A Powerful Tool for Trauma Healing
Have you experienced a traumatic event or ongoing stress in your life? Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or physical symptoms that seem to have no apparent cause? If so, somatic experiencing therapy may benefit you.
What happens in somatic experiencing therapy?
Somatic experiencing therapy is a body-oriented approach that recognizes trauma as not just a mental or emotional experience, but also a physical one. Trauma can cause the nervous system to become dysregulated, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.
In somatic experiencing therapy, the therapist works with the client to gently explore and release the held energy and tension in the body caused by trauma. The client is guided through a series of exercises and techniques that help them tune into their bodily sensations and bring awareness to areas of tension and discomfort.
What does a somatic therapist do?
Somatic therapists help clients understand the connection between their bodily sensations and their emotions. They work with clients to develop skills for self-regulation and nervous system management to better cope with stress and regulate emotions.
Somatic therapists use a range of techniques to help clients heal from trauma, including guided imagery, mindfulness practices, breath work, and physical touch (with the client’s consent). The therapist also helps the client identify patterns of behavior or thought that are connected to their trauma and develop new ways of responding to triggers.
What is the difference between EMDR and somatic experiencing?
EMDR and somatic experiencing are both approaches to treating trauma, but differ in their focus and techniques. EMDR focuses on reprocessing traumatic memories through eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. Somatic experiencing, on the other hand, focuses on the bodily sensations and energy associated with trauma.
While both EMDR and somatic experiencing can be effective for trauma healing, somatic experiencing is particularly useful for clients who have experienced chronic, complex trauma, or those who feel disconnected from their bodies.
Does a somatic therapist touch you?
Somatic experiencing therapy may involve physical touch, but only with the client’s consent and in a safe and appropriate way. The therapist may use touch to help the client connect with their bodily sensations, but always in a way that respects the client’s boundaries and comfort level.
In summary, somatic experiencing therapy is a powerful tool for trauma healing that recognizes the connection between the body and the mind. A skilled somatic therapist can help clients develop a deeper understanding of their bodily sensations, learn to regulate their nervous system, and experience lasting relief from the symptoms of trauma.
