Key Takeaways
Traumatic experiences like sexual assault, childhood abuse, and natural disasters cause extreme stress.
Most of us experience trauma at some point in our lives and can recover with time andsupport.
PTSD can be effectively treated with trauma-focused talk therapy, also known aspsychotherapy.
But these approaches do not work for everyone.
Thats where alternative options like somatic therapy may come in.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic approaches are focused primarily on the body rather than the mind.
SE is sometimes called a bottom-up approach to treating trauma-related conditions.
SE follows the theory that trauma is stored inside your body and mind.
After a frightening or overwhelming experience, some people may develop a dysfunctional stress response.
Becoming aware of bodily sensations and talking through them may bring the nervous system back into balance.
Types of Somatic Therapy
Somatic experiencing therapy is a distinct jot down of body psychotherapy.
But other similar therapeutic modalities may incorporate body-focused techniques or fall under the banner of somatic therapy.
But EMDR is a form of talk therapy, while somatic therapy is a form of body psychotherapy.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is also distinct from somatic therapy.
Its a form of psychotherapy that was inspired by EMDR.
Like somatic therapy, there are very few studies on this bang out of treatment.
Who May Benefit From Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy was designed to support people with trauma-related conditions such as PTSD.
For example, only two studies exclusively included people with a confirmed PTSD diagnosis.
One of the studies did not use a control group.
But very few studies have been done.
Overall, experts say higher-quality research is needed to explore the potential benefits of somatic therapy.
Its important to note that many research-backedtreatment options for PTSD,depression, andanxietymay be more accessible.
The Bottom Line
Somatic therapy is a relatively new form of body-focused psychotherapy.
While initial studies are promising, higher-quality research is needed to further evaluate the potential benefits of this treatment.
Still we need more research to determine if the differences between SE and EMDR contribute to different treatment outcomes.
SE offers a flexible, personalized approach to therapy, while EMDR uses a structured, eight-phase protocol.
SE has demonstrated effectiveness in treating PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, and other stress-related conditions.
But SE remains an alternative therapy, and more research is necessary to fully determine its effectiveness.
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