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Babette Rothschild's Somatic Trauma Therapy

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Babette Rothschild's somatic trauma therapy resembles Peter Levine's somatic experiencing in many ways. Totton (2003) argues both methods are based on neurological studies and both were influenced and affected by bodynamics and Lisbeth Marcher. Rothschild's emphasis on slow pace is the main difference between the two methods. This is based on her belief that trauma work requires "frequently applying the brakes" (2003), that is—systematic and frequent breaks in the therapeutic narrative flow to avoid flooding and retraumatisation. Rothschild places great emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as a safe container too.
In Somatic trauma therapy, a clients' defences are seen as resources for con­taining and dealing with traumatic material. The

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