The following resources are specific to the use of Trauma Centre, Trauma Sensitive Yoga for Complex & Developmental Trauma, & are listed in chronological order.
Articles are available for download here or on the website of The Center for Trauma and Embodiment.
Please note:
- in a number of these studies, where the generic term 'yoga' is used it should be understood that the protocol being delivered is Trauma Sensitive Yoga as developed at the Trauma Centre, Boston
- because PTSD is the only DSM recognised trauma diagnosis, research proposals necessarily cite PTSD. However, the inclusion/exclusion criteria for subjects is intended to recruit people with Complex &/or Developmental Trauma.
Yoga as a Pre-Treatment of EMDR to treat Childhood Abuse-related PTSD: Feasibility and Pilot Study - Camille Allenea, Florence Durand et al European Journal of Psychotraumatology, Vol 16 (2025)
The Palgrave Handbook of Third-Wave Psychotherapies - Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: Conceptual Components, Facilitation Guides, and Reflections - David Emerson, Kristen Pringle, Maria Jude, Evan Bodine, Edwina Kempe, and Viann N. Nguyen-Feng (2025)
Experiences with One-to-One Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Sessions: Consensual Qualitative Research - Kelsey M. Dietrich et al, International Journal of Yoga Therapy, No. 34 (2024)
The Power of Choosing Through Your Body through Yoga After Trauma: A Phenomenological Interpretive Analysis - Meven Blandin, University of Paris Nanterre Masters Dissertation (2025)
The Role of Interoception in Reducing Trauma Associated Distress: a Feasibility Study - Daria Shatrova, Pablo F. Cáncer & Jose Manuel Caperos, European Journal of Psychotraumatology (2024)
Efficacy of Yoga for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials - Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi et al, PMC Psychiatry Research (2024)
A Narrative Example of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) as an Intervention for Behavioural Health Outcomes in Children and Adolescents - International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Newsletter (2024)
Effects of One-to-One Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Sessions on Psychological Symptoms and Interoception over 6 Months - Kelsey M. Dietrich et al, International Journal of Yoga Therapy, No. 34 (2024)
Peer Support Groups Integrated with Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for Women Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Feasibility Study and Qualitative Examination - Rowan Wehrmann et al, International Journal of Yoga Therapy, No. 34 (2024)
Evidence-based treatments for PTSD symptoms resulting from military sexual trauma in women Veterans: A systematic review - Gavin M. Campbell et al, Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health (2024)
Coping with Depression, Anxiety & Stress: The Healing Effects of a Jail-Based Trauma Sensitive Yoga Program - Kimberly Collica-Cox et al, Issues in Mental Health Nursing Volume 45 (2024)
Yoga vs Cognitive Processing Therapy for Military Sexual Trauma–Related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder; A Randomised Clinical Trial - Belle Zaccari et al, The Journal of the American Medical Association (2023)
Treating Complex Trauma in the Context of Relationships: Adapting “Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga” as a Couples Therapy Intervention - Jeremy Lyne, A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy Fuller Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Clinical Psychology (2023)
Findings from a Pilot Study of Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga versus Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD Related to Military Sexual Trauma Among Women Veterans - Belle Zaccari et al, Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2022)
Synchronous Telehealth Yoga and Cognitive Processing Group Therapies for Women Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Multisite Randomised Controlled Trial Adapted for COVID-19 - Belle Zaccari et al, MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC./Sage Journals (2022)
Mind–Body Exercises for PTSD Symptoms, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients With PTSD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - Lin Zhu et al, Frontiers in Psychology Volume 12 | Article 738211 (2022)
A Pilot Study to Adapt a Trauma-Informed, Mindfulness-Based Yoga Intervention for Justice-Involved Youth - Ashli Owen-Smith, Holle Black, David Emerson et al, International Journal of Yoga Therapy No. 31 (2021)
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Women Veterans who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma: Interim Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial - Ursula Kelly, Terri Haywood, Eliza Segell, and Melinda Higgins, The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Volume 27, Supplement 1, 2021, pp. S45–S59
Moderators of Treatment Efficacy in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Trauma-Sensitive Yoga as an Adjunctive Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - Nguyen-Feng, V. N., Hodgdon, H., Emerson, D., Silverberg, R., & Clark, C. J. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000963, August 2020
Yoga for PTSD & the Role of Interoceptive Awareness : a Preliminary Mixed Methods Case Series Study - Neukirch, Reid & Shires, European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, Volume 3, Issue 1, January–March 2019, Pages 7-15
The Lived Experience of Teaching Trauma Sensitive Yoga - Evan Alyse Bodine, A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements of a Degree in Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Psychology & Philosophy, Texas Woman's University, August 2017
Gender & Trauma—Somatic Interventions for Girls in Juvenile Justice: Implications for Policy and Practice - Epstein & Gonzáles, Centre on Poverty & Inequality, Georgetown Law, April 2017
Effectiveness of an Extended Yoga Treatment for Women with Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - Price, Spinazzola, Musicaro, Turner, Suvak, Emerson and van de Kolk, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2017
Trauma Sensitive Yoga as a Complementary Treatment for PTSD - West, Liang & Spinazzola, International Journal of Stress Management, July 2016
Yoga for Adult Women with Chronic PTSD: A Long-term Follow-up Study - Rhodes, Spinazzola & van der Kolk, The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, February 2016
Claiming Peaceful Embodiment Through Yoga in the Aftermath of Trauma - Rhodes, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Vol. 21, Issue 4, Pages 247-256, September 2015
Feasibility Study / Yoga for Female Veterans with PTSD Symptoms & Military Sexual Trauma Exposure - Ursula Kelly, Health Services Research & Development, US Dept of Veterans Affairs 2015
Grant Application / Yoga for Female Veterans with PTSD Symptoms & Military Sexual Trauma Exposure - Ursula Kelly, 2015
Nursing Professor Develops Intervention for Effects of Military Sexual Trauma - Ursula Kelly / Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2015
Yoga for Traumatic Stress : A Three Paper Dissertation - A dissertation by Alison Rhodes, Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a degree of Doctor of Philosophy , March 2014
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga as an Adjunct Mental Health Treatment in Group Therapy for Survivors of Domestic Violence: A Feasibility Study - Clark, Lewis-Dmello, Anders, Parsons, Nguyen-Feng, Henn, Emerson, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Vol. 20, Issue 3, Pages 152–158, August 2014.
Yoga as an Adjunctive Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial - van der Kolk, Stone, West, Rhodes, Emerson, Suvak, Spinazzola, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 75(6), e559-e565, 2014.
A Pilot Study of a Randomised Controlled Trial of Yoga as an Intervention for PTSD Symptoms in Women - Mitchell, Dick, DiMartino, Smith, Niles, Kownen & Street, Journal of Traumatic Stress, April 2014, pp 121-128
A Few Good Women - U.S. Female Veterans are Getting Better Care - Nurse.com, 2014
Yoga's Place in the Treatment of PTSD - Bengis, Prescott, Tabachnick, NEARI Newsletter, 2014.
"Warrior One": Yoga Pose Takes on Whole New Meaning at VA Salt Lake City - Calhoon, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, February, 2013.
Interview: Yoga Teachers as Part of the Clinical Team - Emerson, Yoga Therapy Today, Summer 2012, pp 24-25.
Moving To Heal: Women's Experiences of Therapeutic Yoga After Complex Trauma - Jennifer I West, PhD Dissertation, Department of Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Boston College
Application of Yoga in Residential Treatment of Traumatised Youth - Spinazzola, J., Rhodes, A., Emerson, D., Earle, E., Monroe, K., Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2011, 17(6) 431-444.
Efficacy of Yoga for Treatment Resistant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - van der Kolk et al, Study Record Detail, www.ClinicalTrailas.gov, April 2011
Transcending Trauma - Sparrowe, L., Yoga International, Fall 2011, pp 48-53, 89
Warriors at Peace - Pollack, N., Yoga Journal, August 2010, pp. 74-104
Yoga Therapy in Practice: Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: Principles, Practice, and Research - Emerson, D., Sharma, R., Chaudry, S., Turner, J., International Journal of Yoga Therapy, No. 19 (2009), pp. 123-128
Yoga and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Interview with Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. - Integral Yoga Magazine (2009), pp.12-13
Clinical Implications of Neuroscience Research - van de Kolk, Journal of the New York Academy of Science, 2006