PTSD: A controlled trial (Brom et al., 2017) reported in the Journal of Traumatic Stress involved 33 patients receiving 15 weekly sessions of Somatic Experiencing and 30 patients in a waitlist control group. Participants receiving Somatic Experiencing reported a significant decrease in the severity of PTSD symptoms and depression compared to the control group.

Low-back pain & PTSD: A controlled clinical trial (Andersen et al., 2017) reported in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology involved 91 patients with chronic low-back pain and comorbid PTSD. Half received treatment as usual involving 4–12 sessions of supervised exercises for low back pain while the other half received an additional 6-12 sessions of SE. The group receiving SE experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and fear of movement and improvements in physical functioning over the control group at a one-year follow-up.

Depression: A controlled trial of body psychotherapy (Röhricht et al., 2013) reported in the Journal of Affect Disorders involved 21 patients with chronic depression who had more than 2 years of symptoms and had not responded well to standard treatments, against a waiting control group of 10. Body psychotherapy was manualized and delivered in small groups for 20 sessions over a 10 weeks period. Participants receiving body psychotherapy showed significant improvements in depression symptoms compared to those receiving treatment as usual.

A systematic analysis of 16 studies on SE (Kuhfuß et al., 2021) reported in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology found preliminary evidence supporting its effectiveness in reducing PTSD-related symptoms, as well as improvements in affective and somatic symptoms and overall well-being.

A systematic review by (de Sousa et al., 2020) reported in the Journal Estudos de Psicologia focused on somatic interventions for PTSD, including SE, brainspotting, yoga and meditation. The somatic approaches presented in this review showed a positve impact on complementary treatments producing perceptible physiological, psychological and behavioral results. The effects were better with SE and brainspotting (between 80% and 90%), which were found to have the greater potential for PTSD treatment.

A meta analysis (Rosendahl et al., 2021) reported in Frontiers of Psychiatry reviewed 18 controlled studies of body psychotherapies including functional relaxation, dance/movement therapy, concentrative movement therapy, and body psychotherapy approaches inspired by Reichian methods. It found that body psychotherapies significantly reduced symptoms of psychological distress, such as depression, anxiety, and somatization.

Two case studies involving a man (Payne et al., 2015), and a woman (Bonzon, 2013), showed SE to be an effective approach to help reduce dysregulation and the use of medication.

References

Andersen, T. E., Lahav, Y., Ellegaard, H., & Manniche, C. (2017). Psychological trauma and somatization: Somatic Experiencing as a possible intervention. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8(1).

Bonzon, R. (2013). Intervenção da experiência somática em caso de TEPT complexo. In C. P. Rossi & L. Netto (Eds.), Práticas psicoterápicas e resiliência: diálogos com a experiência somática (pp. 246-261). São Paulo: Scortecci.

Brom, D., Stokar, Y., Lawi, C., Nuriel-Porat, V., Ziv, Y., Lerner, K., & Ross, G. (2017). Somatic Experiencing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Outcome Study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(3), 304–312.

de Sousa, A. (2020). A systematic review of somatic intervention treatments in PTSD: Does Somatic Experiencing® (SE) have the potential to be a suitable choice? Archives of Mental Health, 21(4), 121–130.

Kuhfuß, M., König, J., & Vaitl, D. (2021). Somatic Experiencing® – A Scoping Review of Evidence for Psychophysiological Effects of Trauma Therapy.
Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 714343.

Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1-18.

Röhricht F, Papadopoulos N, Priebe S. An exploratory randomized controlled trial of body psychotherapy for patients with chronic depression. J Affect Disord. 2013 Oct;151(1):85-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.056. Epub 2013 Jun 14. PMID: 23769289.

Rosendahl, S & Sattel, H & Lahmann, C. (2021). Effectiveness of Body Psychotherapy. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 12. 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.709798.

EMDR is well-known as one of the most scientifically-validated psychotherapies, with hundreds of published studies. The American Psychological Association (APA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have both recognized EMDR as an effective treatment for PTSD. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends EMDR as one of only two trauma therapies with strong empirical support, alongside Trauma-Focused CBT.

A meta-analysis of 76 trials (Cuijpers et al., 2020) published in the Journal of Psychological Medicine concluded that EMDR was more effective than other therapies for PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms.

Another meta-analysis of 70 trials involving 4,761 participants (Bisson et al., 2013) published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT to be more effective than waitlist or usual care.

In multiple randomized controlled trials, EMDR has demonstrated rapid symptom reduction and a long-lasting therapeutic effect. One such trial (De Jongh et al., 2002) published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology involved 184 patients with travel phobia who received an average of 7.3 1-hour sessions. EMDR therapy produced significant reductions in travel anxiety and a return to driving or traveling.

Research using neuroimaging techniques like fMRI (Mattera et al., 2022) show that EMDR therapy can induce notable changes in brain activity, particularly in areas linked to memory and emotional regulation including the prefrontal cortex and limbic system.

References

Bisson, J. I., Roberts, N. P., Andrew, M., Cooper, R., & Lewis, C. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12), CD003388.

Cuijpers, P., Veen, S. C. V., Sijbrandij, M., Yoder, W., & Cristea, I. A. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for mental health problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 1-12.

De Jongh, A., Holmshaw, M., Carswell, W., & Van Wijk, A. J. (2002). Usefulness of a trauma-focused treatment approach for travel phobia. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(12), 1413–1424.

Mattera A, Cavallo A, Granato G, Baldassarre G, Pagani M. (2022) A Biologically Inspired Neural Network Model to Gain Insight Into the Mechanisms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. Front Psychol. 2022 Jul 13;13:944838. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.944838. PMID: 35911047; PMCID: PMC9326218.

World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. Geneva: WHO.

Peer-reviewed studies show support for the effectiveness of IFS for depression, rheumatoid arthritis-related pain, childhood trauma, PTSD and internet addiction.

Depression: A randomized controlled trial of 37 female college students experiencing depression (Haddock et al., 2016) published in the Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy found that IFS produced significant improvement in symptoms of depression compared to the other therapy models tested (CBT and interpersonal psychotherapy).

Rheumatoid-arthritus related-pain: A randomized controlled trial (Shadick et al, 2013) published in the Journal of Rheumatology involved 39 patients receiving 36 weeks of IFS therapy versus 40 patients receiving education (control). The IFS-based intervention produced greater positive effects, reducing pain and depressive symptoms, while improving physical function and self-compassion. Results were sustained at a one year follow-up.

Childhood trauma: In a clinical trial (Hodgdon et al., 2021) published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 17 adults with a history of multiple childhood traumas received 16 90-minute sessions of IFS therapy. Patients started the trial with a moderate-to-severe degree of PTSD and at a one month follow-up, 92% of participants no longer met criteria for PTSD. Significant gains were reported in depression, dissociation, self-compassion, affect regulation and self perception which were statistically and clinically significant.

PTSD: In a clinical trial (Comeau et al., 2024) published in the APA Journal of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 15 patients with PTSD from childhood, physical or sexual abuse, or intimate partner violence received 16 90-minute weekly groups and 8 50-minute biweekly individual sessions of IFS therapy. A clinically meaningful response in PTSD symptoms was demonstrated in 53% of participants with improvements in decentering, self-compassion, and emotion regulation.

Internet Addiction: In a randomized controlled trial (Mehrad Sadr et al., 2023) published in the Journal of Psychological Science, 17 adults diagnosed with internet addiction received 10 2-hour group IFS therapy sessions over 1.5 months, compared to a control group of 18 adults that received no treatment. The IFS intervention produced a statistically and clinically significant reduction in symptoms of internet addiction.

According to SAMHSA National Registry for Evidence-based Programs: As a clinical treatment, IFS has been rated effective for improving general functioning and well-being. In addition, it has been rated promising for each of: improving phobia, panic, and generalized anxiety disorders and symptoms; physical health conditions and symptoms; personal resilience/self-concept; and depression and depressive symptoms.

References:

Comeau, A., Smith, L. J., Smith, L., Soumerai Rea, H., Ward, M. C., Creedon, T. B., Sweezy, M., Rosenberg, L. G., & Schuman-Olivier, Z. (2024). Online group-based internal family systems treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Feasibility and acceptability of the program for alleviating and resolving trauma and stress.Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 16(Suppl 3), S636–S640. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001688.

Haddock SA, Weiler LM, Trump LJ, Henry KL. The Efficacy of Internal Family Systems Therapy in the Treatment of Depression Among Female College Students: A Pilot Study. J Marital Fam Ther. 2017 Jan;43(1):131-144. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12184. Epub 2016 Aug 8. PMID: 27500908.

Hodgdon, Hilary & Anderson, Frank & Southwell, Elizabeth & Hrubec, Wendy & Schwartz, Richard. (2021). Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Survivors of Multiple Childhood Trauma: A Pilot Effectiveness Study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. 31. 1-22. 10.1080/10926771.2021.2013375.

Mehrad Sadr, M., Borjali, A., Eskandari, H., & Delavar, A. (2023). Design and validation of a therapy program based on the internal family systems model and its efficacy on internet addiction. Journal of Psychological Science, 22(121), 19-35.

Shadick NA, Sowell NF, Frits ML, Hoffman SM, Hartz SA, Booth FD, Sweezy M, Rogers PR, Dubin RL, Atkinson JC, Friedman AL, Augusto F, Iannaccone CK, Fossel AH, Quinn G, Cui J, Losina E, Schwartz RC. A randomized controlled trial of an internal family systems-based psychotherapeutic intervention on outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis: a proof-of-concept study. J Rheumatol. 2013 Nov;40(11):1831-41. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.121465. Epub 2013 Aug 15. PMID: 23950186.

Chronic back pain: A randomized controlled trial (Ashar et al., 2022) reported in JAMA Psychiatry involved 151 adults with primary chronic back pain (mean duration 10 years) randomized to PRT, an open-label placebo injection, or usual care. PRT consisted of one telehealth session with a physician and 8 therapy sessions over 4 weeks. At post-treatment, 33 of 50 participants (66%) in the PRT group were pain-free or nearly pain-free, compared with 10 of 51 (20%) receiving placebo and 5 of 50 (10%) receiving usual care, with gains largely maintained at one-year follow-up. Treatment effects were mediated by reduced beliefs that pain indicates tissue damage, and fMRI showed reduced prefrontal responses to evoked back pain and increased prefrontal-somatosensory connectivity in the PRT group. nih

Five-year follow-up: A follow-up of the same trial (Ashar et al., 2025) reported in JAMA Psychiatry obtained data from 113 of the original 151 participants. 55% of PRT patients were nearly or completely pain-free at 5 years vs 26% in the placebo and 36% in the usual care groups. PRT also produced significant improvements in pain interference, depression, anger, fear of movement, and attribution of pain to mind-brain processes, with no booster sessions provided. Medscape

Mechanism: A secondary analysis (Ashar et al., 2023) reported in JAMA Network Open examined participants' natural language descriptions of their pain. 51% of post-treatment attributions in the PRT condition were mind- or brain-related, compared with 8% in control conditions, and increases in mind-brain attribution mediated the effects of PRT on pain intensity at one-year follow-up. ResearchGate

Related treatment for chronic back pain: A randomized trial (Donnino et al., 2021) reported in Pain Reports tested Psychophysiologic Symptom Relief Therapy, a closely related brain-based approach, in 35 patients with chronic back pain against mindfulness-based stress reduction and usual care. The PSRT group showed an 83% reduction in pain disability at 26 weeks versus 22% and 11% in the comparison groups, and 64% reported being pain-free at 26 weeks versus 25% and 17%.

Fibromyalgia: An open-label pilot (Sturgeon et al., 2025) reported in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine tested a brief three-session telehealth version of PRT in 35 adults with fibromyalgia. Completers reported significant reductions in average pain intensity (effect sizes of d=0.56 at 1 month, d=0.80 at 2 months, and d=0.89 at 3 months) and pain interference, along with reduced pain-related fear. Blairgolson

Chronic widespread pain: A pilot randomized clinical trial (2026) reported in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research enrolled 53 participants with chronic widespread pain, randomized to PRT (n=27) or psychoeducation control (n=26) over 12 weeks. PRT was found to be feasible and acceptable, with favorable trends in pain, functional outcomes, and psychological well-being. ScienceDirect

Migraine: A case series (Fishbein et al., 2025) reported in Headache applied PRT to patients with migraine and reported improvements in headache outcomes.

References

Ashar, Y. K., Gordon, A., Schubiner, H., Uipi, C., Knight, K., Anderson, Z., Carlisle, J., Polisky, L., Geuter, S., Flood, T. F., Kragel, P. A., Dimidjian, S., Lumley, M. A., & Wager, T. D. (2022). Effect of pain reprocessing therapy vs placebo and usual care for patients with chronic back pain: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 79(1), 13–23.

Ashar, Y. K., Low, E. L., Knight, K., et al. (2025). Pain reprocessing therapy vs placebo and usual care for patients with chronic back pain: 5-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 82(10), 1049–1051.

Ashar, Y. K., Lumley, M. A., Perlis, R. H., Liston, C., Gunning, F. M., & Wager, T. D. (2023). Reattribution to mind-brain processes and recovery from chronic back pain: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(9), e2333846.

Donnino, M. W., Thompson, G. S., Mehta, S., Paschali, M., Howard, P., Antonsen, S. B., Balaji, L., Bertisch, S. M., Edwards, R., Ngo, L. H., & Grossestreuer, A. V. (2021). Psychophysiologic symptom relief therapy for chronic back pain: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Pain Reports, 6(3), e959.

Fishbein, J. N., Schuster, N. M., Anders, A., Portera, A. M., & Herbert, M. S. (2025). Pain reprocessing therapy for migraine: A case series. Headache, 65(9), 1660–1665.

Sturgeon, J., Trost, Z., Ashar, Y. K., Lumley, M. A., Schubiner, H., Clauw, D., & Hassett, A. L. (2025). Brief pain reprocessing therapy for fibromyalgia: A feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy pilot. Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. Advance online publication.

Sit, R. W. S., Chan, C. Y. K., Fong, H. P. Y., Fung, C. L. C., & Wong, S. Y. S. (2026). Pain reprocessing therapy in adults with chronic widespread pain: A pilot randomized clinical trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Research.

A meta-analysis (Roddy et al., 2020) reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology synthesized data from 58 studies encompassing over 2,000 couples. Couples therapy was found to produce a large effect on relationship satisfaction and significant improvements in communication, emotional intimacy, and partner behaviors. These gains were generally maintained over both short- and long-term follow-ups. Notably, couples on waitlists showed minimal improvement.

References:

Roddy, M. K., Walsh, L. M., Rothman, K., Hatch, S. G., & Doss, B. D. (2020). Meta-analysis of couple therapy: Effects across outcomes, designs, timeframes, and other moderators. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(7), 583–596.

A meta-analysis (Batastini et al., 2021) reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy evaluated the efficacy of live video-delivered psychotherapy compared to traditional in-person sessions. Analyzing data from 57 studies encompassing over 9,000 participants, the study found that video-based therapy is as effective as face-to-face therapy, particularly for treatments targeting anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Findings support the clinical viability of video-based psychotherapy as an effective alternative to in-person therapy.

A meta-analysis (Liu et al., 2022) reported in Frontiers in Psychology focused on online psychological interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study concluded that online interventions effectively reduced depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Therapist-guided interventions were found to be more effective than self-help formats.

A systematic review (Ebert et al., 2023) reported in the Journal JMIR Mental Health examined the effectiveness of online and remote interventions for mental health in children and adolescents. The findings indicated significant effects in reducing depressive symptoms and moderate effects on anxiety and social functioning.

References

Batastini, A. B., Paprzycki, P., Jones, A. C., & MacLean, N. (2021). Are videoconferenced mental and behavioral health services just as good as in-person? A meta-analysis of a fast-growing practice. Psychological Services, 18(2), 252–263. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000408

Ebert, D. D., Harrer, M., Apolinário-Hagen, J., Baumeister, H., & Lehr, D. (2023). Internet- and mobile-based interventions for mental and somatic conditions in children and adolescents: A meta-review of 25 meta-analyses. Internet Interventions, 32, 100600.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2023.100600

Liu, X., Zhou, J., Chen, L., & Deng, Q. (2022). The efficacy of online psychological interventions on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1045400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1045400