When most people think of therapy or psychotherapy, they think of talking through problems, gaining insights, and exploring thoughts and emotions through dialogue. However, there is an increasingly popular form of therapy that goes beyond just the mind and words – it’s called somatic psychotherapy. The word “somatic” refers to the body. Somatic psychotherapy is an approach that recognizes the deep connection between the mind and body. Rather than just talking, somatic therapy incorporates physical practices and body awareness to help release emotional/psychological issues stored in the body.
What is Somatic Psychotherapy?
Somatic body psychotherapy is a holistic approach to therapy that integrates the mind, body, and emotions in the healing process. It is based on the understanding that the body and mind are interconnected and that physical sensations, postures, and movements can profoundly influence emotional and psychological well-being. The premise is that our minds and bodies are inextricably linked.
By integrating body-oriented techniques, somatic psychotherapy aims to reach the root of issues holistically. It can help people get “unstuck” when talking hits a blockage. The idea is to go beyond the thinking mind and develop deeper embodied awareness. This allows stuck emotions, memories, and experiences to surface and be processed on a mind-body level.
The Core Principles of Somatic Psychotherapy
Somatic Psychotherapy: Tapping Into the Mind-Body Connection
1. Body-Mind Connection:
2. The body and mind are viewed as an integrated system and physical experiences are seen as inseparable from psychological and emotional experiences.
3. Body Awareness:
4. Developing greater awareness and attunement to bodily sensations, movements, and patterns is a key component of the therapeutic process.
5. Regulation of the Nervous System:
6. Somatic practices are used to help individuals regulate their autonomic nervous system responses, which can become dysregulated due to trauma or chronic stress.
7. Releasing Physical and Emotional Tensions:
Benefits of Somatic Psychotherapy
Somatic therapy can be helpful for many issues, including:
Ultimately, it is an approach well-suited for anyone wanting to understand themselves on a deeper level and heal from difficult past experiences stored in their bodily memory. Somatic psychotherapy is a powerful modality that brings the body back into therapy. For those looking to explore the mind-body connection more fully, it offers a promising path to lasting growth and healing.
About Nourish Wellness Center
At Nourish Wellness Center, we provide whole-person integrative mental, emotional, and spiritual health care. Our goal is to provide the best evidence-based practices with both traditional and holistic approaches. We enjoy working with individuals, couples, families, young adults, seniors, and LGBTQ members.
In addition, Nourish Wellness Center offers ongoing therapeutic events and groups, trauma-informed yoga sessions, energy healing sessions, and workshops. Please visit our Event Page on our website for upcoming dates and details.
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8. Through various somatic interventions, clients are guided to release chronic muscle tensions, constrictions, and other physical holding patterns that may be linked to unresolved emotional experiences or traumatic memories.
9. Embodied Experience:
10. Rather than solely relying on verbal communication, somatic psychotherapy emphasizes the importance of directly experiencing and exploring emotions, memories, and sensations through the body.
Trauma/PTSD
Anxiety/Stress
Depression
Chronic Pain
Sexual Abuse Recovery
Eating Disorders
Low Self-Esteem