Somatic experiencing

Somatic experiencing is a form of alternative therapy aimed at relieving the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and physical trauma-related health problems by focusing on the client's perceived body sensations (or somatic experiences). It was developed by trauma therapist Peter A. Levine.[1]

Sessions are normally done in person, and involve a client tracking their own experience.[2]:255–256 Practitioners are often mental health practitioners such as social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists (MFTs) or psychotherapists, but may also be nurses, physicians, bodyworkers, physical therapists, chaplains, clergy, or members of other professions. Certified practitioners complete a three-year training course (216 hours of instruction) and must complete 18 hours of case consultations and 12 hours of personal sessions.[3] Somatic Experiencing is used for shock trauma in the short term and for developmental trauma as an adjunct to psychotherapy that may span years.

Somatic Experiencing attempts to promote awareness and release physical tension that remains in the aftermath of trauma.[2]:43–50[4]:38–40

Methods

Another element of Somatic Experiencing therapy is "pendulation",[2]:255 the movement between regulation and dysregulation. The client is helped to move to a state where he or she is dysregulated (i.e. is aroused or frozen, demonstrated by physical symptoms such as pain or numbness) and then iteratively helped to return to a state of regulation. The goal is to allow the client to resolve the physical and mental difficulties caused by the trauma, and thereby to be able to respond appropriately to everyday situations.[5]

"Resources" are defined as anything that helps the client's autonomic nervous system return to a regulated state. This might be the memory of someone close to them, a physical item that might ground them in the present moment, or other supportive elements that minimize distress. In the face of arousal, "discharge" is facilitated to allow the client's body to return to a regulated state. Discharge may be in the form of tears, a warm sensation, unconscious movement, the ability to breathe easily again, or other responses which demonstrate the autonomic nervous system returning to its baseline. The intention of this process is to reinforce the client's inherent capacity to self-regulate.

Somatic Experiencing is used for both shock trauma and developmental trauma. Shock trauma is loosely defined as a single-episode traumatic event such as a car accident, natural disaster such as an earthquake, battlefield incident, physical attack, etc.[6] Developmental trauma refers to various kinds of psychological damage that occur during child development when a child has insufficient or detrimental attention from the primary caregivers.[2]:99–125[7]

Evidence

Two randomized controlled studies of Somatic Experiencing as a treatment for PTSD were published in 2017 [8][9]. They showed positive results indicating Somatic Experiencing may be an effective therapy method for PTSD and concluded that further research is needed to understand who shall benefit most from this treatment modality.

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See also

References
  1. van der Kolk, Bessel (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin. p. 217. ISBN 9781101608302.
  2. Scaer, Robert C.: The Trauma Spectrum. Hidden Wounds and Human Resiliency. W.W. Norton & Company, N.Y. & London, 2005
  3. Somatic experiencing Australia training, Retrieved 2 April 2018
  4. Scaer, Robert C. (2001). The Body Bears the Burden: Trauma, Dissociation, and Disease. The Haworth Press. p. 275. ISBN 0789033348. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  5. Mary ware Somatic Experiencing, Retrieved 2 April 2018
  6. Gomentor shock trauma, Retrieved 2 April 2018
  7. Weinholds developmental trauma, retrieved 2 April 2018
  8. Brom D, Stokar Y, Lawi C, Nuriel-Porat V, Ziv Y, Lerner K, Ross G (2017). "Somatic Experiencing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Outcome Study". Journal of Traumatic Stress. doi:10.1002/jts.22189. PMC 5518443. PMID 28585761.
  9. Andersen T, Lahav Y, Ellegaard H, Manniche C (2017). "A randomized controlled trial of brief Somatic Experiencing for chronic low back pain and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms". European Journal of Psychotraumatology. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1331108. PMC 5489867. PMID 28680540.
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