No idea if anyone can help me with this, but I’m looking for a comprehensive review of the literature on interventions for PTSD as well as research-based evaluations of core concepts in emerging trauma therapy.
This is because I suspect a lot of what’s going on with trauma treatment these days is not grounded in evidence, but I’m so out of the loop with the state of trauma research today, I can’t really prove it.
I’m particularly interested in what research supports things like somatic experiencing, attunement, and attachment therapy. There have been a number of high profile books (e.g. The Body Keeps the Score) purporting that the trauma is somehow “trapped” in the body and the key to resolving trauma is to become more embodied. I haven’t read that book because I don’t trust the information in it to be accurate and I have heard that it plays fast and loose with data.
I don’t want to conflate my skepticism of this therapeutic technique with the established fact that people with PTSD often have somatic memories. Is the body involved with trauma? Undoubtedly yes. Is physical embodiment and mindfulness of bodily sensations the end all be all of trauma intervention? I doubt it.
Anyway, I’m hoping there’s a book somewhere that evaluates all of these theories with reasonable objectivity. I just want a big picture overview of where we are, what’s working and not working etc.
I figure it’s a long shot but wanted to ask.