Trauma affects the health of individuals and communities across the globe. Historically, approaches to addressing trauma incorporated the physical body. However, the Cartesian mind-body split in the 1600s effectively siloed trauma treatment to the realm of the mind, ignoring the body. Traumatology research challenges this body erasure and recognizes that trauma is linked to and held in the body. There is a bidirectional and cross-disciplinary gap between research and somatic practice approaches to trauma. This phenomenological study aimed to address this gap and explore the lived experiences of practitioners across various disciplines who work with trauma using somatically-focused modalities. Feminist theory was used as a broad theoretical framework for this study, and polyvagal theory served as an explanatory theory. Data collected from in-depth interviews with four participants were analyzed using thematic analysis. Themes emerged around five areas of inquiry (AOI) and included: AOI 1) Reason, Meaning, & Purpose of Practicing; Themes 1.1) Helping & Serving Others, Rewarding & Meaningful; 1.2) A Natural Fit, Meant to be, A Calling; AOI 2) Reason(s) for Seeking & Pursuing this Path; Themes 2.1) Personal Experience with Trauma & The Body, 2.2) Observing the Need & Following a Winding Path of Need(s), 2.3)The Influence of The Body Keeps The Score, and 2.4) Resisting, Challenging, & Changing the System. AOI 3) Observations & Experiences in this Lived Experience; Themes 3.1) The Lack of & Need for Integrative & Interdisciplinary work, 3.2) Beyond Words, Intuitive Touch, & Ways of Knowing 3.3) Emotions Evoked, Self-Inflicted Pain, & Unfamiliarity with Safe Touch. AOI 4) Trauma-Informed Aims, Practices, & Skills; Themes 4.1) Body-Mind Connection & Downregulating the Nervous System, 4.2) Trauma-Informed & Integrative Somatic Practices. 4.3) Skillful Listening, Observing, & Communicating. AOI 5: Important Knowledge & Wisdom to Share; Themes 5.1) The Importance of Promoting and Engaging in Self-Care, 5.2) The Importance of Ethics, Boundaries, & Scope of Practice, 5.3) The Importance of Empowering People, Advocacy, & Social Justice, and 5.4) The Importance of Knowing Oneself & Facing Fears. Limitations of the study, conclusions, and implications were discussed. Recommendations for social work theory, research, education, and practice were presented.
INDEX WORDS: Trauma, Somatic, Trauma-informed, Movement, Social Work, Embodiment, Phenomenology, Feminism, Polyvagal Theory, Bodywork, Qualitative Research
INDEX WORDS: Trauma, Somatic, Trauma-informed, Movement, Social Work, Embodiment, Phenomenology, Feminism, Polyvagal Theory, Bodywork, Qualitative Research