Trauma and the Body by Pat Ogden describes how trauma not only affects thoughts and emotions but becomes deeply visible in the body. The book forms the basis of “Sensorimotor Psychotherapy,” a body-oriented form of trauma therapy.
Ogden shows that traumatic experiences are often stored in automatic bodily reactions: muscle tension, posture, breathing, movements, and reflexes. For example, people may be constantly alert, stiffen, shrink, or hold tension without being aware of it.
According to Ogden, talking alone sometimes falls short because trauma often originates in parts of the nervous system that are non-verbal. Therefore, therapy also focuses on bodily perception and subtle signals of activation and relaxation.
The book describes how clients learn step by step to notice bodily reactions without becoming overwhelmed. Small movements or unfinished defense reactions—such as pushing away, withdrawing, or setting boundaries—can still be consciously completed. This helps the nervous system to experience more regulation and safety.
The core of the book is that body and mind cannot be viewed separately. Recovery from trauma requires attention to the entire system: thinking, feeling, moving, and physical experience.