Group Psychotherapy Informed by the Principles of Somatic Experiencing: Moving Beyond Trauma to Embodied Relationship

ABSTRACT

This article introduces the application of Somatic Experiencing^® (SE™) to group psychotherapy. SE utilizes normative physiological responses to danger as a means of restoring healthy functioning of the nervous system. The authors suggest that the principles of SE, developed primarily for use with traumatized individual clients, can make the work of interpersonal group psychotherapy deeper and more effective. They respond to a clinical vignette by conceptualizing the group members from an SE perspective and discussing how the process of an SE-informed psychotherapy group would likely unfold quite differently than the vignette as presented.

Notes

¹ SE is one of a number of approaches (e.g., Cohen, 2011; Kurtz, 2007; Ogden, Minton, & Pane, 2006; Siegel, 2010; van der Kolk, 2015) developed in recent decades that view the mind and body as equal (and cooperative) vectors for intervention. In discussing the integration of its principles into group psychotherapy, we do not argue that other mind-body approaches may not have equal value, but this is the one in which we are steeped and which offers a language and a comprehensive set of principles we find useful.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Peter J. Taylor

Peter J. Taylor is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in New York City.

Roger Saint-Laurent

Roger Saint-Laurent is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in New York City.