Authors & Year:

van der Kolk, B. A. (2002)

Abstract:

Although knowledge of the elements of the way trauma affects the mind and body is more than a century old, that body of knowledge has been gradually refined. Trauma is not primarily imprinted on people’s consciousness but instead becomes deeply embedded in people’s sensate experiences. Talking and insight may help people regain a sense of mastery, but they are unlikely to change people’s sensate experiences that form the engines of continuous traumatic reliving. The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as a therapy is relevant for the exploration of the basic underlying mechanisms of posttraumatic stress, such as how trauma affects subcortical processes of emotion regulation, arousal modulation, threat information, and memory processes. It promises to shed light on how the mind comes to integrate experience in a way that prepares it for future threats while distinguishing between what belongs in the present and what belongs in the past. Only careful observations, controlled experimentation, and their integration with the knowledge base of multiple other disciplines will allow us to fully appreciate the richness of this new method of psychotherapy that shows such promise to help people move beyond the tyranny of their traumatic histories.

Citation:

van der Kolk, B. A. (2002). Beyond the talking cure: Somatic experience and subcortical imprints in the treatment of trauma. In F. Shapiro (Ed.), EMDR as an integrative psychotherapy approach: Experts of diverse orientations explore the paradigm prism (pp. 57–83). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10512-003

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Authors & Year:

Solomon, Eldra P. ; Heide, Kathleen M. (2005)

Abstract:

During the past 20 years, the development of brain imaging techniques and new biochemical approaches has led to increased understanding of the biological effects of psychological trauma. New hypotheses have been generated about brain development and the roots of antisocial behavior. We now understand that psychological trauma disrupts homeostasis and can cause both short and long-term effects on many organs and systems of the body. Our expanding knowledge of the effects of trauma on the body has inspired new approaches to treating trauma survivors. Biologically informed therapy addresses the physiological effects of trauma, as well as cognitive distortions and maladaptive behaviors. The authors suggest that the most effective therapeutic innovation during the past 20 years for treating trauma survivors has been Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapeutic approach that focuses on resolving trauma using a combination of top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (affect/body) processing.

Citation:

Solomon, E. P., & Heide, K. M. (2005). The Biology of Trauma: Implications for Treatment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(1), 51–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260504268119

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Authors & Year:

vanderKolk, BA ; Pelcovitz, D ; Roth, S ; Mandel, FS ; McFarlane, A ; Herman, JL (1996)

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: A century of clinical research has noted a range of trauma- related psychological problems that are not captured in the DSM-IV framework of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study investigated the relationships between exposure to extreme stress, the emergence of PTSD, and symptoms traditionally associated with “hysteria,” which can be understood as problems with stimulus discrimination, self-regulation, and cognitive integration of experience. METHOD: The DSM-IV field trial for PTSD studied 395 traumatized treatment-seeking subjects and 125 non-treatment-seeking subjects who had also been exposed to traumatic experiences. Data on age at onset, the nature of the trauma, PTSD, dissociation, somatization, and affect dysregulation were collected. RESULTS: PTSD, dissociation, somatization, and affect dysregulation were highly interrelated. The subjects meeting the criteria for lifetime (but not current) PTSD scored significantly lower on these disorders than those with current PTSD, but significantly higher than those who never had PTSD. Subjects who developed PTSD after interpersonal trauma as adults had significantly fewer symptoms than those with childhood trauma, but significantly more than victims of disasters. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD, dissociation, somatization, and affect dysregulation represent a spectrum of adaptations to trauma. They often occur together, but traumatized individuals may suffer from various combinations of symptoms over time. In treating these patients, it is critical to attend to the relative contributions of loss of stimulus discrimination, self-regulation, and cognitive integration of experience to overall impairment and provide systematic treatment that addresses both unbidden intrusive recollections and these other symptoms associated with having been overwhelmed by exposure to traumatic experiences.

Citation:

vanderKolk, B., Pelcovitz, D., Roth, S., Mandel, F., McFarlane, A., & Herman, J. (1996). Dissociation, somatization, and affect dysregulation: the complexity of adaptation of trauma. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 153(7), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.153.7.83

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Authors & Year:

Margaret Wilkinson (2017)

Abstract:

The paper explores an interdisciplinary whole person approach to healing from trauma that conserves our rich inheritance from Jung but also takes on board insights from research in the areas of attachment, trauma and the neurobiology of emotion. It is now over 20 years since insights from neurobiology began to be used to inform clinical practice. The paper reviews key insights which have emerged, along with the ways they enable therapists to help mind, brain and body to heal and the ways in which they clarify why, in clinical practice, we do what we do.

Traditionally the emphasis has been on words, interpretations, and meaning-making.

Currently there is greater appreciation of the affective, relational, embodied aspects of therapeutic work and the way in which these relate to traumatic early interactive experience that is held outside of human awareness. The ways in which knowledge of particular systems of connectivity inform understanding of the whole mind-brain-body relationship are examined. The way forward for clinical practice to become more focused in order to help clients to heal in mind and body is reviewed.

Citation:

Wilkinson, M. (2017). Mind, Brain and Body. Healing Trauma: The Way Forward. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 62(4), 526–543. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5922.12335

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Authors & Year:

Levine, Peter A. ; Blakeslee, Abi ; Sylvae, Joshua (2018)

Abstract:

This paper, solicited for discussion in response to Levit’s interweaving of psychoanalytic theory with Somatic Experiencing ® (SE™), was written by the founder of SE and two SE instructors. Building on the work of Levine (1976, 1997, 2010, 2015, 2018), the authors elucidate the theory and application of SE, highlighting the importance of attending to neurobiological and physiological processes in healing trauma. Interoception, or the conscious awareness of one’s own bodily sensations, is outlined, with an emphasis on the relationship between interoception, empathy, and physiological regulation. Core physiological regulators (like the autonomic nervous system) are detailed, with suggestions for tracking autonomic shifts and supporting completion of survival and defensive responses (social engagement, fight, flight and freeze) in therapeutic encounters (Levine, 2018; Porges, 2001). The functional purpose of dissociation and traumatic memory is reviewed (Levine, 2015). Clinical applications for resolving traumatic implicit, or nonconscious memories, are explored. Finally, the authors conclude the paper by affirming the utility of integrating SE into psychoanalytic approaches to therapy.

Citation:

Levine, P. A., Blakeslee, A., & Sylvae, J. (2018). Reintegrating Fragmentation of the Primitive Self: Discussion of “Somatic Experiencing.” Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 28(5), 620–628. https://doi.org/10.1080/10481885.2018.1506216

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Authors & Year:

Payne, Peter ; Levine, Peter A. ; Crane-Godreau, Mardi A. (2015)

Abstract:

Here we present a theory of human trauma and chronic stress, based on the practice of Somatic Experiencing® (SE), a form of trauma therapy that emphasizes guiding the client’s attention to interoceptive, kinesthetic, and proprioceptive experience. SE™ claims that this style of inner attention, in addition to the use of kinesthetic and interoceptive imagery, can lead to the resolution of symptoms resulting from chronic and traumatic stress. This is accomplished through the completion of thwarted, biologically based, self-protective and defensive responses, and the discharge and regulation of excess autonomic arousal. We present this theory through a composite case study of SE treatment; based on this example, we offer a possible neurophysiological rationale for the mechanisms involved, including a theory of trauma and chronic stress as a functional dysregulation of the complex dynamical system formed by the subcortical autonomic, limbic, motor and arousal systems, which we term the core response network (CRN). We demonstrate how the methods of SE help restore functionality to the CRN, and we emphasize the importance of taking into account the instinctive, bodily based protective reactions when dealing with stress and trauma, as well as the effectiveness of using attention to interoceptive, proprioceptive and kinesthetic sensation as a therapeutic tool. Finally, we point out that SE and similar somatic approaches offer a supplement to cognitive and exposure therapies, and that mechanisms similar to those discussed in the paper may also be involved in the benefits of meditation and other somatic practices.

Citation:

Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93–93. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00093

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Authors & Year:

Marie Kuhfuß,, Tobias Maldei, Andreas Hetmanek, Nicola Baumann (2021)

Abstract:

The body-oriented therapeutic approach Somatic Experiencing® (SE) treats post-traumatic symptoms by changing the interoceptive and proprioceptive sensations associated with the traumatic experience. Filling a gap in the landscape of trauma treatments, SE has attracted growing interest in research and therapeutic practice, recently. Objective: To date, there is no literature review of the effectiveness and key factors of SE. This review aims to summarize initial findings on the effectiveness of SE and to outline method-specific key factors of SE. Method: To gain a first overview of the literature, we conducted a scoping review including studies until 13 August 2020. We identified 83 articles of which 16 fit inclusion criteria and were systematically analysed. Results: Findings provide preliminary evidence for positive effects of SE on PTSD-related symptoms. Moreover, initial evidence suggests that SE has a positive impact on affective and somatic symptoms and measures of well-being in both traumatized and non-traumatized samples. Practitioners and clients identified resource-orientation and use of touch as method-specific key factors of SE. Yet, an overall studies quality assessment as well as a Cochrane analysis of risk of bias indicate that the overall study quality is mixed. Conclusions: The results concerning effectiveness and method-specific key factors of SE are promising; yet, require more support from unbiased RCT-research. Future research should focus on filling this gap. This is to our knowledge the first literature review of the effectiveness and key factors of Somatic Experiencing (SE). Results provide preliminary evidence that SE is an effective treatment of PSTD related symptoms and may be also usefull in the treatment of other disorders.

Citation:

Kuhfuß, M., Maldei, T., Hetmanek, A., & Baumann, N. (2021). Somatic experiencing – effectiveness and key factors of a body-oriented trauma therapy: a scoping literature review. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1929023–1929023. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1929023

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Authors & Year:

Brom, Danny ; Stokar, Yaffa ; Lawi, Cathy ; Nuriel‐Porat, Vered ; Ziv, Yuval ; Lerner, Karen ; Ross, Gina (2017)

Abstract:

This study presents the first known randomized controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of somatic experiencing (SE), an integrative body‐focused therapy for treating people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There were 63 participants meeting DSM‐IV‐TR full criteria for PTSD included. Baseline clinical interviews and self‐report measures were completed by all participants, who were then randomly assigned to study (n = 33) or waitlist (n = 30) groups. Study participants began 15 weekly SE sessions, whereas waitlist participants waited the same period, after which the second evaluation was conducted. All participants were evaluated a third time after an additional 15 weeks, during which time the waitlist group received SE therapy. Pretreatment evaluation showed no significant differences between groups. Mixed model linear regression analysis showed significant intervention effects for posttraumatic symptoms severity (Cohen’s d = 0.94 to 1.26) and depression (Cohen’s d = 0.7 to 1.08) both pre‐post and pre‐follow‐up. This randomized controlled study of SE shows positive results indicating SE may be an effective therapy method for PTSD. Further research is needed to understand who shall benefit most from this treatment modality.

Citation:

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, 30(3), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22189

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Authors & Year:

Andersen, Tonny Elmose, Lahav, Yael, Ellegaard, Hanne, Manniche, Claus (2017)

Abstract:

It is well documented that comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in chronic pain is associated with a more severe symptom profile with respect to pain, disability and psychological distress. However, very few intervention studies exist targeting both PTSD and pain. The current study is the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the body-oriented trauma approach of Somatic Experiencing (SE) for comorbid PTSD and low back pain. Although the method is well recognized by clinicians and widely used, SE still needs to be tested in a randomized clinical trial in comparison with an active control group. Objective: The aim of the current study was to compare the effect of an SE intervention in addition to treatment-as-usual (TAU) for patients with chronic low back pain and comorbid PTSD compared to TAU alone. Method: The study was a two-group randomized controlled clinical trial. A cohort of patients (n = 1045) referred to a large Danish spine centre between February 2013 and October 2014 were screened for PTSD and randomized to either TAU (4-12 sessions of supervised exercises for low back pain) or TAU plus SE (6-12 sessions). In total, 91 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and volunteered to participate in the study. Treatment effects were evaluated by self-report questionnaires comparing baseline measures with 12-month follow-up measures. Results: The additional SE intervention significantly reduced the number of PTSD symptoms compared with TAU alone, corresponding to a large effect size. Also, fear of movement was significantly reduced (moderate effect size). Both groups achieved a large reduction in pain-catastrophizing, disability and pain. Conclusions: A brief additional SE intervention was found to have a significant effect on PTSD and fear of movement compared to TAU alone. However, the overall effect of SE was less than expected and the clinical importance of the effects can be questioned.

Citation:

Andersen, T. E., 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, 8(1), 1331108–1331109. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1331108

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Authors & Year:

Özel, Dilara (2023)

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on all countries and induced excessive stress and anxiety among many who are dealing with this invisible danger. Stress and anxiety originate from a threat, and chronic exposure to stressors results in feeling overwhelmed. When the coping strategies are not effective in a certain situation, the person might demonstrate conditioned reactions like fight, flight, or freeze. Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a resiliency-based approach that focuses on these conditioned responses of the nervous system to support the innate regulatory capacity of the body through interoceptive awareness and bodily sensations. This study aims to increase resiliency factors through a SE-based group counselling process. Two groups, an intervention and control group, each consisting of nine individuals, attended a group process for eight weeks. In addition to these groups, a waitlist control group was formed consisting of 31 people. In addition to pre-and-post individual interviews, The COPE-Revised and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were administered to both experiment groups and the waitlist control group. An ANCOVA analysis found that the group process was statistically significant for both reducing stress and developing coping strategies. Furthermore, as a result of the qualitative content analysis of the interviews, five themes emerged: hope, universality, cohesiveness, insight, and interpersonal output (new behaviour).

Citation:

Özel, D. (2024). ‘We are all in this together’: Coping with stress during uncertain times through somatic experiencing. Group Analysis, 57(2), 256–270. https://doi.org/10.1177/05333164231189471

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Authors & Year:

Levit, David (2018)

Abstract:

We know that the deepest disturbances must be reached to foster the deepest changes and growth. But what do we do when some of our patients suffer relentlessly through dissociated, dysregulated states of catastrophic proportons, when these states are repetitive but not generative, when our psychoanalytic forms of holding, provision, and containment are just not good enough? After a number of years in psychoanalytic practice, the author trained in Somatic Experiencing (SE), a non-psychoanalytic, bio-psychological model for treating trauma. He presents a psychotherapy case that began before his SE training and continued during and after. He illustrates how SE perspectives and approaches can inform and enrich our psychoanalytic ways of looking, listening, and responding. He emphasizes how SE can supplement and enfold into psychoanalytic processes of intersubjective regulation, crucial for patients who are exquisitely vulnerable to severe overactivation (overwhelming anxiety, panic, terror, agitation, rage, explosiveness, etc.) and/or underactivation (freeze, numbness, emptiness, deadness, etc.). He discusses the relationship between SE and major psychoanalytic paradigms (Classical, Kleinian, Winnicottian, Relational, and Self Psychology), looking at points of convergence, divergence, synergy and tension. He shares a professional and personal journey of interweaving SE into psychoanalytic treatment.

Citation:

Levit, D. (2018). Somatic Experiencing: In the Realms of Trauma and Dissociation-What We Can Do, When What We Do, Is Really Not Good Enough. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 28(5), 586–601. https://doi.org/10.1080/10481885.2018.1506225

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Authors & Year:

Price, Cynthia J., Hooven, Carole (2018)

Abstract:

Emotion regulation involves a coherent relationship with the self, specifically effective communication between body, mind, and feelings. Effective emotion regulation involves the ability to accurately detect and evaluate cues related to physiological reactions to stressful events, accompanied by appropriate regulation strategies that temper and influence the emotional response. There is compelling evidence demonstrating links between poor or disrupted awareness of sensory information, or interoceptive awareness, and difficulties with emotion regulation. This paper presents a framework, based on psychological and neurobiological research, for understanding how interoceptive awareness facilitates regulation and an integrated sense of self, and thus contributes to health and well-being. A mind-body therapeutic approach called mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT), uniquely designed to teach fundamental skills of interoceptive awareness, is described. MABT develops the distinct interoceptive awareness capacities of identifying, accessing, and appraising internal bodily signals that are identified in physiological models as the critical components of interoception for emotion regulation. The explanatory model is that the development of these key interoceptive capacities improves sensory (physical and emotional) awareness, reduces distress, and improves regulation. Strategies for teaching and learning interoceptive awareness are not well-developed in mindfulness or psychotherapeutic approaches, particularly important for people who may have difficulty attending to interoceptive awareness due to stress, chronic pain or trauma. To address this issue, MABT provides an individualized protocol for scaffolding interoceptive awareness through a combination of psychoeducation and somatic approaches explicitly addressing difficulties with interoceptive processing. Clinical vignettes are included to provide exemplars of this approach and to highlight key components of the therapeutic process. Results from research are also included to highlight the acceptability, safety, health outcomes, and possible mechanisms underlying the MABT approach.

Citation:

Price, C. J., & Hooven, C. (2018). Interoceptive Awareness Skills for Emotion Regulation: Theory and Approach of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT). Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 798–798. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00798

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Authors & Year:

Price, Cynthia J., Ph.D ; Wells, Elizabeth A., Ph.D ; Donovan, Dennis M., Ph.D ; Rue, Tessa, M.S (2012)

Abstract:

Abstract This study examined mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT) feasibility as a novel adjunct to women’s substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. As an individual therapy, MABT combines manual and mind–body approaches to develop interoception and self-care tools for emotion regulation. A 2-group randomized controlled trial repeated-measures design was used, comparing MABT to treatment as usual (TAU) on relapse to substance use and related health outcomes. Sixty-one women were screened for eligibility, and 46 enrolled. Participants randomized to MABT received 8 weekly MABT sessions. Results showed moderate to large effects, including significantly fewer days on substance use, the primary outcome, for MABT compared with TAU at posttest. Secondary outcomes showed improved eating disorder symptoms, depression, anxiety, dissociation, perceived stress, physical symptom frequency, and bodily dissociation for MABT compared with TAU at the 9-month follow-up. In conclusion, it is feasible to implement MABT in women’s SUD treatment, and results suggest that MABT is worthy of further efficacy testing.

Citation:

Price, C. J., Wells, E. A., Donovan, D. M., & Rue, Tessa, M.S. (2012). Mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy as an adjunct to women’s substance use disorder treatment: A pilot feasibility study. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 43(1), 94–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2011.09.016

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Authors & Year:

Cushing, Robin E. ; Braun, Kathryn L. (2018)

Abstract:

About one-third of service members returning from post-9/11 deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq report combat-related mental health conditions, but many do not seek conventional treatment. Mind–body therapies have been offered as alternative approaches to decreasing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but no review of studies with veterans of post-9/11 operations was found. The objective of this study was to fill that gap. Design: A systematic literature review was conducted following the preferred items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed MeSH terms were used to capture articles reporting on the military population (veteran and veterans) with PTSD who received a portable mind–body intervention (e.g., mindfulness, mind–body therapy, and yoga). PubMed/MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched. Studies were included if participants were a mixed group of war veterans, as long as some post-9/11 veterans were included. In addition, participants must have had a diagnosis of PTSD or subthreshold PTSD, and the PTSD must have been attributable to combat, rather than another event, such as sexual trauma or natural disaster. Results: Of 175 records identified, 15 met inclusion criteria. Studies reported on seated or gentle yoga that included breath work, meditation, mantra repetition, or breathing exercises. For 14 of the 15 studies, study retention was 70% or higher. Overall, studies reported significant improvements in PTSD symptoms in participants in these interventions. Although each study included post-9/11 veterans, about 85% of participants were from other conflicts, predominantly Vietnam. Conclusion: Although findings were positive, future studies are needed to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of mind–body therapies on larger samples of post-9/11 veterans and to address research questions related to broadening service member and veteran participation in these therapies.

Citation:

Cushing, R. E., & Braun, K. L. (2018). Mind–Body Therapy for Military Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine (Print), 24(2), 16–114. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0176

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Authors & Year:

Chambers, Richard ; Gullone, Eleonora ; Allen, Nicholas B. (2009)

Abstract:

This review aims to integrate the constructs of mindfulness and emotion regulation. Research into both of these areas is relatively new, and while several reviews have emerged for each area independently, none has directly proposed a conceptual integration. The current review explores how key axioms and assumptions of traditional psychological models of emotion regulation and the psychological interventions that are derived from them (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy) differ fundamentally from mindfulness-based approaches in terms of the underlying processes they address. Accordingly, mindfulness and emotion regulation are each reviewed, followed by a conceptual integration. Fundamental difficulties arising from the attempt to integrate the two domains are highlighted, especially as to the “reality” of thoughts, the relationship between thoughts and emotions, and the need to move beyond a valence model of emotion. Finally, a model is proposed outlining the likely critical processes and mechanisms that underlie “mindful emotion regulation.

Citation:

Chambers, R., Gullone, E., & Allen, N. B. (2009). Mindful emotion regulation: An integrative review. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(6), 560–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.005

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Authors & Year:

AM, Jensen ; MS, Hotek (2023)

Abstract:

There is a compelling link between chronic pain, stress, emotions, memory and the fascial system which warrants further investigation. This study explored if HeartSpeak, a new mindbody intervention, should be considered for management of chronic pain. In this prospective, uncontrolled pilot study, HeartSpeak, which seems to release emotional memories stored in the body, was applied in the context of a yoga / movement class for those suffering from chronic pain. Pain scores were recorded before and after each fortnightly class for 6 months. Over the 12 classes, 96 people participated, the mean pre-class NPRS was 5.5 (SD=2.3), and the mean post-class NPRS was 2.9 (SD=2.7), which difference reached statistical significance (p<0.01). These results suggest that HeartSpeak may be useful in reducing chronic pain levels, however caution is urged in interpreting these results until more research is completed.

Citation:

AM, J., & MS, H. (2023). A Novel Approach to the Management of Chronic Pain Using HeartSpeak®, an Emotional-Somatic Release Technique, In a Yoga Context. Annals of Yoga and Physical Therapy, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.26420/annyogaphysther.2023.1053

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Authors & Year:

McCoy, Rene’ M. (2004)

Abstract:

A recent pilot study of the Emotional Release Technique was conducted to determine the effects of this new technique on clients, to decide whether further investigation of this technique is warranted, and, if so, to gain insight into how that research should be structured. Method – Six participants were trained in this new desensitization technique and assessed using a pretest/posttest design. Results – Five sixths of the participants showed improvements on the assessment instrument after 25 minutes of technique use in a group setting. There was also a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores. Conclusions – The Emotional Release Technique needs further research with more participants to assess its use as a new desensitization technique.

Citation:

McCoy, R. M. (2004). Emotional Release Technique: A New Desensitization Method. Traumatology (Tallahassee, Fla.), 10(4), 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/153476560401000404

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Authors & Year:

Rivera, Floribeth (2016)

Abstract:

The connection between mind and body has been a topic of study since the beginning of medicine. In Eastern medicine, there has been an integration of the two; however in Western medicine, the paring of the mind and body is becoming a new mainstream form of treatment. This literature review considers four different types of bodywork, which include massage therapy, CranioSacral therapy, acupuncture and Reiki, that can be used to help in the treatment of mental illnesses. Research shows that using these types of bodywork in combination with psychotherapy can be beneficial to patients who experience depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and/or autism spectrum disorders. Other types of mind-body treatments that are currently used, such as rapid resolution therapy, tapas acupressure technique, emotional freedom technique, thought field therapy, body psychotherapy, and biodynamic massage, are also discussed. With healthcare going to a more integrated approach, it is an ideal time to pay attention to these types of bodywork as adjunctive treatment for mental illness.

Citation:

Rivera, Floribeth, “Reconnecting the Mind and Body: Using Bodywork to Help Improve Mental Health” (2016). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 326.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/326

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Authors & Year:

Quinn, Janet F. PhD, RN, FAAN; Strelkauskas, Anthony J. PhD (1993)

Abstract:

The purposes of this descriptive pilot study were to address conceptual inconsistencies and several other methdologic problems identified in previous Therapeutic Touch (TT) research, while also providing direction for future TT studies by attempting to determine the appropriateness and suitability of a combination of psychologic and immunologic measures in the ongoing empiric evaluation of TT. Research questions were derived from a unitary perspective. Data on both practitioners and recipients were collected and examined for pattems and relationships. Changes that may be related to TT were observed in immunologic, psychologic, and unitary measures. Directions for future research within a unitary framework were postulated.

Citation:

Quinn, J. F., & Strelkauskas, A. J. (1993). Psychoimmunologic effects of therapeutic touch on practitioners and recently bereaved recipients: a pilot study. Advances in Nursing Science, 15(4), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.1097/00012272-199306000-00003

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Authors & Year:

Roehricht, Frank (2009)

Abstract:

The heterogeneous field of body oriented psychotherapy (BOP) provides a range of unique contributions for the treatment of mental disorders. Practice based clinical evidence and a few empirical studies point towards good efficacy of these non-verbal intervention strategies. This is particularly relevant for those disorders with body image aberration and other body-related psychopathology, but also for mental disorders with limited treatment response to traditional talking therapies, e.g. somatoform disorders/medically unexplained syndromes, PTSD, anorexia nervosa or chronic schizophrenia. However, the evidence base is not yet sufficiently developed in order to get BOP recognised as suitable mainstream treatment by national health services and their commissioning bodies. Strong academic links are urgently required in order to support practitioners in their efforts to evaluate the clinical work in systematic research. The field would greatly benefit from the development of international higher education training in integrated clinical body psychotherapy, enabling practitioners to obtain a master’s degree. From a scientific perspective, projects on the interface between neuroscience and psychotherapy research should be conducted in order to understand more fully the therapeutic processes in BOP, particularly with regard to emotional processing, movement behaviour and body/self perception. Qualitative research is needed to further investigate the specific interactive therapeutic relationship, the dynamics of touch in psychotherapy and the additional self-helping potential of creative/arts therapy components. Provided that these requirements will be fulfilled, BOP could be established as one of the main psychotherapeutic modalities in clinical care, alongside other mainstream schools such as psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and systemic.

Citation:

Roehricht, F. (2009). Body oriented psychotherapy. The state of the art in empirical research and evidence-based practice: A clinical perspective. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 4(2), 135–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/17432970902857263

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Authors & Year:

Kennedy, Sidney H ; Giacobbe, Peter

Abstract:

The failure to achieve remission for patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) represents a major public health concern. Inadequately treated depression is associated with higher rates of relapse, poorer quality of life, deleterious personal and societal economic ramifications, as well as increased mortality rates. Unfortunately, only a minority of patients achieves this goal with initial antidepressant treatment and by convention, failure to achieve response after two adequate trials of antidepressant therapy defines “Treatment Resistant Depression” (TRD). Furthermore, results from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) group of studies suggest that approximately 50% of “real world” patients who meet criteria for MDD fail to achieve remission, even after four carefully monitored sequenced treatments. Given these limitations of existing antidepressant medications alone and in combination, together with improved understanding of the neural circuitry of depression, it is not surprising that there is a renewed interest in neuromodulation strategies for TRD. The purpose of this article is to review the evidence for the inclusion of various non-pharmacological, neuromodulatory strategies for TRD. Specifically, information regarding the mechanism, tolerability and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), magnetic seizure therapy (MST), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS) in ameliorating TRD will be presented. Although these treatments are at various stages of clinical development, they represent a new frontier in expanding the treatment options available for individuals with TRD, as well as contributing to a better understanding the neurobiology of depressive disorders.

Citation:

Kennedy, S. H., & Giacobbe, P. (2007). Treatment resistant depression–advances in somatic therapies. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 19(4), 279–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/10401230701675222

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Authors & Year:

Levine, Peter A. ; Blakeslee, Abi ; Sylvae, Joshua (2018)

Abstract:

This paper, solicited for discussion in response to Levit’s interweaving of psychoanalytic theory with Somatic Experiencing ® (SE™), was written by the founder of SE and two SE instructors. Building on the work of Levine (1976, 1997, 2010, 2015, 2018), the authors elucidate the theory and application of SE, highlighting the importance of attending to neurobiological and physiological processes in healing trauma. Interoception, or the conscious awareness of one’s own bodily sensations, is outlined, with an emphasis on the relationship between interoception, empathy, and physiological regulation. Core physiological regulators (like the autonomic nervous system) are detailed, with suggestions for tracking autonomic shifts and supporting completion of survival and defensive responses (social engagement, fight, flight and freeze) in therapeutic encounters (Levine, 2018; Porges, 2001). The functional purpose of dissociation and traumatic memory is reviewed (Levine, 2015). Clinical applications for resolving traumatic implicit, or nonconscious memories, are explored. Finally, the authors conclude the paper by affirming the utility of integrating SE into psychoanalytic approaches to therapy.

Citation:

Levine, P. A., Blakeslee, A., & Sylvae, J. (2018). Reintegrating Fragmentation of the Primitive Self: Discussion of “Somatic Experiencing.” Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 28(5), 620–628. https://doi.org/10.1080/10481885.2018.1506216

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Authors & Year:

Chambers, Richard ; Gullone, Eleonora ; Allen, Nicholas B. (2009)

Abstract:

This review aims to integrate the constructs of mindfulness and emotion regulation. Research into both of these areas is relatively new, and while several reviews have emerged for each area independently, none has directly proposed a conceptual integration. The current review explores how key axioms and assumptions of traditional psychological models of emotion regulation and the psychological interventions that are derived from them (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy) differ fundamentally from mindfulness-based approaches in terms of the underlying processes they address. Accordingly, mindfulness and emotion regulation are each reviewed, followed by a conceptual integration. Fundamental difficulties arising from the attempt to integrate the two domains are highlighted, especially as to the “reality” of thoughts, the relationship between thoughts and emotions, and the need to move beyond a valence model of emotion. Finally, a model is proposed outlining the likely critical processes and mechanisms that underlie “mindful emotion regulation.

Citation:

Chambers, R., Gullone, E., & Allen, N. B. (2009). Mindful emotion regulation: An integrative review. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(6), 560–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.005

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Authors & Year:

Solomon, Eldra P. ; Heide, Kathleen M. (2005)

Abstract:

During the past 20 years, the development of brain imaging techniques and new biochemical approaches has led to increased understanding of the biological effects of psychological trauma. New hypotheses have been generated about brain development and the roots of antisocial behavior. We now understand that psychological trauma disrupts homeostasis and can cause both short and long-term effects on many organs and systems of the body. Our expanding knowledge of the effects of trauma on the body has inspired new approaches to treating trauma survivors. Biologically informed therapy addresses the physiological effects of trauma, as well as cognitive distortions and maladaptive behaviors. The authors suggest that the most effective therapeutic innovation during the past 20 years for treating trauma survivors has been Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapeutic approach that focuses on resolving trauma using a combination of top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (affect/body) processing.

Citation:

Solomon, E. P., & Heide, K. M. (2005). The Biology of Trauma: Implications for Treatment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(1), 51–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260504268119

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