Facilitating Adaptive Emotion Processing and Somatic Reappraisal via Sustained Mindful Interoceptive Attention
Frontiers in Psychology September 8, 2021 Cynthia J. Price, Helen Y. Weng
Emotions involve both implicit bodily signals and explicit narratives, and distress can arise when these levels are not integrated. Therapists often specialize in either body-based (e.g., massage, physical therapy) or narrative-based approaches (e.g., psychotherapy) and may lack skills that bridge both. The authors propose a framework called somatic reappraisal, which uses mindful interoceptive awareness—focused, nonjudgmental attention to inner body sensations—to bring unconscious bodily experiences into conscious awareness. This process allows emotions to become more vivid and granular, enabling new, adaptive associations between feelings, meanings, and memories. A clinical vignette illustrates the approach in psychotherapy, and an example script for mindfulness groups is provided. The framework is intended for clinicians treating conditions that may benefit from greater embodied awareness.