Understanding Locus of Control, Trauma, and Triggers: A Somatic Psychotherapy Perspective

Somatic psychology explores how deeply our psychological experiences are woven into the fabric of our bodies. One of the most profound influences on mental and emotional well-being is locus of control—the degree to which individuals believe they have control over their lives. When trauma enters the picture, this sense of control can become disrupted, leaving people vulnerable to overwhelming emotional and physiological responses known as triggers. From a somatic psychology perspective, healing involves not just cognitive understanding but also renegotiating these experiences through the body.

Locus of Control: Internal vs. External Orientations

Locus of control exists on a spectrum between internal (believing one has agency over their life) and external (attributing outcomes to outside forces like fate, luck, or other people). A healthy internal locus of control is often associated with resilience, motivation, and emotional regulation. However, trauma—especially chronic or developmental trauma—can erode this sense of agency. Survivors may develop an external locus of control, feeling powerless to influence their circumstances. This isn’t a character flaw but rather an adaptive response; when the world has been unpredictable or dangerous, surrendering control can feel like the only way to survive.

Yet, this shift can have long-term consequences. People with a predominantly external locus may struggle with self-efficacy, anxiety, or depression, feeling as though they are at the mercy of their environment. Somatic psychotherapy recognizes that this isn’t just a cognitive belief—it’s stored in the body as a felt sense of helplessness or hypervigilance.

Trauma and the Body’s Imprint

Trauma disrupts the nervous system, often leaving individuals stuck in survival responses—fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. These responses are not just psychological; they manifest physically. A raised heartbeat, muscle tension, shallow breathing, or a collapse response are all somatic expressions of trauma. When someone has experienced repeated trauma, their body may remain in a state of high alert, interpreting neutral stimuli as threats. This is where triggers come into play.

Triggers: The Body’s Memory of Danger

Triggers are sensory reminders—sounds, smells, tones of voice, bodily sensations—that unconsciously evoke past trauma. From a somatic perspective, triggers aren’t just "in the mind"; they are physiological reactions. The amygdala, the brain’s threat detector, fires before the prefrontal cortex can assess whether the danger is real. This is why triggers often feel uncontrollable—they bypass rational thought and plunge a person into a trauma response.

For example, a veteran with PTSD might hear a car backfire and instantly react as if under gunfire. A survivor of childhood abuse might tense up when someone raises their hand, even in a harmless gesture. These reactions are not overreactions—they are the body’s attempt to protect itself based on past experiences.

Somatic Approaches to Reclaiming Agency

Healing involves restoring a sense of safety and choice, both cognitively and somatically. Traditional talk therapy can help reframe beliefs about control, but somatic psychotherapy goes further by working directly with the body’s responses. Techniques such as grounding exercises, breathwork, and mindful movement help clients reconnect with their physical sensations in the present moment, distinguishing past trauma from current reality. 

A key somatic intervention is pendulation—gently guiding clients between sensations of distress and sensations of safety. This helps the nervous system learn that it can move out of a triggered state, reinforcing an internal locus of control. Another approach is titration, slowly processing traumatic material in small, manageable doses so the body doesn’t become overwhelmed.

Ultimately, the goal is not to eliminate triggers entirely but to build resilience—to help individuals recognize when they are triggered and respond with self-compassion and regulation. Over time, this fosters a renewed sense of agency, allowing them to navigate life with greater confidence and ease.

The journey of healing from trauma is deeply personal, but one truth remains: the body remembers, and the body can also relearn safety. By integrating somatic awareness with psychological insight, we can help individuals reclaim their locus of control—one breath, one sensation, one moment at a time.