Our bodies, our selves: Treating the somatic expressions of trauma with ego-state therapy

Trauma activates primitive defenses which often involve somatic processes. In this paper, the author explores the use of somatic approaches to ego-state therapy, developed by John and Helen Watkins (1979), which has been shown in the literature to be an effective method of treating the internal fragmentation and dissociated response patterns related to early childhood trauma. Through the use of hypnotic techniques such as the somatic bridge, ideosensory signalling, and sensory awareness training, ego-state therapy can be directed to those parts of the self which are more connected to somatic expressions of traumatic experiences. Several clinical case examples are presented to illustrate the potential of this approach in the treatment of trauma. Specific benefits for patients who complain of psychosomatic symptoms are discussed, as well as for those with compromised body image and perception, and its usefulness as a hypnoanalytic tool for uncovering memories that may be more somatically based.