For several decades cognitive therapy was utilized as a way to treat symptoms of anxiety, trauma, depression and more. By teaching clients ways to challenge and change negative thoughts, the goal was to change one’s thoughts in order to change how they feel and behave. What I and many researchers have learned over the past few decades is there was a MAIN component missing…. THE BODY and SENSATION.
What is Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is all about the body. Rooted in the Greek word SOMA meaning body, Somatic Therapy is focused entirely on the body and sensations. As Dr. Gabor Mate famously says, “Trauma is not the event that takes place, but rather is what happens inside your body as the result of that event.” Somatic Therapy aims to help the body unlock and release the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety such as pain, tension, headaches, digestive issues and chronic fatigue that often get stored and built up in the body after exposure to trauma and repeated stress has occurred.
Connecting Mind and Body
Although we can change thoughts, challenge the intrusive anxiety that may come to our mind, and evaluate evidence to suggest we are safe, this does not address physical SENSATIONS we feel when our amygdala and limbic system is triggering a danger response throughout our body. One cannot truly heal their nervous system without learning how to regulate this system, and TELLING it to calm down does not work (nor has it worked in the history of the world).
There is not one singular “SOMATIC THERAPY” that exists. It speaks to a multitude of therapies that focus on incorporating the human body and physical experiences. Therapies such as Emotional Freedom Technique, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Somatic Experiencing (TM) and many others use somatic techniques in order to resolve the physical sensations of trauma and stress.
As I’ve written in previous blog posts, there is no one size fits all treatment for clients. Sometimes clients need a more cognitive approach to understand the way their thought patterns have been impacting their ability to enjoy life. Other times there is a need to focus on the sensations within the body. Often it is a fine balance between several different modalities based upon the needs of the client.
Consider taking a moment and sitting with your body. Notice sensations that come up. Don’t feel the need to push them down or avoid them, perhaps learning to sit with them and get curious about them instead. If you start to notice chronic and repetitive somatic symptoms with no physiological cause, it may be time to consider a somatic approach to your healing.
Wherever you are in your journey, we are here to help.
Deep breaths,
Jen