Somatic experiencing: using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy.
Frontiers in Psychology January 1, 2015 Peter Payne, Peter A Levine, Mardi A Crane-Godreau
A theory of human trauma and chronic stress, grounded in the practice of Somatic Experiencing (SE) therapy, proposes that these conditions arise from a functional dysregulation of a subcortical network—the core response network (CRN)—that integrates autonomic, limbic, motor, and arousal systems. SE guides attention to interoceptive, kinesthetic, and proprioceptive experience to complete thwarted self-protective responses and discharge excess autonomic arousal, restoring CRN functionality. A composite case study illustrates the approach. The authors argue that such somatic methods supplement cognitive and exposure therapies, and that similar mechanisms may underlie benefits of meditation and other somatic practices.