Research

What the Research Says

Research is building around effective strategies for trauma treatment. Trauma exposure is a risk factor for all psychiatric and many physiological disorders. The negative impacts of trauma leading to polysymptomatic ad polysyndromal presentations (Taylor, 2020). Complex trauma, based in long lasting, relational trauma, being the more difficult to treat (West, 2011). Rhodes (2015) qualitative study summarised the effects of complex trauma on the body, “women with complex trauma histories often feel disconnected from their bodies and struggle to feel safe in their own skin”.

TCTSY has been shown to:
Reduce PTSD symptomatology
Increase tolerance for physical and sensory experience Increase interoceptive awareness and capacity Increased ownership and control over one’s body

Yoga and Trauma symptom reduction

Yoga has been shown to significantly reduce trauma symptoms (Zaccari, B., 2022; Taylor, J., 2020; Mitchell, K., 2014; Van der Kolk, 2014). Van der Kolk et al. (2014) discuss the outcome of a randomised control study of individuals with treatment resistant PTSD, “Yoga significantly reduced PTSD symptomatology, with effect sizes comparable to well-researched psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic approaches. He goes on to specify that “Yoga may improve the functioning of traumatized individuals by helping them to tolerate physical and sensory experiences associated with fear and helplessness and to increase emotional awareness and affect tolerance”

TCTSY – A stand alone and complementary therapeutic treatment

Zaccari et al. (2022) studied women experiencing PTSD in relation to sexual trauma in the US military. It showed TCTSY produced similar benefits to the gold standard treatment psychotherapy (CPT). In addition they found the benefits from TCTSY were seen earlier in treatment and the participants were more likely to complete the treatment. The authors suggest that TCTSY be considered as an adjunctive, pre-cursor or concurrent treatment to psychotherapies. Further studies highlight the mutual benefits of concurrent treatment where the body-based therapy was found to make experiences with counselling more meaningful and focused (Schintler, 2020).

The Importance of Interoception –

Jennifer Marchand (2020) demonstrates that TCTSY offers more than trauma sensitive yoga and suggests it fits best in the Trauma Informed Care (TIC) framework. She elaborates on the specific methodology of TCTSY to “highlight how it extends beyond sensitivity through its specific treatment purpose of increasing interoceptive capacity”. Neukirch (2019) studied the relationship between yoga, PTSD and interoceptive awareness, finding yoga led to significant increases in interoception and significant decreases in PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress, confirming the importance of interoception in trauma recovery.

Well-being, Calm and Wholeness

Rhodes (2015) qualitative study of yoga participation by women with complex trauma histories found they “experienced improved connections with and sense of ownership and control over their bodies, emotions and thoughts, and a greater sense of well-being, calmness, and wholeness in their bodies and minds”. Her in depth dissection of the women’s experience with yoga lead to the title of her paper representing the summation of their healing process of “claiming peaceful embodiment”.

For more research see: https://www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/resources/research