A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol for Soma Experiencing Motion Program (Soma e-motion Program): The Effectiveness of Contemplative Movement for Emotion Regulation

Somatics refers to body work and movement study that emphasize internal perception and experience. Recently, a new perspective has emerged that views somatics-based techniques as a kind of mindful movement. Somatic techniques as contemplative movement can improve emotional regulation ability through improvement of body awareness or interoception. Based on this background, the present study attempts to develop a somatics based program suitable for a group of clinical patients suffering from emotional dysregulation. This study plans to collect quantitative and qualitative data in order to clarify how interoception and the related emotional regulation ability change after the program. These findings will help to explore whether the somatics technique has potential as an emotion regulation program in the future. In addition, the results are expected to contribute to finding an alternative treatment modality for patients who have not achieved a sufficient effect with conventional psychotherapy.