Currently, there are various methodological proposals that we find when we talk about psychological intervention or psychotherapy. It can become really complex to choose a professional if we do not know what we need, what model will most benefit our psychotherapeutic process or how the technician works.
Sensorimotor psychotherapy It may be one of the least known to the general public compared to others such as cognitive behavioral therapy or psychoanalytic therapy, among others, for example. However, there are multiple benefits it presents and it is gaining more and more importance among professionals.
Throughout this article we will talk about the main aspects of sensorimotor psychotherapy. We will explain its origins and theoretical foundations, the basic theoretical principles, the methodological proposals and, finally, we will talk about its benefits and applications.
Origins and theoretical foundations
Sensorimotor psychotherapy was born in the 1980s by Pat Ogden. It is the result of the integration of various disciplines, among which psychology, attachment theory, neuroscience and body therapies stand out. The main influences that inspired Ogden were humanistic psychotherapy and somatotherapy.
Over time, the model has evolved and incorporated new proposals based on neuroscience, polyvagal theory, dissociation theory and body memory. Her main focus of intervention and field of application has been working with trauma and how this, and other life experiences, affect both the body and the mind.
Although its main use is for intervention with trauma, this type of intervention is also applied in other situations such as, for example, difficulties or emotional disorders. Of course, always taking into account the somatic approach and the work including this essential aspect.
Ogden firmly defends that the movement that our body performs, as well as the posture and even the physiology of the body, are modulated, changed and adapted to guarantee our survival. This process happens automatically, without us being aware, from childhood and has the objective of maximizing resources.
Along these lines, the author proposes that Our body reflects in one way or another all those painful experiences that have been experienced and rooted in the form of limiting beliefs. According to Ogden, needs, especially psychological and emotional ones, that have not been adequately met also have a strong impact on such expression.
The body is the medium through which we communicate and connect with the outside world. Therefore, by working taking it into account in our therapeutic process, the process is more integrative and allows us to address both physical sensations, emotions and thoughts.
This approach is proposed from a collaborative place in which the “patient” collaborates with the therapist. That is, although it is the professional who guides the process, the autonomy of the people is always taken into account, in the same way that their attachment style, past experiences and emotional needs are also taken into account.
Methods and techniques
As mentioned above, one of the main focuses of intervention is trauma. Thus, this type of approach allows for optimal integration of the painful and overwhelming experiences that, at the time, generated emotional wounds and, over time, have triggered different types of symptoms or difficulties in the person.
One of the peculiarities of sensorimotor psychotherapy is that the work begins with the body. This is so since Our body remembers everything we have experienced and stores information at an unconscious level. Therefore, it is considered that it is from the body where changes in emotions and problematic thoughts or beliefs will occur.
Since the approach presents trauma as an experience that has been overwhelming and overwhelming for the individual, leaving them without resources, it is proposed as an unintegrated experience. Without a doubt, although we may not be aware of them, they may be interfering with our daily lives.
When working with the body, we provide tools and resources to optimally integrate this experience. Cultivating body awareness is a basic aspect of this approach and is trained during the therapeutic process. Through self-observation and working with mindfulness, traumatic memories can be accessed and integrated.
It is essential to be able to observe, recognize, and understand the signals that our body sends us in order to be able to accompany ourselves in a careful and compassionate way. In this way, we can accept them, move through them and even transform them. The information that our body provides us allows us to understand what is happening in our internal world and the impact.
The techniques used during the therapeutic process have to do with body awareness and regulation of the nervous system. Likewise, strategies are used that allow the release of physical responses that could not occur at the traumatic moment and that were trapped in the body unconsciously.
There are many studies that have revealed the multiple benefits and great improvements that people who have received this type of psychotherapeutic support have achieved. Aspects such as a greater sense of security, better emotional regulation and a decrease in post-traumatic stress symptoms are usually reported.
It is considered that by addressing trauma holistically, including our entire organism (mind and body), The results are more lasting because a real integration of the experience is achieved.
We already said previously that, although trauma is the main focus of intervention (a point in which dissociative disorders are included), it is not the only one. This therapeutic approach is used to address emotional problems such as generalized anxiety disorder, depression, attachment disorders or others.
