MSP
Medical Somatic Psychotherapy
For chronic pain, illness, injury, and other physical problems with known or unknown etiology
Medical Somatic Psychotherapy is a branch of body-centered psychotherapy that is focused on those who suffer from injury, chronic injury, chronic illness, chronic pain, psychosomatic symptoms, and other limitations in physical functioning. It is also an appropriate intervention for those heading into medical procedures, particularly if the patient shows signs of anxiety and/or conflict related to the upcoming procedure. Additionally, it is useful in trauma related to medical procedures (e.g. consciousness breakthrough during anesthesia, sense of violation, etc.)
Medical Somatic Psychotherapy is provided by trained, body-centered psychotherapists who are also trained in physical interventions such as physical therapy, massage therapy, etc. Unlike most medical health providers who tend to orient to the patient’s body as an object to be manipulated, the orientation of a medical somatic psychotherapists is to address the body-psyche-spirit of the patient. We do not act upon the client but interact with the client.
As a specialized field, most somatic psychotherapists working with patients with medical conditions also have personal experience with difficult physical symptomology. This gives them a highly attuned capacity in working with psycho-spiritual-physical structures. Because physical injury/illness can often bring up unresolved childhood trauma and attachment issues, Medical Somatic Psychotherapists typically are widely trained in a variety of other psychotherapeutic modalities.
Goals of MSP are for the patient to:
- Relinquish the adversarial relationship to the body and develop healthy relating to/with body.
- Decrease external locus of control/increase internal locus of control.
- Broaden perspective on injury.
- Develop positive orientation to injury/illness.
- Increase coping skills.
- Reduce physical and psychological symptomology.
- Psychologically and functionally prepare for surgery and post-surgery needs.
- Sequence through most recent trauma and previously unresolved trauma that may be reactivated by the recent trauma.
Brochure for clients
Brochure for health care providers
Free In Service for Health Care Providers
Assessing for Psychological Trauma During Initial Intake and How Medical Somatic Psychotherapy Can Assist Patient Recovery are two free in services that are available for health care providers. For more information see workshop page.