Why Somatic Therapies Are ALL the Rage, Right Now

Calling all people with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Whether you’re struggling from adverse childhood events, a car accident, or nightmares from an intense experience, somatic therapy can help.

WHAT IS SOMATIC THERAPY?
Somatic therapy (or somatics) is a body-based therapy that uses the mind-body connection to tune into your inner self and notice any physical pain or what’s out of balance. These practices open up your world to so much more information about how your body is carrying the burden of unresolved issues. 

WHO ORIGINATED SOMATIC THERAPY?
Thomas Hanna, an educator coined the term in 1970 to describe a number of techniques that help people increase bodily awareness through a combination of movement and relaxation.

Here’s a simple way to understand it. Somatic therapy is a neck down approach because it focuses on the body where trauma is stored. It is helpful for anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

On the other hand, psychotherapy is a neck up approach since it focuses on cognitive behavior such as thinking of new perspectives to cope with your life. Sometimes trauma can be so intense, there’s no way to talk yourself out of it. You must calm the body with somatics to feel better.

Anxiety isn't all in your head.

Your body holds trauma too and somatic therapy can help you release it on a cellular level.

EXAMPLES OF SOMATIC THERAPY:

  • Alexander Technique

  • Body-Mind Centering

  • Breathwork

  • EMDR

  • Emotional Freedom Technique (it involves somatics & cognitive elements)

  • Feldenkrais Method

  • Grounding

  • Qigong

  • Rolfing

  • Tai Chi

  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation

  • Yoga


If the thought of reliving a past event makes you feel resistant, that is completely normal. It is uncomfortable to shake things up. That is what you want. Dance on the edge of your personal growth and see what happens. I’m here to help with EFT Tapping.

Imagine shaking a can of soda. You know what happens next. Bubbles and fizz fly to the surface and yes, it will explode. The same thing happens to you as you shake up old programming, stress, and trauma. Emotions fly to the surface and yes, you may explode. Once you allow your feelings to come up and out, your nervous system will begin to settle down. You will get to a point where the trauma won’t trigger you anymore. Ah, sweet relief!

You must shift your feelings first in order to create relief. The process goes like this: Feelings > Beliefs > Behaviors > Success

If you've tried meditation or talk therapy and aren't finding relief, it might be time to look into somatic therapy. They help you release pent up trauma that has become “trapped” in your body. The relief on the other side is SO worth shaking things up! Give yourself grace. Release the stress and finally feel free!

Would you consider exploring somatic therapy?

Michele SantoSomatic Therapy, Somatic, Somatics, Body-Based TherapyComment