Somatics

What is Somatics?

Somatic essentially means “of the body”. It is the practice of using the body as a source of information. It’s about noticing, building awareness, getting curious about, and tending to the body’s experience as an essential part of our overall wellness. At it’s core, Somatics understands that the mind, body, and spirit are not separate.

What is Somatic Psychotherapy?

In the field of Psychology, there has historically been an emphasis on the “mind over body” or a “top down” approach. This means that for years, psychology valued the intellectual mind over the signals from the physical body. Somatic Psychotherapy holds the wisdom of the body and spirit as equally valuable to the wisdom of the mind, and honors that the body holds information which is essential to our healing process.

This approach uses tools such as mindfulness, awareness, movement, breath work, supportive self touch, meditation, and more, to gather information that will support the healing process. It is grounded in anatomy, and uses physical sensation as a guide towards overall wellness.

This can look like feeling into the physical body, noticing how feelings show up as sensations, and deciphering the language of sensations so we can follow and support the body as it asks for what it needs.

Read more about the history of Somatic Psychotherapy here.

Can you do Somatic Therapy over teletherapy?

Absolutely! Feeling into your body can be done anywhere, including from the comfort of your own home. As your therapist, I will help you learn how to feel your feelings in your body. I will provide tools and practices that can help you get comfortable noticing, understanding, and responding to the physical sensations in your body. We can practice together in session, and you can use the tools to practice between sessions.

How do I know if this approach is for me?

This approach is wonderful for anyone who wants to feel more connected to themselves. If you tend to intellectualize your emotions, Somatic Therapy can help you drop into your body so you can feel and process your emotions on a deeper level. It can help you get on the same team as your body, working with it rather than against it. This approach supports the nervous system, which is essential for healing from trauma, as well as general stress management. If you feel like you tend to talk yourself in circles, using Somatics can be a way to bring new and useful wisdom on board.

Does this mean we won’t be doing talk therapy?

We will certainly be talking. We will also be feeling. Somatic Therapy does not discount the wisdom and usefulness of the intellectual mind. We want there to be an ongoing conversation with the mind and body. This means that we will likely be talking and processing verbally, as well as making space to pause, notice, and feel into sensations that arise while sharing. How much time we spend talking or feeling or noticing will depend on your personal comfort and tolerance. It’s a practice, so we’ll begin where you’re at, and go at a comfortable pace for you from there.