Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: How It Works, Cost, & What to Expect

What Is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

Sensorimotor psychotherapy (SP) is a holistic approach to healing trauma or unhealthy attachment patterns formed in early childhood. It integrates the body and movement into traditional talk therapy to address and heal ongoing psychological and physical difficulties.¹ Considered a “body-centered talking therapy,” sensorimotor psychotherapy addresses thoughts, feelings, and experiences for deeper and more complete healing than traditional therapies may provide.²

Traditional forms of mental health therapy can overlook physical or somatic manifestations and other effects of trauma and attachment difficulties.^1,4 According to the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, research indicates that not only do trauma and attachment problems directly and significantly impact the body, but their emotional symptoms are often driven by the body, too.⁵

In SP, the mind, body, and spirit are addressed as a whole rather than as separate parts.⁶ The body is a source of information and a target for interventions.⁷ Understanding how the body reacts and contributes to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors helps clients deeply and thoroughly address experiences like intrusive symptoms, numbness, motor inhibitions, avoidance, affect dysregulation, and difficulties with relationships and general daily functioning.^1,2

What Is the Goal of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

The goals of sensorimotor psychotherapy focus on helping clients develop their own internal resources to process the trauma, transcend the prolonged flight-flight-or-freeze reaction of the autonomic nervous system, recognize and self-regulate emotions, and respond calmly and thoughtfully to their world.^1,6

Each client will have their own unique goals. Sensorimotor therapy is a collaborative effort between therapist and client.¹ The therapist does not dictate goals or heal the client, nor do they believe a client needs to be “fixed.”⁶ Instead, they focus on teaching necessary information and provide gentle guidance and support.

The goals of sensorimotor psychotherapy include:⁸

• Reclaim a sense of control over responses to the trauma and traumatic memories
• Understand the impact that experiences have on both mind and body
• Develop awareness of physical symptoms and sensations and how these relate to the trauma and emotional responses
• Separate the past from the present so mind and body respond appropriately to current happenings rather than reacting from traumatic memories

What Can Sensorimotor Therapy Help With?

Sensorimotor therapy helps heal emotions, thoughts, and the physical body. Early childhood maltreatment, including unhealthy attachment and trauma at any age, interferes with the proper development and functioning of the brain’s nervous system and emotional centers. Therefore, they often lead to emotional dysregulation—difficulty regulating emotions or tolerating negative emotions.^2,3

Sensorimotor psychotherapy can help with a range of disorders, including:^1,2,4,5,6,7

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety disorders
• Mood disorders like depression
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
• Substance use disorders/addictive behaviors
• Self-harm
• Suicidal behaviors

3 Phases of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a gradual process across three phases: safety and stabilization, processing, and integration.⁶ Alternatively, these phases have been labeled stabilization and symptom reduction, working with traumatic memory, and re-integration.⁶ These stages are not rigid or time-limited. Rather, therapists adjust the pace and process to meet the needs of individual clients.¹

The therapist guides, supports, and teaches body-related skills to stabilize the autonomic nervous system and facilitate total healing. While achieving goals may require the client to leave their comfort zone, the counselor always explains the process, secures permission, and proceeds gently.^1,2,6

Here are the three phases of sensorimotor psychotherapy:^6,9

Phase 1: Safety & Stabilization

The first phase of sensorimotor psychotherapy is about gentle exploration. The therapist supports the client in gaining awareness of their inner experiences like thoughts, emotions, memories, images, and bodily sensations. The therapist helps them notice how thoughts and emotions are interconnected with bodily symptoms and movements.

The client also begins to explore what triggers their symptoms and reactions. The therapist helps them examine their unique coping resources and develop their strengths and natural abilities to cope with triggers. The therapist also teaches the client how to respond to stimuli physically, such as with specific movements and postures.

Phase 2: Processing

This phase revolves around healing the chronic effects of trauma or unhealthy attachment and building confidence and a sense of empowerment. The therapist and client engage in a deeper exploration of traumatic memories and their effects on mind, body, and spirit. Further, the client learns to separate past from present so they can be aware of what happened and how it has affected them without letting the effects spill into their present life.

Rather than discussing memories in full detail, the therapist and client explore them in small pieces using words, somatic sensations, and movements. During sessions in this phase, the client learns and practices empowering actions they could not use at the time of the trauma.

Phase 3: Integration

The sessions in the final phase are about helping the client develop a strong sense of self, pursue relationship goals, and foster life satisfaction and a sense of well-being. While building on skills learned during the first two phases, clients explore their limiting beliefs and how they impact thoughts, emotions, bodies, actions, and relationships.

Clients also learn to express previously uncommunicated emotions and practice movements and actions that increase positive interpersonal connections and healthy boundaries. The emphasis is on boosting positive emotions and participating in pleasant, playful activities to feel joy and contentment.

Components of Sensorimotor Therapy

Sensorimotor therapy addresses the psychological and physical effects of trauma and unhealthy attachment.⁷ Specific components, while tailored to each client, are used during the three phases of SP therapy to facilitate stabilization, processing, integration, and ultimately, deep healing.

Dual Awareness

In SP, Clients learn to become aware of their awareness; in other words, they learn to notice and observe both mind and body while remaining cognizant that the trauma of childhood attachment difficulties is over.² Clients become aware of mental and physical reactions to traumatic memories while remaining present and distant from those memories.

Mindful Observation

Mindfulness is integral to SP to help clients realize and fully understand how their trauma or attachment style has impacted their internal and external lives. SP also helps clients separate the past from the present.² Concentrating on movements and sensations allows the therapeutic process to happen.⁵

Somatic Functioning

In addition to becoming aware of how physical symptoms are connected to emotions and thoughts, SP teaches people how to use their bodies to regulate the autonomic nervous system and emotions.⁷ People learn how somatic functions like posture, positioning near or away from others, muscle tension, sensations of the heart beating, and breathing affect emotions and vice versa. Finally, they use this knowledge to induce calm and recover from traumatic memories.²

Regulation of Autonomic Arousal

The autonomic nervous system controls the the fight-flight-or-freeze reaction and the rest-and-digest response. By integrating mind and body with awareness, mindful observation, and somatic functioning, people can learn to regulate their nervous system and remain calm despite traumatic memories and other intrusive symptoms.²

How Much Does Sensorimotor Therapy Cost?

Sensorimotor therapy does not have a uniform, set rate. Typically, fees are determined by geographic location, level of education, and experience.

In the United States in 2018, the median cost of therapy in general, without accounting for specialties such as SP, was $125 for a 45-minute session and $130 for a 60-minute session.¹⁰ Therapists who have received extra training specifically in SP may charge more. Most mental health professionals do not publish their rates on their website or elsewhere online, but they do discuss their rates when you call their office to inquire.

Many insurance companies cover mental health therapy, but what they cover must be evidence-based and approved as a treatment for a specific disorder. Sensorimotor psychotherapy does not yet have significant credible research studies indicating that it is a valid and reliable form of trauma therapy. Its development, however, was informed by research.

Because of this, sensorimotor therapy falls into a gray area, which means that some insurance companies might cover it and others might not. Check with your provider by calling the number on the back of your card or visiting their website.

How to Find a Sensorimotor Psychotherapist

Sensorimotor psychotherapy for trauma-related disorders is offered in inpatient (hospital) and outpatient (public or private clinic) settings.² Consider using an online directory to find a therapist specializing in SP and practices in your area. You can also get to know potential therapists by watching videos.

Who Can Offer Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

To offer SP, a therapist should first have completed an advanced degree program to possess a master’s or doctorate-level degree and enough supervised hours to be licensed in their state. Then, they must complete SP-specific education and training through the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute.

However, as mentioned above, the SPI does not verify the credentials of people taking their courses. However, they do provide in-depth training across multiple courses.

Questions to Ask Before Beginning Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Before beginning therapy, it’s crucial that you feel comfortable with the therapist and their process. Therapists are usually happy to answer questions and provide as much explanation as needed, either over the phone or during an initial consultation. Look for a patient and compassionate therapist with whom you feel comfortable talking.^11,12

Here are some questions to ask before beginning sensorimotor psychotherapy:

• How much experience do you have working with people who have experienced trauma? (Mention what you have experienced personally and how long you’ve been dealing with the effects.)
• How will the process work for me?
• Will I be forced to do something I don’t want to do?
• What if I am uncomfortable with any part of the treatment process?
• What types of exercises and techniques do you use?
• How quickly will I begin to feel better?
• Can I expect steady progress, or will I face setbacks?
• If I do have setbacks, how will you help me work through them?
• Will we mostly address what happened in the past, or will we also work on goals for the future?

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a gradual process that moves at the client’s pace. You won’t immediately jump into recalling traumatic details at your first appointment (or at any subsequent appointment, for that matter).¹ The first session begins with an emphasis on establishing a sense of safety and building a trusting relationship between you and your therapist.

You may be asked to describe what brought you to therapy and what you hope to gain from the process. Your therapist will likely ask questions and begin to gather information about you so they can shape your specific SP plan, but this will be done gently and respectfully. You’ll learn specific information about sensorimotor therapy and what you can expect, and you may begin some initial body awareness work.

Is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Effective?

Sensorimotor psychotherapy is informed by scientific research in physiology, psychology, sociology, and neuroscience, as well as principles from another form of body therapy known as the Hakomi method.⁶ It draws from established forms of mental health therapy such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, gestalt therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and body psychotherapy.²

Sensorimotor psychotherapy itself is not evidence-based. There are very few studies that have specifically and methodically analyzed its effectiveness. One small study conducted in 2012 involved 10 women who had been abused in childhood. While their body awareness improved after 20 weeks of group SP, their dissociative experiences did not change, nor did their ability to receive comfort.¹³

While sensorimotor therapy is not yet evidence-based, it is considered credible among mental health professionals. A 2015 article in BJPsych Bulletin states that SP is “endorsed by leading international experts and is neuroscientifically credible.”¹⁴ Anecdotal evidence does support sensorimotor psychotherapy, and it has demonstrated positive outcomes over the decades.⁶

Risks of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

In any approach to trauma healing, people may become overwhelmed and experience re-traumatization and flashbacks.² However, SP therapists are gentle in their approach, monitor and support clients during sessions, and explain everything they do. They will also ask for permission before using any technique. If the client leaves their comfort zone, it is always under the guidance and care of a trained professional.

History of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Dr. Pat Ogden founded sensorimotor psychotherapy. When working in a psychiatric hospital in the 1970s, Ogden noticed the extent to which people held traumatic experiences in their bodies and the interconnection between psychological and physical experiences.^6,7 Passionate about this intimate physical and mental connection, Dr. Ogden devoted her career to helping people heal through body-centered therapy.

Dr. Ogden was a close colleague of Ron Kurtz from the 1970s until Kurtz died in 2011. Kurtz was a pioneer of body-oriented psychotherapy. He incorporated bodywork into psychodynamic therapy, CBT, theories of attachment and dissociation, and neuroscience and created the Hakomi method of body psychology.⁵

Over time, as she worked with people who survived sexual abuse, her focus became trauma. She founded her body therapy institute in 1981 with Kurtz’s encouragement and support.⁶ Ogden’s institute was first called Hakomi Bodywork, then transitioned to Hakomi Integrative Somatics, and in 2002 was renamed the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute.⁶

Final Thoughts

Sensorimotor psychotherapy can reduce automatic fight-flight-or-freeze reactions and help people become unstuck from the past to live in the present moment with a sense of safety and stability.² SP may be something to consider if other traditional forms of talk therapy haven’t worked for you in addressing the physical effects of past trauma.