Trauma Lodges in Body Tissues
False Assumption: Traumatic experiences embed in the body and tissues, causing ongoing harm relieved by somatic processing.
Written by FARAgent on February 09, 2026
Popularized by bestsellers like 'The Body Keeps the Score,' the notion that trauma scars flesh and nerves, demanding bodily release through talk or touch, swept therapy circles and self-help shelves in recent decades. Proponents promised cures via processing, from debriefs to wiggles.
Evidence dashed the somatic myth—no tissue lodging—and soured some fixes: early Critical Incident Stress Debriefing worsened PTSD in first responders, now banned in guidelines. Even vaunted CBT or EMDR underwhelm, costly and odd, while simple exposure often heals via safe repetitions.
Growing questions mount on trauma's somatic drama and forced processing, with critics arguing it's overhyped learning gone awry; mainstream therapy still leans in, making consensus contested as evidence favors basics over baroque rituals.
People Involved
- In the realm of trauma therapy, Bessel van der Kolk emerged as a key figure. He authored 'The Body Keeps the Score' and promoted the idea that traumatic experiences lodge in body tissues, advocating for somatic processing to relieve the harm. Critics argue his efforts, though in good faith, popularized treatments without strong unique evidence to support them. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“figures like Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, helped popularize the idea that body-based treatments are uniquely effective”— Psychology’s Greatest Misses (Part 2/3)
Organizations Involved
Emergency services across various regions took up the mantle of this assumption in the late 20th century. They implemented Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, or CISD, as a standard response to help personnel process trauma right after events. The practice spread in fire departments, police forces, and ambulance services, driven by the belief in immediate somatic or emotional unloading. Critics argue the institutional embrace persisted despite early signs of trouble, with evidence later showing CISD as ineffective or even harmful in preventing long-term issues. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), which emerged in the late 1970s in emergency services and first-responder settings.”— Psychology’s Greatest Misses (Part 2/3)
The Foundation
The assumption that trauma embeds in body tissues gained traction through compelling anecdotes from patients and therapists. These stories suggested a literal or figurative lodging that caused ongoing issues, resolvable only by body-focused methods. Mounting evidence challenges this view, pointing out that no such embedding occurs in any verifiable way. [1] A related notion held that processing trauma via body work or talk therapy provided the cure. Growing questions surround this sub-belief, as critics argue it overlooks simpler mechanisms like extinction through benign exposure, a basic learning process that explains recovery without invoking embedded trauma. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
““Does the body keep the score? Literally, no. Figuratively, also no.””— Psychology’s Greatest Misses (Part 2/3)
“recovery from trauma is any more complicated than extinction?”— Psychology’s Greatest Misses (Part 2/3)
Resulting Policies
By the early 2000s, the tide began to turn against such interventions. Official guidelines from bodies like the World Health Organization and various psychological associations started to forbid CISD. This shift came after studies revealed it did not prevent PTSD and, in some cases, worsened symptoms by reinforcing traumatic memories prematurely. [1] The policy changes reflected growing doubts about body-based trauma assumptions, though somatic therapies lingered in some clinical settings.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“many official guidelines now explicitly forbid its use.”— Psychology’s Greatest Misses (Part 2/3)
Harm Caused
The consequences of these practices unfolded over years. Some studies found that CISD actually raised the risk of PTSD among participants, turning a well-intentioned debrief into a source of added distress. [1] Body-based therapies like Somatic Experiencing faced similar scrutiny, with critics arguing they remain unproven at best, offering little beyond standard adjuncts while potentially delaying more effective treatments. The harm, though debated, included wasted resources and prolonged suffering for those exposed to ineffective methods. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“not only did CISD fail to prevent PTSD, but in some studies it made symptoms worse.”— Psychology’s Greatest Misses (Part 2/3)
Sources
- [1]