Potential Applications of Somatic Experiencing® in Applied Sport Psychology

Abstract

In recent years, applied sport psychologists have become more open to “third wave therapies” that focus on the holistic promotion of human well-being. In this article, the potential application of body psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing® (SE™), is presented within the sport context. SE™ focuses on resolving the symptoms of chronic stress and post-traumatic stress, among other things by directing the client’s attention to internal sensations, both visceral (interoception) and musculoskeletal (proprioception and kinesthesis) to resolve a dysfunctional state of the autonomic nervous system. The basic tenets of the SE™ framework are initially described with a short account of its effectiveness. Then, SE™ intervention context and ethical considerations are discussed, followed by a hypothetical example of its application with a judoka who experienced stress following an unexpected loss in a competition. Reflections and recommendations for practitioners are provided.