Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: An Effective approach to treat Trauma
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is one of the somatic therapies through which the physical symptoms of the client are treated. Trauma causes these symptoms. The therapy aims to treat unresolved Trauma considering his physical experiences. This therapy helps to enhance self-awareness and improve mental health.
Basically, the theory can be defined as a body-centred approach and integration of neuroscience and attachment theory to treat Trauma. When Trauma leaves a strong impact and is left untreated, it leads to different physical complications. It is due to a negative effect on the nervous system and mind. The talking therapies help to make sense of our experience; body-centred approaches aim to work deeply. This therapy is used to treat PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Trauma.
History
At the beginning of 1970, Dr Pat Odgen was employed as a Yoga Instructor at a Psychiatric hospital. She observed during her service that patients often felt disconnected from their bodies. They were unable to create a link between their sensory and behavioural system to their body. She also experienced cases in which patients’ past traumas and negative experiences were triggered as therapies were used on them.
She found a connection between physical exercises and mental health. She started to develop Sensorimotor therapy. The therapy was designed by adding somatic therapy with Psychotherapy Techniques. Later on, in 1981, she founded an Institute for therapy.
How Does it Work?
In this therapy, practitioners function systematically, and they address the mental, physical and emotional symptoms of their clients. It helps them to treat the issues they are facing resulting from Trauma. Patients tend to have certain reactions, such as fight-or-flight, and it is when they face a situation which they think is dangerous for them. These reactions are known as biological reactions. The most common reaction in such a situation is to either flee from the situation or fight it.
Another common reaction is when people freeze; this impulse of not running away from danger is due to shame or guilt. The most common example in this regard is Domestic Abuse. Victims of Domestic Abuse blame themselves for all their suffering, and this makes me ashamed. They feel that they deserve the behaviour they are facing. Hence, they do not flee or fight the situation. This behaviour leads to other different physical and psychological symptoms, such as body shaking and tics.
The sessions of this therapy help the client to imagine a clinical setting and work through the Trauma. The sense of closure is developed by encouraging the client to engage in a defensive reaction while going through the Trauma. It is not required to go through all the exact details of the Trauma to gain benefit.
Clients are required to communicate verbally all their emotions and experiences, and it leads to the communication of nonverbal signals. Therapists use their expertise and decode these signals and make the session useful and engaging. Hence, the session is based on simple verbal conversation, but nonverbal cues of the right brain help to make meaningful sessions.
The process of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Therapy is based on the client’s needs and their capacity for dealing with Trauma. Hence, it follows a typical pattern. The process of therapy starts from the moment when the therapist makes the client feel comfortable, and the setting is set to give safe vibes. The environment of the session helps the client to feel free and mindful about his actions and gestures.
It is common to have dysregulated arousal of the client during the therapy due to fear or traumatic feelings, and it may lead to escalation of their emotions. It is considered least helpful to have least or extreme arousal. Moderate arousal is considered to be helpful. Client trust and safety are established during the session in order to achieve successful outcomes. It helps to achieve optimal arousal, is ideal for processing Trauma, and does not lead towards overwhelmed and dissociated feelings.
Therapists try different techniques, such as stimulating the physical aspect of the event. It helps to create the feeling of fleeing or fighting and helps to eliminate the aspect of fear from the client. The client learns to defend themselves with these exercises.
Conditions Commonly Treated
Different psychological conditions can be treated with the help of this therapy, and it helps adults, especially those who have suffered early-life Trauma. Some other conditions that are also successfully treated are
- PTSD
- Abuse
- Relationship issues
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low motivation
- Anger Management
- Behavioural Issue
Benefits
There are several cases which have been successfully treated with the help of this therapy and people experience benefits from this therapy. It has helped them control their emotions, and they are less vulnerable to being triggered by any event. It has been reported to create self-awareness among many people. They know how to pay attention to the signals their body gives them about certain past events.
There are several responses to this theory as the cases vary in the case of each client; hence, overall, there is
- Reduced anxiety
- Less pain
- Improved relationships
- Less body sensations
- Less intrusive smells, sounds and images
- Enhanced ability of emotion regulation
- Great level of self-awareness
- Resilience and power to set boundaries
Effectiveness
People who suffered from Childhood Trauma have been effectively treated with the therapy. Several studies around the world have proved its effectiveness. Women’s College Hospital in Canada conducted a pilot study in 2012, and 10 women were recruited for this study. All these women were victims of childhood trauma. These women attended 20 Weekly therapy sessions, and several surveys were also conducted. The result showed significant improvement in the somatic dissociation of these women.
In 2008, another study was conducted by a psychiatrist from Hertfordshire University in England. The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of body-centred therapy on patients with illnesses like PTSD. It proved that therapy is helpful to treat anxiety, depression and relationship problems.
Book Recommendation
One of the good books on the topic is EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, written by Arielle Schwartz and Barb Maiberger. An integrative model of the therapy has been offered in this book. Part 1 of the book is about the Foundational Concepts of science related to the treatment. In part 2 of the book the eight phases of EMDR have been discussed. The book is an excellent source of information and recommended.
Summary
Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a healthy and helpful approach to dealing with unresolved Trauma. It helps to achieve Self-awareness. This approach has been available since the 1970s, but due to insufficient research, there is limited use in mainstream practice. People must find well trained therapists. In this regard, Seekapsych is the best place to approach. There are several options available, and we are here to help you choose the best therapist.
