From Somatic Experiencing to felt safety: assessing the effects of a body-oriented intervention in adults with various degrees of child maltreatment

Background: Child maltreatment (CM), i.e. neglect and abuse of children by their caregivers, has been linked to reduced psychological safety and a sense of disrupted body boundaries (DBB), both of which have been proposed to impair social functioning. However, evidence-based interventions to increase psychological safety and to reduce DBB are lacking.Objectives: We conducted two experiments across two separate studies. Study I examined the effect of a brief (60-minute) body-oriented intervention, derived from Somatic Experiencing (SE), on psychological safety. Study II investigated the effect of the same intervention on DBB.Methods: In both studies, adults with varying levels of CM exposure, based on total self-report scores across subtypes, were randomized to an SE group or to a psychoeducation control group. Study I included participants with a lack of psychological safety (n = 89); Study II included participants with DBB (n = 55).Results: In Study I, compared to controls, the SE group showed an increase in psychological safety (d = -.95, p < .001). SE group-specific changes were also found for different types of positive and negative affect and for social connectedness. Heart Rate (HR) decreased, and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) increased across groups. In Study II, compared to controls, the SE group showed a reduction in DBB (d = 1.13, p < .001) and an increase in interoceptive awareness, a proposed mechanism of action.Conclusions: A brief, SE-based intervention can facilitate momentary states of perceived safety and improve social connectedness in adults with different levels of CM. Future research should explore longer-lasting positive effects of SE.