Traumatic events can impact an individual’s physical and psychological state, leaving them deeply affected and unable to cope. Somatic therapy can be a solution to these constant stress responses by exploring aspects of positive psychology, such as values, strengths and self-compassion. Read on to see if somatic therapy can benefit you. Give us a call to start your recovery journey today.
Somatic therapy falls under the category of mind-body treatments, relating to acknowledging the traumatic experience and learning how to live with it. Clients can pay more attention to their bodies and explore sensations such as the following:
When someone experiences a traumatic event, the trauma will reside in their body. However, unlike most forms of therapy, somatic therapies do not focus on evoking traumatic memories. Instead, it approaches the memories through the body, promoting a safer and more comfortable bodily experience. Some techniques include:
Anyone can use somatic therapy as an alternative to regular talk therapy for the following mental and physical health conditions: Anxiety, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Addiction, Depression, Grief, Stress, Digestive disorders, & Chronic pain.
The primary reason people turn to somatic therapy is to release the emotional trauma trapped in the body. If you use somatic therapy, you can benefit from the following:
Feel better physically and emotionally to focus on your recovery.
Experience how your body feels without pressures, anxiety and judgment of others.
Develop healthy coping mechanisms to use in real-world situations.
Become aware of toxic experiences and people and learn how to avoid them.
Learn mindfulness and become calmer more naturally.
To prepare for an somatic therapy session, be prepared to share your trauma history with your therapist. In the first session, they may ask about your health history and answer questions you may have about treatment. However, this is your therapy, so you may only answer the questions you feel most comfortable with. As your therapy continues, you may begin feeling safe to share more.
From there, each session will incorporate finding triggering events and getting to the root of the problem. Your therapist will then provide sensations of calmness and safety. You will alternate between these extremes to recognize your internal state and reconnect with your body.
