Introduction

Have you ever felt a knot in your stomach during moments of stress, or a sudden headache or sweatiness when overwhelmed? Our bodies often speak the language of our emotions, holding onto our deepest fears, joys, and traumas. When clients say, “but I’m not anxious” I often inquire, “do you wonder if that’s because your body is ‘metabolizing’ the feelings for you, so your mind doesn’t register it?”

Somatic Psychotherapy is a body-based approach to healing combined with a cognitive approach that offers a path to healing to integrate both the mind and the body. 

Understanding Somatic Psychotherapy

Somatic Psychotherapy, at its core, is the practice of somatic skills combined with talk therapy. It aims to create understanding and interpreting the messages of the body and how the mind interprets these. It relies on the principle that our mind and body are inextricably linked — each emotional experience we undergo has a physical mainfestation. I frequently teach clients how emotions begin in the body, and are then interpreted by the mind.

This form of therapy is particularly beneficial for those who have experienced trauma, as the body can have patterned responses to trauma, manifesting as chronic pain, tension, or other physical reactions and symptoms.

The Bodymind Connection

The bodymind connection is a key concept in Somatic Psychotherapy. It’s the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can directly affect our physical health and functioning. Conversely, our felt-sense and experiences can inform and influence our mental states. This two-way communication is central to understanding how healing the body can lead to profound emotional changes.

Techniques and Exercises

Somatic Psychotherapy employs a variety of techniques to reconcile the bodymind connection:

🧘Mindful Movement: This involves very gentle movements that heighten body awareness, allowing individuals to observe and release any held physical tension.

🩻Body Scanning: A guided meditation that involves mentally scanning the body for areas of tension or discomfort.

☀️Breathing Exercises: Techniques that use breath to regulate the nervous system, often leading to a sense of calm and relaxation.

🌱Grounding Techniques: These exercises help individuals feel more connected to the present moment and their physical environment.

🙂Traditional talk therapy: skills like Socratic Questioning and understanding/challenging cognitive distortions.

Real-Life Applications and Benefits

In practice, somatic psychotherapy can have a transformative effect. For survivors of childhood trauma, traditional therapies often only provide limited relief. This is primarily because trauma impacts how our brain creates memory, narratives, and timelines. “Just talking” about childhood wounds isn’t the same thing as processing them. However, through somatic therapy, clients learn to identify and release the emotional pain that also impacts physical functioning. Gradually, they begin experiencing a sense of emotional freedom.

Somatic Psychotherapy is an invitation to deeply reconcile our thinking selves with the stories our physical bodies hold. For anyone on a journey of healing, somatic psychotherapy can be a powerful ally, guiding us towards a state of harmony, balance,  and wellbeing.

Connect with Me

If you’re curious about how Somatic Psychotherapy can help you on your healing journey, head to my Work With Me page or just book a free consultation to determine if we might be a good fit to work together. 

In Health & Wholeness,

Shannan