Somatic Psychotherapy: Definition, Strategies, and Effectiveness

Somatic Psychotherapy: Definition, Strategies, and Effectiveness
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Somatic Psychotherapy: Definition, Strategies, and Effectiveness
Introduction
Somatic therapy is a relatively new and revolutionary remedy that aims to heal body traumas via stimulating mind-body connections that would release the pent-up negative emotions and body turmoil. The physicians and psychotherapists involved in Somatic psychotherapy use the feedback loop between the body and mind; this type of treatment differs from traditional psychotherapy as the latter involves addressing issues related to mental faculties (Johnson, 2014). The fundamental premise behind this type of therapy is that the body is a storehouse of negative emotions that manifest in psychological or physiological problems, such as neck pain. These emotions heavily weigh a person's psychological and physiological status; such emotions result from unpleasant life experiences and may lead to unexpected and unrealistic views about the world and oneself. According to an expert, "What the mind cannot recall or translate into words, the body remembers." (Caldwell & Johnson, 2015).
Somatic Psychotherapy and Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve is the primary nerve that connects the human brain to all the major physical components of the body associated with feelings of inflammation, emotions, stress, and depression. According to The Polyvagal Theory, the vagus affects social communication, defensive mobility, and immobility; for the same reason, one scholar of medical science argues that the proper functioning of this nerve is imperative to regulate the connection between the body's health and the past traumatic experiences. Another scholar reveals the significance of the vagus nerve in body healing by claiming that healthy and toned vagus nerves assist in reducing inflammation and mental stress (Brei et al., 2018). The human social nervous system is a network of nerves that regulates human social communications and behavior by controlling facial expressions. This system is linked with a network of neurons called the "ventral vagal complex," and this network is a part of a branch of the vagal nerve. This ventral vagal complex's sole purpose is to produce a calming and soothing effect (Brei et al., 2018).
Another crucial physiological factor that manifests the vagus nerve's role in somatic psychotherapy is its involvement in heart rate variability (HRV). If the vagus nerve is healthy, the heartbeat during inhalation will be slightly higher than during exhalation (Vanderhasselt et al., 2021). According to modern research studies, persons with higher HRV or, in other words, a healthy and toned vagus nerve can balance their emotions from excitement to relaxation and are more capable of speedily recovering from stressful conditions (Brei et al., 2018). These scientifically proven facts signify the vagus nerve's role in regulating physical and psychological traumas. For the same reason, psychologists and physicians are unanimous in underscoring vagus nerve stimulation as a part of somatic psychotherapy to treat body traumas (Pagel, 2021).
Strategies of Somatic Psychotherapy