Yoga Therapy for PTSD

Trauma has adverse effects across physiological, emotional and cognitive domains - and Yoga has demonstrated healing and self-regulatory effects across those same domains (1). In addition, the majority of people who begin evidence-based pychotherapeutic therapies for PTSD drop out of treatment (2) and many who do complete treatment still have significant residual symptoms, even if they no longer meet the full criteria for PTSD (3). It is therefore no surprise that many people who suffer from trauma turn to mind-body practices to treat their emotional and mental problems (4).

The renowned Trauma Center in Boston first started exploring Yoga as a treatment for PTSD in 1998. Since then they have developed a very active Yoga programme and Bessel van der Kolk and colleagues published their research into ‘Yoga as an Adjunctive Therapy in PTSD’ in 2014 (5).

I have completed my Yoga Therapy for PTSD training with the Minded Institute in London, led by Heather Mason, who studied at the Boston Trauma Center.

In the treatment of trauma, the phase-oriented approach is the standard of care (6) which posits that recovery from trauma is most effectively achieved when treatment progresses in steps. In accordance with this, my approach to therapy is in steps with goals are that are focused on safety, stabilisation, self-regulation and symptom reduction.

Please contact me for a brief initial chat to establish your needs.