PSYCHOSENSORY MODALITIES FOR TRAUMA

SYSTEMIC CONSTELLATION WORK

“Trauma has nothing whatsoever to do with cognition. It has to do with your body being reset to interpret the world as a dangerous place. It’s not something you can talk yourself out of”

DR Bessel van der Kolk

There are so many options for healing that it can be very confusing to choose the one that fits your needs the best.

THE TREATMENT OF SUFFERING : 3 PILLARS

PSYCHOTHERAPY: The use of language to change mood, sensation, thinking ,and behavior. This is called top down therapy.

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: The study and use of chemicals to change mood, sensation, thinking and behavior

PSYCHOSENSORY HEALING : The use of sensory input to change mood, sensation, thinking and behavior. This is called bottom up therapy.

Top-down and bottom-up therapies are two different approaches to trauma therapy that focus on different aspects of the individual’s experience and processing of trauma.

Top-Down Therapy: Top-down therapy approaches focus on the cognitive and behavioral aspects of trauma. They primarily work with the individual’s thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors related to the traumatic experience. These therapies aim to help individuals reframe their thoughts, challenge negative beliefs, and develop healthier coping strategies. Examples of top-down therapies include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Family Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Jungian Therapy and more.
Bottom-Up Therapy: Bottom-up therapy approaches focus on the physiological, emotional and sensory aspects of trauma. They work with the body’s physical sensations, nervous system, survival brain (amygdala & reptilian brain) and somatic experiences related to trauma. These therapies aim to help individuals regulate their nervous system, release stored trauma energy, delink encoded trauma and promote healing through body-centered techniques. Examples of bottom-up therapies include Somatic Experiencing (SE), Sensorimotor Modalities, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, NLP, Hypnotherapy, Sound & Color , Aromatherapy, Somatic Touch, Guided Imagery, Breath Work, Havening Technique, Acupuncture, Bodywork, Yoga, Dance Movement, CRM, Family Constellation Work, Shamanism, Vibrational Medicine, Flower Essences, Art therapy and more

Top-down therapies, which primarily focus on cognitive and emotional aspects, may not always be effective in addressing encoded trauma because trauma is often stored in the body and the survival part of the brain, not easily accessible through cognitive processing alone. Encoded trauma refers to traumatic experiences that are deeply ingrained in the nervous system and stored as sensory and somatic memories rather than explicit memories.

When trauma occurs, the body’s stress response is activated, leading to physiological changes and the release of stress hormones. These physiological responses can become encoded in the body’s sensory and nervous systems, creating implicit memories that are not easily accessible through conscious thought processes. As a result, simply talking about or cognitively processing the trauma may not be sufficient to fully address the encoded trauma.

Bottom-up Therapies, such as somatic experiencing or sensorimotor techniques, focus on engaging the body and accessing these encoded trauma memories through sensory and somatic experiences. These therapies aim to regulate the nervous system, release stored trauma energy, and promote healing by working directly with the body’s physiological responses and sensations.

By engaging the body and accessing the sensory and somatic aspects of trauma, bottom-up therapies can help individuals process and release the encoded trauma in a more holistic and integrated way. This approach allows for the integration of cognitive, emotional, and physiological aspects of the trauma, leading to more comprehensive healing and resolution.

Bottom-up therapies are effective in addressing encoded trauma because they directly engage the body and the sensory and somatic experiences associated with trauma. Here are some reasons why bottom-up therapies work on encoded trauma:

Accessing Implicit Memory: Encoded trauma is often stored as implicit memory, which is non-conscious and sensory-based. Bottom-up therapies, such as somatic experiencing or sensorimotor modaities, focus on accessing and working with these implicit memories through bodily sensations, movements, and sensory experiences. By engaging the body, these therapies can access and process the encoded trauma that may not be easily accessible through conscious thought processes alone.
Regulation of the Nervous System: Trauma can dysregulate the nervous system, leading to heightened states of arousal or dissociation. Bottom-up therapies aim to regulate the nervous system by focusing on grounding techniques, breathwork, and body-centered interventions. By promoting a sense of safety and regulation in the body, these therapies help individuals gradually process and integrate the encoded trauma.
Releasing Stored Trauma Energy: Encoded trauma can manifest as stored energy in the body, leading to physical tension, pain, or discomfort. Bottom-up therapies provide opportunities for individuals to release this stored trauma energy through gentle movements, shaking, or other somatic techniques. By allowing the body to discharge and release the energy associated with the trauma, these therapies facilitate the healing process.
Integration of Mind and Body: Bottom-up therapies recognize the interconnectedness of the mind and body in trauma. By engaging the body and working with sensory and somatic experiences, these therapies promote the integration of cognitive, emotional, and physiological aspects of the trauma. This integration allows for a more comprehensive healing process and resolution of the encoded trauma.
Empowerment and Self-Agency: Bottom-up therapies empower individuals to develop a greater sense of self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-agency in relation to their trauma. By actively engaging in body-centered interventions and learning to listen to their bodily sensations and needs, individuals can develop a greater sense of control and empowerment over their healing process.

Overall, bottom-up therapies are effective in addressing encoded trauma because they directly engage the body and the sensory and somatic aspects of trauma. By working with the body’s innate healing capacities, these therapies facilitate the processing, integration, and resolution of the encoded trauma in a holistic and embodied way.

Psychosensory modalities refer to therapeutic techniques that engage the senses to promote healing, self-regulation, and emotional well-being. These modalities recognize the powerful connection between sensory experiences and psychological well-being. By engaging the senses, individuals can access and process emotions, memories, and trauma in a holistic and embodied way. Also the language of the amygdala is the five senses. The Amygdala does not speak story so the part of the brain, body and nervous system that trauma is encoded is different from the cognitive part of the brain.