSESS EuMove 3.0: An expert consensus process, Poster, International Research Congress Dornach 2023
Gerlach K, Weißkircher A, Eurythmy therapy in schools – Design of an evaluation of eurythmy therapy at Waldorf schools, Abstracts of the posters of the annual conference of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum, 15–18 Sept. 2022, Dornach (Part 2). Der Merkurstab 2023;76(2):119-123, DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21617-DE.
Gerlach, K, Eurythmy Therapy Movement Meditations: acitivity and mindfulness mitigate COVID-19 symptoms – an expert consultation, Abstracts der Poster der Jahreskonferenz der Medizinischen Sektion am Goetheanum, 15.–18.9.2022, Dornach (Teil 2). Der Merkurstab 2023;76(2):119-123, DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21617-DE.
Reduction of psychotropic and analgesic medication using Eurythmy Therapeutic vowel A for a patient with multimorbidity – a case vignette
Reduction of psychotropic drugs and analgesics through the eurythmy therapeutic vowel A in a patient with multimorbidity – a case vignette
Therapeutic Eurythmy Treatment for Scoliosis, Kyphosis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica in a 77-year-old woman– a case vignette
Eurythmy therapy for scoliosis, kyphosis and polymyalgia rheumatica in a 77-year-old woman – a case vignette
Scoliosis which Responded to Therapeutic Eurythmy in a 11-year-old girl: A Case Vignette
Scoliosis that responded to eurythmy therapy in an 11-year-old girl: a case vignette
Szöke H, Sommer M, Streit E, Grah C, Winkler M, Busche P, Pöchtrager S, Mergelsberg J, Wullschleger C, Gerlach K, Heine R, Fitger R, Matthes H, Soldner G. Long COVID from the perspective of Anthroposophic Medicine – Symptoms and treatment options. Recommendations of an international expert commission for medical professionals. Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2022;75(1):12-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21451-DE
Gerlach K, Treatment with Eurythmy Therapy after COVID-19 Disease – An Expert Consultation in Abstracts der Poster der Jahreskonferenz der Medizinischen Sektion am Goetheanum, 17.–19.9.2021, Dornach (Teil 1). Der Merkurstab. Zeitschrift für Anthroposophische Medizin 2022;75(1):56-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21458-DE
Gerlach K, Development of a guideline for case vignettes in eurythmy therapy CAVI-EYT – an expert consultation process in Abstracts der Poster der Jahreskonferenz der Medizinischen Sektion am Goetheanum, 17.–19.9.2021, Dornach (Teil 1). Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2022;75(1):56-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21458-DE
Gerlach K, Patient Reported Effects of self-help Eurythmy Therapy managing Covid-19-Illness – A Case-Vignette, Journal of complementary Medicine Research 2022, DOI: 10.5455/jcmr.2022.13.01.22
Stadler I, Gerlach K, Veit V, Krüger M. Treatment of Crohn’s disease with eurythmy therapy – a case vignette; Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2021;74(6):490-495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21427-DE
Gerlach K. Guideline for case vignettes in eurythmy therapy; Der Merkurstab 2021;74(3):284. Article ID: DMS-21367-DE; DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21367-DE
Gerlach K. Stress caused by post-herpetic neuralgia with irritable bladder and eyelid twitching treated with eurythmy therapy – a case vignette. Der Merkurstab 2021;74(2):163-166. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21336-DE
Gerlach K. Process orientation in therapeutic eurythmy – Case study on the treatment of driving anxiety. Der Merkurstab 2021;74(1):54-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21309-DE
Gerlach K, Baars E. Documentation in therapeutic eurythmy: structures, questionnaires, measuring instruments. Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2020;73(2):77-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21202-DE
Gerlach K. Color Movement Meditation in cardiac arrhythmias associated with sleep disorders and anxiety: A 70-year-old female treated with Eurythmy Therapy
Conference: Annual Conference of Medical Section. September 2020. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29336.62726
Katharina Gerlach, Daniela Rodrigues Recchia and Arndt Büssing. 2019. Development of a documentation instrument for movement-orientated Mind-Body-Therapies taking the example of Eurythmy-Therapy. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. CTIM_2019_124
Gerlach, K (2021) Veit V, Walter S, Weißkircher A. Treatment of mild depression and psychosomatic irritable bowel syndrome with mindfulness-oriented eurythmy therapy – A case vignette. Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2021;74(4):355-359. DOI: ttps://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21386-DE
Gerlach K, Büssing A, Baars E, Weisskircher A. Assessment in movement-orientated mind-body therapies taking the example of Eurythmy Therapy. Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2020;73(2):119-135. https://www.anthromedics.org/DMS-21208-DE
Katharina Gerlach, Arndt Büssing, Erik Baars and Annette Weisskircher. 2019. Documentation in movement-orientated mind-body-therapies taking the example of Eurythmy-therapy. Poster. Movement (Brain-Body-Cognition) International Conference, Tel Aviv, Israel. TLV-2019—Abstract 509 revised and final.
Katharina Gerlach and Urs Pohlman. 2019. Migraine treatment with eurythmy therapy. Workshop. Movement (Brain-Body-Cognition) International Conference, Tel Aviv, Israel. TLV-2019-W-D-Abstract 565 revised and final.
Gerlach K, Edelhäuser F. Therapeutic eurythmy and body-oriented meditations in neurological diseases. Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2019;72(6):416-427. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21161-DE
Katharina Gerlach. 2018. Perceiving and treating – intention and effectiveness – Documentation and results in eurythmy therapy. Lecture. Symposium on Eurythmy Therapy – Experience of Clinical Studies – Practice and Theory, Alfter.
Katharina Gerlach, Arndt Büssing, Erik Baars and Annette Weisskircher. 2018. Documentation Structure for Eurythmy Therapy (EYT) Treatment in Everyday Practice. Poster. Conference of the School of Spiritual Science in the anthroposophic medical movement, Dornach. https://www.anthromedics.org/DMS-20924-DE
Katharina Gerlach and Urs Pohlman. 2018. Effectiveness of eurythmy therapy in migraine. Conference of the School of Spiritual Science in the anthroposophic medical movement, Dornach. https://www.anthromedics.org/DMS-20924-DE
Gerlach K, Pohlman U. Subsiding migraine symptoms after eurythmy therapy. Der Merkurstab. Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine 2017;70(4):312-317. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-20821-DE
Katharina Gerlach.2015. Treatment approaches in eurythmy therapy for migraine. Master’s thesis. Alanus University, Alfter.
Warning, Albrecht, Weißkircher, Annette (eds.). Research Paths in Eurythmy Therapy, Cultural Studies Contributions of Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, Frankfurt (M.) 2012.
Kingeter, Norman, Schapink, Rob. Rudolf Steiner’s indications on therapeutic eurythmy, an archival research project commissioned by the Institute for Eurythmy Therapy, Alanus University; Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Basel, 2023.
Petra Ehrler, Albrecht Warning, Kristian Schneider, Eduard, Helmut, Sibylle Stiller, Jan Vagedes, Annette Weisskircher. The effectiveness of the therapeutic eurythmy therapy sound sequence TSRMA in allergic rhinopathy – A qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Der Merkurstab. Journal of anthroposophic medicine 2021; 74 (1): 37- 44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-21307-DE
Tapfer, Barbara, Weisskircher, Annette. Eurythmy Therapy – A Practice Book, Futurum, Verlag, Basel, 2016.