Somatic Experiencing -Does Science Support It?

Somatic Experiencing (SE)

SE has produced significant research with both individualistic and collectivistic cultures. This trauma-informed bottom-up therapy modality considers that healing occurs on the level of the nervous system (Payne et al., 2015). To successfully integrate triggering material on the level of the nervous system (which is understood as trauma-healing in the SE framework), the therapist needs to gain an understanding of the client’s nervous system capacity and track nervous system arousal levels.

Brom et al. (2015) created the first Randomized Control Trial on SE and results show that it is effective in treating PTSD. Three studies have been conducted with individuals who have experienced natural disasters. One of the studies samples survivors of a tsunami in Thailand (Leitch, 2007), the second study samples tsunami survivors in India (Parker et al., 2008), and the third study samples survivors of the hurricanes Kathrina and Rita (Leitch et al., 2009). All studies show that SE is effective in reducing trauma-related post-disaster symptoms. A pilot study with individuals who identify as LGBTQIA demonstrates that SE decreases depression and somatization-related symptoms (Briggs et al., 2018). Finally, a 3-year longitudinal study shows that students in the SE Practitioner Training report that their quality of life has been increasing, while anxiety and somatization-related symptoms have been decreasing as a result of participation in the training (Windblad et al., 2018). However, the relevance of this study is compromised because it lacks a control group. Finally, a case study with a young child in Aleppo (Riordan et al., 2017) shows its effectiveness with a non-adult population.

In summary, research on SE supports the effectiveness of somatic therapies for trauma healing. However, to be formally recognized by academia and the healthcare sector more research needs to be conducted (Jokic et al., 2019). 

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References

Briggs, P. C., Hayes, S., & Changaris, M. (2018). Somatic Experiencing® Informed Therapeutic Group for the Care and Treatment of Biopsychosocial Effects upon a Gender Diverse Identity. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9. https://doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.0005

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:10.1002/jts.22189

Jokic, B., Rohricht, F. & Young, C. (2019). A survey of body psychotherapy practitioners practice, and research resources. International Body Psychotherapy Journal: The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis, 18(1), 61-85. https://www.ibpj.org

Leitch, M. L. (2007). Somatic Experiencing® treatment with tsunami survivors in Thailand: broadening the scope of early intervention. Traumatology 13, 11–20. https://doi: 10.1177/1534765607305439

Leitch, M. L., Vanslyke, J., & Allen, M. (2009). Somatic Experiencing Treatment with Social Service Workers Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Social Work, 54(1), 9–18. https://doi:10.1093/sw/54.1.9

Parker, C., Doctor, R. M., and Selvam, R. (2008). Somatic therapy treatment effects with tsunami survivors. Traumatology 14, 103–109. https://doi:10.1177/1534765608319080 

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

Riordan, J. R., Blakeslee, A., & Levine, P. (2017). Toddler Trauma Somatic Experiencing®, Attachment and the Neurophysiology of Dyadic Completion. International Journal of Neuropsychotherapy, 5(1), 41–69. Retrieved from https://traumahealing.org/

Winblad, N. E., Changaris, M., & Stein, P. K. (2018). Effect of Somatic Experiencing Resiliency-Based Trauma Treatment Training on Quality of Life and Psychological Health as Potential Markers of Resilience in Treating Professionals. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12. https://doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00070