Somatic Emotions Training: Experiencing Our Thomistic Emotions as a Method of Trauma Therapy

Description: 
The workshop will follow the content of the Integratus article on the same topic that I have submitted, except with live demonstration experience for the audience. In the first portion, the workshop will describe the contemporary theories of emotion and current research on the somatic aspects of emotions including whole body PET scans. The emotions will be mapped to Thomistic psychology and the phenomenon observed in clinical study will be described. A brief presentation on Thomistic psychology will be included. The conflict between current research and linguistic lack of precision will be highlighted arguing for the need to improve anthropological understanding of emotion prior to phenomenological. 

Next, the utility of emotional awareness from SET will be described with multiple case examples in which addiction and trauma clients with formal diagnoses of PTSD and substance use will be shown. These cases will be provided in greater detail than the Integratus article providing reports of symptom experience for the clients.

Finally, and likely throughout the presentation, live demonstration of therapeutic techniques of SET will be provided in which the audience will participate in pendulation and somatic emotion identification. SET is designed as a single or two session model and the manual is provided in the Integratus article. By the end of the session it is the goal that audience members will feel confident attempting this exercise with their own clients

Category of Education: D1.3 Practice/Education/Research

Intended Audience: 

• Students
• Psychologists
• Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors
• Clergy/Religious

Content Learning Level: Intermediate 

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the 11 emotions of Thomistic psychology and the 4 levels of the human soul.
2. Summarize the current research findings on somatic sensations of emotional experience.
3. Apply the Somatic Emotions Training exercise to their own clients.

Schedule:

• 15 minute lecture - background and summary of somatic work in trauma
• 15 minute - live demonstration
• 30 minute lecture - current research on emotional sensations, overlay of Thomistic Psychology
• 30 minute lecture - Case study applications of current somatic research on overcoming trauma, linguistic and cultural barriers in session

The Catholic Psychotherapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Catholic Psychotherapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.