Somatic Approaches and Cognitive Therapy
Recent neuro-scientific advancements are propelling a major growth of evidence in support of brain-body (somatic) approaches. Promising research demonstrates that somatic approaches reduce symptoms short-term and show long-term effectiveness
There are currently a number of research studies on Somatic Experiencing being completed in the U.S., Europe and Brazil – studies are available on the Somatic Experiencing website:
Cognitive Approaches:
Focus is on how thoughts influence emotions and behaviours (“top-down”). The approach helps identify distorted cognitive beliefs and maladaptive behaviours. The target is to reduce symptoms and help create more adaptive self-beliefs and behaviours. The approach relies on insight for behaviour change.
Somatic Approaches:
Focus is on how the body influences thoughts, emotions, and behaviours (“bottom-up”). Somatic Experiencing helps people become aware of body sensations and implicit procedural memories. It targets underlying dysregulation in the nervous system that precipitates and perpetuates symptamology. Somatic Experiencing helps create a greater control over debilitating symptoms and unconscious dynamics. It focusses on body awareness & physiological regulatory processes.
