Somatic Therapy uses the connection between the mind and body to heal the maladies of both.

For many patients, it has proven helpful in treating PTSD, addiction, depression, and even chronic pain. Our mind and body are deeply symbiotic entities that coexist and work in tandem to regulate our thoughts, feelings, and actions. When you ignore the messages of your body, you create more physical and emotional pain for yourself. If you’re seeking a deeper connection between your mind and body, Somatic Therapy could be for you.

“The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of one’s being to be experienced, explored, enriched and thereby, educated.” – Thomas Hanna

What Can I Expect In A Somatic Therapy Session? 

Often, when we go through a traumatic experience, the emotional pain becomes overwhelming and we stop listening to our bodies’ signals. Trauma and grief can put you into what is called a theta state, which is the brainwave you enter before you fall asleep. That is why grief and trauma can make you feel like you are sleepwalking through life. It can feel like you are a dream and not grounded in reality. This can be incredibly disconcerting, and cannot be easily helped by traditional talk therapies alone.  

In a Somatic Therapy session, your therapist would help you work through this feeling via mindfulness and movement. When you sink into the sensation and how your emotions impact you physically, you are able to move through the intensity more effectively. Just talking through these emotions is helpful, but it’s easy to intellectualize your feelings away. It’s important to focus on both the mind and the body. When you focus on the intellectual aspect of your emotions, you are trapping them in your body, causing physical pain and dysregulation. In a session, you will be asked to shift your attention momentarily to the sensations in your body. Your therapist will be there as a guide and will help you make sense of those sensations. With mindfulness techniques and grounding techniques you will be able to unravel the emotions that are stuck, giving your body the attention it needs. You can do this on your own, but sometimes, it’s hard to make  sense of your experiences on your own. If you’re looking for extra support, you can schedule a session with Lauren.

“Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” – Audre Lorde

Does Somatic Therapy Involve Touch? 

Oftentimes, either due to trauma or preference, many patients who undergo somatic therapy have sensitivities around touch. Somatic Therapies can involve touch, but they can also involve hearing, seeing, tasting, or smelling. Regardless of the sense being activated, the treatments are to be carried out by a professional in a psychologically safe environment where your boundaries and sensitivities are respected. 

What Are The Techniques of Somatic Therapy? 

When you’re in a somatic session, you’ll get introduced to a number of methods for integrating your mind and body. We each have a unique connection to our own bodies, so these techniques will give each of us something a little different. 

• Body Awareness. Perhaps the most vital skill to make progress in somatic therapy is listening to the signals of your body. When we’re at work, or taking care of a child, we learn to ignore our body in order to push through our pain and discomfort. This practice of pushing through can be helpful in getting things done, but you can’t push through the sensations of your body forever. Eventually, you’ll need to start listening to your body again in order to meet your needs. Somatic therapy can help you untangle those pathways in your brain, and really hear the messages your body is trying to send to you.
• Grounding. When things get heated, it’s all too common to find ourselves in a world of emotion. In our anger or depression, it can be difficult to accomplish our goals, and even harder to picture a bright future. Grounding uses the sensation of the world around us to help us slip out of the world of emotion, and return to reality.

• Resourcing. We all have certain people, memories, or activities that light us up inside. This technique draws upon that positivity, in order to work through the difficult feelings that enter our mind. Whether you’re experiencing a trauma response, pain flare, or depressive episode, Resourcing can put you back in touch with positive sensation, and make it easier to go on.

• Pelvic Floor Exercises.  Throughout history, countless women have experienced sexual trauma. This trauma is held in the pelvis, and when we don’t consciously release the tension, it creates physical and emotional pain. Release the tension and  trauma stored in your pelvis with quick and easy techniques, which are designed to help you move stagnant energy through the pelvis. With these exercises, you will be able to connect to your root chakra, which will make you feel more grounded. Our EMPOWER bundle has a module all about the hidden powers of the pelvic floor and will help you release trauma through the pelvis.

“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos- the trees, the clouds, everything.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

 If you feel stuck on your healing journey, working with a therapist can help. Based on your needs, our intake specialist will help you get matched up with your perfect therapist. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.