Trauma en het gelaagde lichaam in psychotherapie

Abstract

The complexity of the unity of mind and body is often seen in stress-related symptoms and trauma. This article focusses on one of the psychosomatic intricacies known to psychotherapists, namely how does trauma-related tension settles itself into the body and even more interesting, how can it be released again? Although scientific literature lacks an unequivocal answer, this article points at the body as a layered phenomenon and offers a clinical concept which builds on existing theories in developmental psychology, psychodynamics and neurobiology. It also offers a tool for the integration of bodywork in psychotherapy. This integration is a keystone in body psychotherapy and offers a specific point of entry into the inner world of the client. This article deliberately uses a transdisciplinary approach to the topics of trauma and the body and attempts to translate these into daily practice.