So…what exactly is somatic therapy?
so·mat·ic
/səˈmadik/
adjective
relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.
(Oxford Dictionary)
Is somatic therapy is all about the body?
Somatic therapy doesn’t mean you ONLY focus on the body in therapy. Rather, you learn to use your body as a resource to process un-metabolized emotions and trauma. This can happen in so many different ways! Yes, we might get up and move during session, or, we might not! It depends on your needs and what naturally unfolds each session.
Let me put it another way: Can you imagine the difference between how it feels to tell someone a sad, familiar story, versus actually feeling that sinking sensation in your chest and tears behind your eyes when a wave of sadness hits you? In a somatic therapy session, we focus on that felt experience of emotion in the present moment. This doesn’t necessarily require movement. Different therapists / approaches may do this a bit differently, but essentially, we use the body to help you access unprocessed emotions in the present moment during your session.
The last few years have seen a huge rise in awareness and interest about somatic modalities of psychotherapy. Somatic Experiencing, Hakomi, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - to name just a few.
The widely accepted research has been showing what many folks have known all along… including the body in the healing process = better outcomes and more lasting change - especially for trauma related challenges. (Thank you, Bessel!).
