People and research
A few places to learn more, with notes on what each offers and its limits. This is a starting list, not a ranking or endorsement.
Irene Lyon
Somatic education. Sensory awareness and everyday somatic learning.
Her work blends several approaches. Course claims are not the same as independent clinical evidence; some resources require email signup.
Joe Hudson
Emotional inquiry. Conversations about feelings, relationships, and the fear of being seen.
Coaching and personal development, rather than a validated PTSD treatment. An invitation to feel more won't fit every moment.
Jonny Miller
Practical learning. A vocabulary for stress, noticing, and experimentation.
Nervous System Mastery is an educational program with paid offerings. Its teaching framework is not a clinical outcome guarantee.
Bessel van der Kolk
Trauma research. Background on trauma, embodiment, and the research behind the conversation.
Some material is intense or intended for professionals. Evidence varies by intervention; an author's interest is not proof that a method works.
Research notes
For established PTSD treatment guidance, start with the VA's overview of recommended therapies. The studies below address narrower questions.
Brief somatic sessions
Two randomized studies reported encouraging immediate findings. They do not establish lasting trauma recovery. Read the study and its limits.
Parts work
A small trial found improvement in both groups, with no significant PTSD symptom advantage for the IFS-based program over its active comparison. Read the randomized trial abstract.
Polyvagal theory
Polyvagal language is influential, but key physiological claims remain contested. Read the critique and the response.
Research reviewed October 10, 2026.