Abstracts

This paper explores trauma as a continuum and how various forms of trauma can be treated with mindfulness and somatic psychotherapy modalities. Ten modalities are discussed through hermeneutic, heuristic, and intuitive inquiry research methods: mindful breathing; mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); emotional freedom techniques (EFT) and energy psychology; eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and attachment focused EMDR; Hakomi mindfulness-centered psychotherapy; sensorimotor psychotherapy; somatic experiencing; acupuncture, Soma Neuromuscular Integration bodywork, and authentic movement. Unique to this thesis is the approach to somatically releasing trauma using an acronym framework created by the author, conceptualized as Safety, Trust, Acceptance, Belonging, Love, Earth, and Ecopsychology (STABLE). Adding a depth psychotherapy perspective, the myth of Inanna is offered as an allegory to enrich the practice of co-regulating patients as they work through their trauma narratives. Recognizing nature as an essential component to healing the wounds of the soul adds an ecopsychological and wilderness therapy perspective.