How Does Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Work?

Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a slightly less known talk therapy version designed to focus on the body and how it is affected by trauma that isn’t dealt with. In this therapy, instead of just talking about how you feel or what you’re experiencing, it involves bodily experiences to start looking at improving your overall mental health and increasing the level of awareness associated with that trauma and the body. The physical sensations associated with trauma are essential to this therapy type's overall experience and treatment.

What Is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

This type of therapy involves the belief that traumatic experiences are ingrained in the body and mind. As a result, therapists believe these experiences could negatively affect individuals throughout their lives. They may not even realize that the trauma exists or the extent to which it is affecting them. While talk therapy does not always unearth more deeply held or hidden beliefs and feelings, in sensorimotor psychotherapy, the therapist will help the individual experience the trauma again to better understand the thoughts and feelings.

By re-experiencing the trauma in a safe environment, the individual can experience the physical symptoms and characteristics. In this way, it’s possible to continue building on the experience and trauma to help the patient toward something more positive. However, this requires a safe space where the patient can feel comfortable and go through the trauma again to help them work through it and actually overcome it.

The Process Of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

The first and most important step in this type of therapy is establishing a safe place for the patient. Once the patient feels more comfortable and like they can’t be harmed by the trauma or anything else, it can help them push through the experience and go through the trauma again. It also allows them the freedom to focus on their body’s reactions and the specific emotions that they feel in the moment of the trauma. This helps to simulate the real trauma again more closely.

The next step is talking about the trauma itself, but it starts with speaking about the events that led up to the trauma. This can help the patient work their way into the more complex subject of the trauma and fully immerse themselves in the emotions and physical responses to the events. It’s important to understand body language and body responses to everything happening to fully understand the event and why it plagues the patient.

Finally, the patient must carry out the actions or intentions they had at the time of the event but could not. It’s important to note that the patient is in no way at fault for the trauma that they suffered, but that they must instead focus on what they wish they had done at the moment and act it out. This allows them to take control of the memory and the accompanying emotions and helps the patient better control their future regarding this type of trauma so they don’t need to experience these things again.

Why Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

Why should you engage in this type of therapy? Well, there are several things that this therapy can assist with, the most important of which is helping the patient get more control out of their own life and feel more capable of achieving the things they want in life. When they can control the responses when trauma triggers are present, they feel like they have less to be afraid of, helping the patient overcome the trauma over time fully. But it can be an extensive process.

This therapy must focus on all aspects of the person, from physical and mental to emotional states, as trauma strongly affects them. The individual must experience the trauma and fully replicate the accompanying emotions and thoughts to fully understand its importance and take control of the trauma. Taking control will allow the individual to slowly work toward the closure that they need to let the trauma entirely fall into the past and help with the individual’s progress.

Getting The Help You Need

If you’re looking for professional help, you must know where to turn. Finding someone you trust and feel comfortable with is difficult, especially since physical proximity limits you. But what if you didn’t need to be physically close to your therapist? What if you could communicate with them directly through your computer and internet connection?

Online therapy is a great solution. Because the service takes place entirely online, you don’t have to worry about making it to a physical location and an appointment. Instead, you can log on whenever you need help and schedule an appointment. No more missing appointments because you’re suddenly sent away on a business trip, your child is sick, or even the weather. You can log on and get the help you’re looking for no matter what, as long as you have an internet connection. 

Research shows that online therapy is effective, too. One review found that online treatment is just as effective as in-person treatment. Ready to learn more? Reach out to BetterHelp to get started.

Takeaway

Sensorimotor psychotherapy aims to deal with the effects of trauma on both the body and the mind. It may be intense, but it teaches the person how to get control of the trauma and move forward.