One of the main questions I get in consultations and conversations with people is 'how does somatic therapy work?' To be honest, it's something you have to experience to understand, and I believe our scientific understanding of the nervous system and the physiology of somatic work only scratches the surface of how this practice works.

Somatic work celebrates our interconnectedness, within ourselves as mind-body-spirit, and with each other in community. This profound way of connecting to ourselves has drawn from the long-held beliefs of wisdom traditions and Indigenous cultures throughout the world, and is now being acknowledged and understood by our modern-day science and psychology paradigms.

A holistic & creative approach to healing...

Somatic therapy is a unique form of therapy that focuses on the mind-body connection that honours your innate wholeness and well-being. By integrating traditional talk therapy with nervous system regulation, movement techniques and mindfulness practices, somatic therapy addresses the ways in which emotional issues manifest in the body, helping people release tension, trauma, and stress.

But somatic therapy is not just a 'body-based' counselling method. It is a way of transforming the way we experience ourselves as part of the world around us.

An exploration of what is here right now....

At its core, somatic therapy recognizes that the mind and body are intricately connected and that emotional experiences manifest physically in the body. In our sessions together, we work in the present moment, and emphasize the importance of tuning into bodily sensations, movements, and gestures to gain insight into what is emerging in your emotional and psychological state. By working with the body's natural wisdom, somatic therapy aims to help individuals process and release unresolved emotions, trauma, and stress, leading to greater overall health and vitality.

What is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy is guided by several key principles, including:

1. Embodiment

Somatic therapy emphasizes the experience of being present in the body and cultivating awareness of bodily sensations, feelings, and impulses. In somatics, we understand that we are always embodying something. Oftentimes we are unconsciously embodying the values of our culture and collective conditioning, like capitalism or hustle-culture.

Somatic therapy helps us to identify what do I want to embody in my life?

2. Felt Sense of Safety

Creating a safe and supportive environment is essential for somatic therapy to be effective. Regulating the nervous system to helps the body to relax out of a highly activated state, and together we walk towards processing trauma in a way that is well-paced and attentive to your nervous system experience. Somatic therapists prioritize establishing trust and rapport with clients to ensure they feel secure and comfortable exploring their inner experiences. Together, we build a language of images, sensations and symbols that are unique to your experience.

3. Non-Verbal Communication

I pay close attention to nonverbal cues such as posture, gestures, and facial expressions, and support you to become familiar with your own nonverbal cues. We spend time exploring gestures to gather more information and new perspectives on your experience.

4. Mind-Body Integration

Integration is essential. Somatic therapy recognizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body and seeks to facilitate integration and harmony between these aspects of self. Integration is such an important part of our work together, and can show up at a variety of stages in the process. We create integration by pausing, by going slowly, by resourcing, and allowing time to pass.

Somatic work happens at the level of your neurobiology: we are creating new neural pathways, renegotiating trauma and activating the possibilities of your life.

I believe that somatic practices are an essential part of our everyday toolkit for emotional regulation and community care. Beyond our time together in session, you will take home tools and techniques for better connecting with your inner experience. These skills ultimately benefit our families and communities, meaning when you come to therapy you benefit not only yourself, but your loved ones and community at large.

I have clients who have gone on to support their loved ones through panic attacks using the techniques they learned and experienced in session. Other clients have learned how to walk themselves through somatic practices, and create space in their everyday life to look inwards and alchemize challenging feelings. Our families benefit too when we can talk about our nervous system states, share our feelings vulnerably, and be there to support each other through our most stressful moments.

When we start to see the world through this lens, it permeates our experience, and a sense of relief washes over us.

We are all co-regulating and supporting each other in the world.... let us learn how to take better care of ourselves and one another.

Until next time...appreciating the process.

Andree

Read Next: 6 Essential Premises of Somatic Therapy

more about somatics→
frequently asked questions→
booking & availability→

Interested in learning more? You can Book a complimentary 20 minute consult to see if working together is a good fit for you!