Experiential therapies
The impacts of Complex trauma are many and varied and include cognitive, emotional, behavioural and relational effects as well as affective, anxiety, dissociative and somatoform disorders alongside interpersonal problems and substance abuse.
Experiential therapy is actually a category, rather than one specific type of therapy. Experiential therapy comes from the Humanistic School of Therapy and was developed in the 1970s. Experiential therapy is a therapeutic approach that encourages patients to identify and address hidden or subconscious issues through activities such as role playing, guided imagery, the use of props, and a range of other active experiences. It begins with the assumption that the human organism contains the ability to grow and change if given the right conditions for this to happen. This kind of therapy is not about using only the rational part of the brain and “thinking”, but being aware of the whole human being and bringing in the physical senses associated with the issue.
The therapist’s role is to provide a safe and non-judgemental space to help the client to elucidate what is happening within the body and to express it in the clearest way possible. Very often this “felt sense” is vague and unclear. When it is understood, then change will start to happen. Very often parts of the client’s experience are not allowed or recognised and therefore become stuck. If the client is encouraged to explore their experience without fear of being criticised or rejected, then they are able to accept themselves and move forward. Experiential therapy helps the client to get to the roots of difficulties and release buried emotions so that they can be processed in a healthy way. It gives the client greater self-awareness.
Experiential therapy is actually a category, rather than one specific type of therapy. Experiential therapy comes from the Humanistic School of Therapy and was developed in the 1970s. Experiential therapy is a therapeutic approach that encourages patients to identify and address hidden or subconscious issues through activities such as role playing, guided imagery, the use of props, and a range of other active experiences. It begins with the assumption that the human organism contains the ability to grow and change if given the right conditions for this to happen. This kind of therapy is not about using only the rational part of the brain and “thinking”, but being aware of the whole human being and bringing in the physical senses associated with the issue.
The therapist’s role is to provide a safe and non-judgemental space to help the client to elucidate what is happening within the body and to express it in the clearest way possible. Very often this “felt sense” is vague and unclear. When it is understood, then change will start to happen. Very often parts of the client’s experience are not allowed or recognised and therefore become stuck. If the client is encouraged to explore their experience without fear of being criticised or rejected, then they are able to accept themselves and move forward. Experiential therapy helps the client to get to the roots of difficulties and release buried emotions so that they can be processed in a healthy way. It gives the client greater self-awareness.