RECiPROsody: A Study Protocol for Investigating Movement and Prosodic Synchrony as Embodied Markers of Relational Attunement in Gestalt Psychotherapy

Nonverbal synchrony supports therapeutic alliance, yet its role in Gestalt psychotherapy remains underexplored. This manuscript presents the RECiPROsody study protocol, designed to investigate how multimodal interpersonal synchrony between therapists and clients relates to embodied attunement and therapeutic outcomes. The study employs a prospective, observational design involving 30 therapist–client dyads undergoing Gestalt therapy. Video/audio recordings of the first three sessions and three additional sessions after 6 months will capture interactional patterns. Synchrony will be assessed across upper-limb movements (via inertial sensors), vocal prosody, and physiological signals (e.g., heart rate variability), alongside self-report questionnaires completed by both clients and therapists. We hypothesize that higher levels of synchrony will relate to stronger therapeutic alliance and improved client well-being. Currently in the recruitment phase, the protocol outlines methodology, data collection procedures, and a statistical analysis plan to ensure replicability. Findings may deepen understanding of embodied processes and inform clinical training and practice in Gestalt psychotherapy.