The Science of Psychotherapy Academy

This lesson explores the range of trauma-induced responses and therapeutic approaches while it attempts to transcend the “brand names” and theoretical Cul-De-Sacs to find common denominators among them.  From so-called “simple” to complex trauma in etiology and from hypervigilance to disassociation in response, therapeutic approaches must address the nature of the dysregulation of memory systems.



Given that people who experience a life threatening trauma may go on to later develop PTSD, it is important to explore the developmental, social cultural, and ACEs factors that contribute to the lack of resiliency and vulnerability.  There are a variety of epigenetic, psychoneuroimmunological factors that are associated with risk. If an individual has poor social support or on another level if he has a smaller than normal hippocampus, maintains high levels of cortisol and norepinephrine in the evening, and proinflammatory cytokines, he tends to be more vulnerable to develop PTSD.



During the last few decades a variety of somatic based therapies have emerged such as EMDR, EFT, Somatic Experiencing, and Sensorimotor Integration.  They have competed theoretically with the Evidence-Based Practices such as Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy. An integrative psychotherapeutic approach finds the common factors and incorporates a synthesis of exposure and somatic approaches.