Somatic Therapy
Understanding Somatic Therapy and Its Benefits
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy, also known as body-centered therapy, is a holistic approach to mental health that recognizes the intrinsic connection between the mind and body. It’s based on the understanding that our experiences, especially traumatic ones, are not just stored in our minds but also in our bodies. This approach integrates both physical and psychological strategies to address issues and promote healing that talk therapy alone cannot reach.
- Treating trauma and PTSD
- Managing chronic pain
- Reducing anxiety and depression
- Improving body awareness
- Enhancing emotional regulation
- Addressing physical symptoms of stress
The concept of somatic therapy was developed by several practitioners over time, but one of the key figures is Peter Levine, who created Somatic Experiencing in the 1970s. While continued research in Somatic Therapy is needed, current studies from the Journal of Traumatic Stress, the Journal of Clinical Psychology, Plos One (a peer reviewed mega journal), the European Journal of Psychotraumatology, Journal of Pain Research, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, and Frontiers in Psychology point to particular benefits in the treatment of PTSD, anxiety, depression, chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, and substance use disorders.
"The cure for pain is in the pain."
How Somatic Experiencing Works and Its Benefits
The Mind-Body Connection
Leading trauma experts, such as Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, have identified that trauma is stored in the body and nervous system and emphasize the importance of body-centered therapies in the treatment of trauma. As such, Somatic Therapy addresses the interconnectedness between the body/nervous system and our psychological wellbeing.
When you experience an emotion, your nervous system responds, often triggering physical sensations. For example, fear might activate your sympathetic nervous system (the one responsible for the fight/flight response), leading to an increased heart rate, shallow breathing, and muscle tension. Conversely, physical sensations can influence your emotional state. Chronic muscle tension, for instance, might contribute to feelings of anxiety or irritability.
This interconnection means that:
- Emotional experiences leave imprints on the body
- Physical experiences can evoke emotional responses
- The state of your nervous system influences both your physical sensations and emotional experiences
Understanding this connection is key in Somatic Therapy. By learning to recognize and influence these patterns, you can gain more control over your emotional responses and overall well-being.
"Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going on inside ourselves."
The Process and Benefits of Somatic Therapy
When integrating Somatic Therapy into our sessions, you can expect to focus on some or all of the following:
- Body awareness: Clients are encouraged to pay attention to their physical sensations, posture, and movements. This increased awareness helps identify how emotions and stress manifest in the body.
- Release of stored tension: The therapy aims to release physical tension that may be linked to emotional or traumatic experiences. This can involve gentle exercises, stretching, or specific movements.
- Nervous system regulation: Many somatic approaches focus on calming the nervous system, particularly for those dealing with trauma or chronic stress. Techniques like controlled breathing or grounding exercises are used to shift from a “fight-or-flight” state to a more relaxed state.
- Mindfulness practices: Clients learn to be present in the moment and observe their bodily sensations without judgment. This can help in recognizing and processing emotions more effectively.
- Resourcing: Therapists help clients identify and strengthen positive physical sensations associated with safety and well-being. These “resources” can be called upon in times of stress or discomfort.
- Titration: In trauma work, therapists guide clients to process difficult experiences in small, manageable doses to avoid overwhelm.
- Completion of survival responses: For trauma survivors, the therapy may involve safely completing physical responses that were interrupted during the traumatic event (like running or fighting back).
- Integration of cognitive and physical experiences: Clients are encouraged to verbalize their physical experiences, helping to integrate bodily sensations with thoughts and emotions.
- Experiential exercises: These might include role-playing, movement exercises, or guided imagery to explore emotions and experiences through the body.
- Touch (in some forms): Some somatic therapies may involve appropriate, consensual touch to help release tension or increase body awareness.
It’s important to note that somatic therapy is a collaborative process. The client is always in control, and we’ll work at a pace that feels comfortable for you. The goal is to help you feel more connected to your body, more in tune with your emotions, and better equipped to manage stress and challenging experiences.
Somatic Therapy with Other Modalities
While Somatic Therapy can be an effective treatment on its own, it can really shine when combined with other modalities. Because of its holistic nature that addresses the interconnectedness between the mind and body, it effectively compliments Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Psychodynamic Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Grief Counseling, Pain Management, and more.
The tools learned in sessions and practiced at home increase the overall efficacy of the treatment as clients learn to tune in to how their body sensations impact their mood/cognition and vice versa.
Why I Specialize in Somatic Therapy
Because it puts our conscious mind back in the driver seat of our lives!
Trauma often leads to two responses in our bodies – hyperarousal or hypoarousal (or a vacillation between the two). Hyperarousal is a state of heightened physiological and psychological alertness. It’s that feeling when you are constantly on edge, waiting for the next bad thing to happen. In contrast, hypoarousal is a state of decreased physiological and psychological activity. It’s that feeling of numbness, emotional flatness, and the feeling of being disconnected from your body and what’s going on around you.
When we are in one of these states, we are unable to effectively access our reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Have you ever had a strong emotional and physiological reaction to something that interfered with your ability to think? Or have you ever tried to talk yourself out of feeling something that didn’t seem based on reality, but couldn’t?
That’s because when we are in a hyperaroused state, our nervous system’s sole focus is going to be getting us ready or fight or flee. If we can’t do that, it often puts us into a hypoaroused state where we “shut down” in order to cope with what is happening. In both scenarios, our nervous system prevents our access to our prefrontal cortex (the part of our brain responsible for problem-solving and reasoning). And if we don’t have access to our prefrontal cortex, cognitive therapies like CBT won’t work effectively!
I specialized in Somatic Therapy because it gives us back control by sensing and changing our physiological sensations in order to access our prefrontal cortex and make decisions that would better serve us. It puts our consciousness back in the driver seat so we can use the goodness of our nature and the guide of our values to make choices.
And isn’t that the whole point of going to therapy in the first place?
Let's You Reconnect You with Your Body So You Can Live More Freely
I love what Somatic Therapy has done for my own healing journey. If you’re interested in Somatic Therapy as well, click the link below to schedule a free 20-minute consultation to see how I may be able to help you.
