Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026): April - June 2026
Clinical psychology

Body-Oriented Gestalt Trauma Therapy (GTT): A Systematic Literature Review:

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  • Chiara Scognamiglio,
  • Enrico Moretto
Chiara Scognamiglio
SiPGI - Postgraduate School of Integrated Gestalt Psychotherapy, Torre Annunziata, Italy
Enrico Moretto
SiPGI - Postgraduate School of Integrated Gestalt Psychotherapy, Torre Annunziata, Italy
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32069/PJ.2021.2.306

Published 2026-06-26

Keywords

  • Gestalt therapy, Trauma, Body-oriented approaches, Somatic Experiencing, Interoception, Polyvagal Theory, PTSD, Body awareness, Self-regulation, Systematic review.

How to Cite

Scognamiglio, C., & Moretto, E. (2026). Body-Oriented Gestalt Trauma Therapy (GTT): A Systematic Literature Review: . Phenomena Journal - International Journal of Psychopathology, Neuroscience and Psychotherapy, 8(2), 86–101. https://doi.org/10.32069/PJ.2021.2.306

Copyright (c) 2026 Chiara Scognamiglio, Enrico Moretto

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Objective: Body-oriented Gestalt therapy represents an integrative approach to trauma treatment that emphasizes body awareness, interoceptive and proprioceptive sensations, and bottom-up processing of traumatic experiences. This systematic review examines empirical evidence for body-based interventions in trauma treatment, with particular focus on Gestalt principles of awareness, contact, and organismic self-regulation.

Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases for the period 2015-2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental studies, and systematic reviews of body-oriented trauma interventions.

Results: The analysis identified promising evidence for several body-oriented approaches, including Somatic Experiencing (d = 0.94-1.26), trauma-sensitive yoga (d = 1.07), sensorimotor psychotherapy, and dance movement therapy. Common therapeutic mechanisms include enhanced interoceptive awareness, regulation of the autonomic nervous system through polyvagal pathways, and completion of interrupted defensive responses.

Conclusions: Body-oriented Gestalt approaches demonstrate significant potential for trauma treatment, integrating phenomenological awareness principles with neurobiological mechanisms of bottom-up processing. Further RCTs are needed to establish standardized protocols and evidence-based guidelines.

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