Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Trauma Release And PTSD

By Brenda Cooper


When it comes to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also known as PTSD, there are a number of alternative and holistic therapies which can help. In the case of somatic trauma release, the process is somewhat complex. For, the therapy focuses on relieving symptoms of PTSD and other conditions by focusing on the perceived sensations of the body by a client.

Sessions are often provided in person and involve tracking client experiences on an ongoing basis. Most often, practitioners are mental health professionals. Individuals working in this area often include clergy, chaplains, physical therapists, bodyworkers, physicians, nurses, psychotherapists, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers.

Whether a mental health professional or otherwise, individuals often need to complete eighteen hours of consultations and twelve hours of one-on-one sessions after completing a three year training program to work in this area. For, practitioners need to have a clear understanding of different types of trauma and how somatic experiencing can help either on a short or long-term basis.

The practice works to promote awareness while releasing physical tension which remains after a major or minor traumatic event. Pendulation is another aspect of this type of therapy and involves moving between dysregulation and regulation. In general, a client is assisted in moving into an alternate state of mind any time the individual is dysregulated.

It is the return to this regulated state in which somatic experiencing becomes active. For, the practice is defined as anything which can help a client's nervous system return to a regulated state. In order to assist an individual in returning to regulation, resources can include reminding the individual of a beloved pet, relative or friend. For, when the individual can be taken out of the current state of fear and moved to a calmer emotion, the individual can often begin to function within a few minutes.

Clients often go through a series of emotional responses during the reregulation process. In some cases, this can be returning to regular breathing patterns, experiencing a warm sensation throughout the body or tears while the nervous system is returning to a regulated state. The intention of reregulation is to reinforce the inherent ability clients have to self-regulate before moving into a state of dysregulation in the future.

Shock and developmental trauma while similar do share differences. For example, shock trauma often occurs after a single traumatic event such as a physical attack, battlefield incident, earthquake, flood, hurricane or car accident. Whereas, developmental trauma occurs during child development when a child does not have sufficient, or experiences detrimental attention from primary caregivers such as parents and teachers. In addition, there can also be other traumas such as brain injuries or concussions in which the individual may need ongoing therapy in this area.

Two separate and randomized studies of somatic experiencing as a PTSD treatment were completed and published in 2017. The results of both studies suggested positive results as an effective therapy method for PTSD. Whereas, the studies also concluded that in order to understand those whom will benefit most from the treatment, further research studies are the best way to do so.




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