How is using Somatics in therapy useful?

​Somatic Psychotherapy provides an added dimension by taking the therapy out of the arena of second-hand reports (from your verbal mind) and into first-hand, felt experience. It can be very valuable in the process of self discovery and change. Somatics may open you up to information that can be overlooked in most analytic psychotherapy. Traditional therapy practices pay attention almost exclusively to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In Somatics, the added awareness of sensations and felt experiences within the body are used to deepen the work. This can provide a channel of cooperation between the unconscious and conscious. In turn, Somatics helps to facilitate communication among parts of yourself that may be lost, hidden, or isolated.

That being said, this does require a person to already have the ability to tune into their body and felt experience or at least the willingness to learn how to. For starters, do you know that your breath is both voluntary and involuntary? Do you know where your body moves as you breathe? Can you explore the ability to breathe more fully into your belly than into your chest? Are you aware of where you might be holding tension in your body right now while reading this? How do you know on a physical level when you feel increased stress, anxiety, sadness or even joy? Can you track your physical sensations while also having a conversation with another person? 

At a certain young age often out of necessity and poor modeling from adults, most people have learned to ignore their intuition and internal cues. In reality, our bodies often reveal first what our verbal, self conscious mind attempts to disguise and hide. There is truly useful information, memory and psychology, however, in the body. When we return to and start to consult it and build Somatic awareness and strength, literally, from the deeper tissues inside, we often become more confident in speaking and living from our truth. From that place we begin to shine and live more mindful, purposeful, integral lives.

Consider reaching out and scheduling a session if you want to learn and heal more.