All clients at Hemayat (care center for war and torture survivors) suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and/or depression and anxiety disorders due to physical and psychological violence, war and torture. They often experience negative emotional states, exhaustion and psychosomatic problems such as extreme pain. Sleep and concentration problems also occur more frequently, and the affected persons often lack the ability to be in the here and now due to flashbacks and intrusive memories.

Based on the observations and feedback from the clients assigned to Budotherapy, it was shown that a body-oriented program such as the offer of Kokoro-Do (in addition to psychotherapeutic and psychiatric measures) can lead to clear physical and mental improvements. In this way, chronic pain could be alleviated and painkillers reduced. This is probably due to the physical effects of the training, a more differentiated approach to pain perception and the shift in attention, which put the participant in the here and now and distracted from negative thoughts. Coping experiences and strategies for crisis situations were conveyed and physical limits were recognized. A social bond, which can counteract social isolation, was experienced and at the same time seemed helpful for individual health-promoting processes. In addition, the social contact and the sense of achievement led to positive affects, which had a positive effect on health and motivation.