Sensorimotor Therapy

What is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

With the advent of functional brain imaging which can actually show areas of trauma in the brain, the trauma treatment world is moving towards more body-centered approaches. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is the first research-based therapy developed solely for the treatment for trauma. It is a gentle, body-centered therapy that can help relieve the devastating effects of trauma, abuse and emotional pain. It’s a way of experiencing sensations within the body and becoming more comfortable with them. It teaches one how to use the body as the door to awareness, so that frozen feelings and buried memories can come to the surface in a safe setting. Over time this allows one to release themselves from the old patterns prevent us from living life in a more relaxed and full manner.

Signs and Symptoms of Trauma

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
  • Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
  • Appetite and/or weight changes
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
  • Restlessness, irritability
  • Persistent physical symptoms

Who may benefit from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

  • When trauma is the result of major disruptive incidents such as sexual abuse, serious accidents, abandonment or have been diagnosed with PTSD, Sensorimotor
  • Psychotherapy can be particularly useful
  • Trauma can also result from less obvious experiences. For example, if your parents were frequently “scared” or “scary” as you were growing up, this can absolutely create traumatic memories that become stored in the nervous system
  • If you have participated in traditional “talk therapy” in the past, and found it did not help to relieve your symptoms of trauma, experiencing a more body-centered approach through sensorimotor therapy may be useful
  • If you find that any of the symptoms of trauma described above are a good fit for your experience, Sensorimotor therapy may be a good fit for you

In addition to an in depth training in how to conduct Sensorimotor therapy, the following specialty areas were addressed:

  • Affect Dysregulation
  • Survival Defenses
  • Traumatic Memory