You are more than your head or body. However, following a traumatic event, you might feel as though you are living in a haze. Somatic therapy can assist you in becoming more conscious of what happens in your body and mind to heal fully.
Should you have heard the expression “the body keeps the score,” then you may already be acquainted with somatic therapy. The foundation of somatic therapy is that unprocessed emotions can become imprisoned in the body. This method is frequently applied to assist trauma sufferers.
This treatment aims to change your trauma-related reactions so that they no longer cause you distress. Therapists in this kind of care typically employ breathing techniques, mindfulness practices, massage, visualization, and different movement or touch forms to reduce your body’s reaction to stressors.
Learn more about this kind of therapy, its advantages, and its varieties by continuing to read.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy, also referred to as body psychotherapy, is a therapy type that emphasizes the relationship between the mind and body and the experiences that individuals have in each. According to somatic therapy practitioners, traumatic experiences endure at the cellular level.
Understanding what is happening inside the body—that is, the physiological signals that arise in reaction to a provocation or the bodily responses that occur throughout the day, like headaches or stomach aches—is necessary for somatic therapy.
This body-centric therapy is based on the theory that people may eliminate tension, trauma, and anxiety from their bodies by addressing the bodily symptoms of unpleasant experiences.
Somatic Therapy Techniques
Some therapeutic approaches are common in somatic therapy, even though the exact methods will depend on your practitioner. Below is a summary of typical methods that a somatic therapist might employ.
Establishing Rapport
As with all therapy, somatic therapy starts with understanding yourself and your therapist. People often build rapport with their therapists during the first few meetings.
Psycho-Training
Your somatic therapist will also discuss trauma, healing, and somatic experience (SE) treatment with you during your first session. They will go over significant points like healing vortices (positive actions taken to reduce stress and feel better) and trauma vortices (which are mental tailspins caused by overwhelming recollections of trauma).
Resourcing
You use self-calming techniques during resourcing by concentrating on a secure and tranquil condition inside your body. For instance, your somatic therapist might ask you to explain your feelings if you’re seated across from them. You may say, “This couch feels relaxing, and my arms and legs are comfortable.” You can employ those comforting emotions to calm yourself when you’re upset.
Pendulation
Pendulation defines what happens next, like how a pendulum swings back and forth. You alternate gradually between recalling and resourcing the painful event, centered on a calm physical condition. As you discuss these feelings with your SE provider, they will offer guidance. You can briefly describe the start of your horrible experience and how it feels in your body, such as pressure in your chest and trembling in your legs, after revealing how secure you feel on the sofa. This method aims to teach you how to reach that state of relaxation without help.
Titration
Your therapy provider may require you to recollect a traumatic memory using this technique; during this process, you need to observe any physical changes occurring in your body. Then, as these changes happen, you respond to them. You can progressively go over and handle distressing memories by using this technique.
Talk therapy can help you understand what happened and start to feel better as the painful memory gets less physically intense. Your therapist may discuss your symptoms with you in these meetings and ask how well you’ve been able to control your emotions since the previous session.
Benefits of Somatic Therapy
It might occasionally feel counterproductive and uncomfortable to discuss past trauma. Hence, the advantages of somatic therapy can surpass those obtained from a program that focuses solely on talk therapy. Without using words, you can narrate a story through movement. It can assist you in healing from past wounds and increasing awareness of the feelings in your body.
Emotional Awareness
You can learn to recognize your feelings better. Aches and pains might occasionally be your body’s way of telling you that you’re sick or injured. In other cases, it might indicate the emergence of unresolved feelings. You might be able to make particular adjustments to your body by becoming more conscious of your posture and motions.
Positivity
Your mind is a powerful tool and an organ of habit, just like your body. Trauma alters the wiring in your body and brain to make it more resilient. It might get tiresome when your body starts using its fight-or-flight reaction as your primary mode.
This therapy urges you to view things more optimistically. Somatic therapy reprograms the brain’s neural networks. It helps you transition from survival mode to an emotionally balanced conscious state. It can assist you in reclaiming your life from unfavorable attitudes, sensations, and behaviors.
Change and Let Go Trauma
Somatic therapy can help people with PTSD regulate their symptoms and help many re-establish a connection with their bodies. Those who have suffered from physical trauma, such as abuse at home or from sexual assault, may find this particularly challenging.
Based on the idea that trauma accumulates in the body, somatic therapy seeks to convert this imbalance into regulation. It emphasizes how thoughts and behaviors can impact your body’s response to trauma and triggers, raising awareness of this process.
Let Go of Tension
Among the goals of somatic experience is to assist the body in letting go of trauma-related tension. It is where mindful somatic exercises become practical since they help people become more aware of their bodies and identify tight or painful spots.
People who have gone through trauma in the past could be struggling with behavioral disorders, which can lead to physical stress. A component of these behavioral disorders is the freeze reaction (which is a pause as an alternative to fighting or fleeing when someone feels threatened).
The brain is unable to determine that they are no longer in danger. It then proceeds with the freeze reaction, resulting in symptoms including disorientation, disassociation, and trouble moving.
Somatic experience is an excellent treatment for trapped trauma. This therapy goal is to retrain and reset the brain’s ability to recognize the absence of danger even when having similar physical reactions to past traumatic experiences.
Through mindfulness or attentive movements like tai chi or yoga, somatic therapy can help people discharge trauma by bringing consciousness to the locations in the body where it is held.
Incorporating Somatic Therapy in Your Mental Wellness
There are numerous established advantages to somatic treatment for people with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. You can improve many symptoms of mental health illnesses by returning consciousness to the body and reforming it to release the trauma held deep within the neurological system.
The most effective therapy approaches involve mobility. Incorporate the basic ideas of somatic therapy into your treatment sessions to help you reach your full potential mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Did you find this helpful? Check out our other helpful articles on our website.
Read Also
- How Developments in Technology Can Improve the Lives of People with AutismIt’s easy to focus on the negatives of the modern world, especially as far as modern technology often looks to change what you’re familiar with, but it’s also valuable to recognize the swathe of improvements that these developments bring. In particular, people who have conditions like autism might find that there are more options and… Read more: How Developments in Technology Can Improve the Lives of People with Autism
- Hurt in a Truck Accident? Here’s How You Can Rebuild Your LifeThe sheer size of a truck proves that it is capable of causing irreversible damage to your life. No aspect of your life is immune to the consequences of a truck accident. No matter the level of damage you’ve suffered, filing a truck accident lawsuit can help you gain some sort of compensation that can… Read more: Hurt in a Truck Accident? Here’s How You Can Rebuild Your Life
- Top 10 Dental Services Every Clinic Should OfferIn today’s dynamic society, dental clinics serve as essential health care hubs, offering solutions that transcend traditional services like teeth cleaning and cavity filling. They offer a wide array of services vital for patients’ health and confidence. Understanding the top services that can set a clinic apart is key. Here are ten essential dental services… Read more: Top 10 Dental Services Every Clinic Should Offer
- How Can Narrative Techniques Enhance Scientific Communication?Effective communication in science involves storytelling that makes complex information relatable and understandable to diverse audiences. Narrative techniques can bridge the gap between scientific concepts and public understanding, transforming how information is conveyed and perceived. These techniques enrich the narrative, making scientific findings more accessible and engaging. This approach is crucial for scientists who aim… Read more: How Can Narrative Techniques Enhance Scientific Communication?
- The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Fertility – Insights from Marin Fertility CenterNutrition plays a pivotal role in every aspect of human health, including fertility. For couples aspiring to conceive, understanding the impact of dietary choices on reproductive health can be a game-changer. This article, leveraging insights from Marin Fertility Center, explores how nutrition influences fertility and offers guidance on optimizing dietary habits for improved reproductive outcomes.… Read more: The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Fertility – Insights from Marin Fertility Center
- Guided Biofilm Therapy for better dental cleaningsProfessional prevention management is the go-to for today’s well-informed patients. With the growing importance of staying fit and healthy, there is a strong desire for patients to interrelate it with their oral health. As per a survey, more than 90% of 2,70,000 patients suggested GBT to others in comparison to the conventional methods. GBT is a… Read more: Guided Biofilm Therapy for better dental cleanings
- How to Choose the Right Abortion Clinic?Choosing the right abortion clinic is a critical decision for any woman facing an unplanned pregnancy. This decision not only impacts her immediate physical health but also her emotional and psychological well-being. With the vast amount of information available, navigating through options can be overwhelming. However, by considering a few key factors, women can find… Read more: How to Choose the Right Abortion Clinic?
- How Myriad Genetic Testing WorksGenetic testing has evolved to become the go-to option for uncovering the DNA makeup of humans. These tests also determine their susceptibility to certain diseases or conditions. Among the leading providers of these services is Myriad Genetics. Myriad Genetics is a renowned company that focuses on DNA assessments. They offer tests for different conditions, including… Read more: How Myriad Genetic Testing Works