What is Somatic Therapy

What Is Somatic Therapy and How Does It Work?

The UK is in the middle of a mental health crisis, with 1 in 4 people experiencing mental health problems each year. Because of hustle culture, diet culture, social media, technology and overconsumption, much of our attention is focused on the outside world, not what’s on the inside, which is causing a complete disconnection from our bodies. 

It’s no wonder, then, that somatic therapy has seen an increase in popularity in the UK in recent years. This powerful body-oriented practice helps focus the connection between body and mind. It’s only natural that people are gravitating towards somatic practices for their healing. 

What Is Somatic Therapy?

While traditional talk therapy can have a real impact, it concentrates largely on thoughts and behaviours. Somatic therapy, however, takes it one step further by engaging with the body. When we experience trauma or chronic stress, the body holds onto it - sometimes for years! That’s why somatic therapy can be so transformational. 

Somatic techniques help release stuck emotions, regulate the nervous system, and restore a sense of balance. It focuses on tuning into your body’s sensations, giving you a better understanding of how and where the trauma is being held in your body. Through gaining greater awareness of your internal emotions and sensations, you rewire your brain to improve its thinking patterns.

How Does Somatic Therapy Work?

There are many somatic exercises that can have emotional and physical benefits. Here are a few examples: 

Grounding

Grounding helps people centre themselves in the present moment. Some of these techniques include tensing and relaxing different parts of your body, noticing the contact between your feet and the ground, or even running water over your hands, bringing awareness to the sensations you experience. This is particularly beneficial for anxiety and flashbacks because the physical sensations can alleviate the symptoms.

Breathwork 

This conscious type of breathing allows you to connect your mind and body. There are a range of different breathing techniques that can be implemented to calm the Parasympathetic Nervous System (the rest and digest system) and the Sympathetic Nervous System (the fight-or-flight system). Somatic breathing helps you regain control, heightens your awareness, and enhances your overall well-being. The benefits of this include lower blood pressure, emotional regulation support, reduced heart rate, self-awareness and self-acceptance, support for stress-related conditions and overall relaxation. 

Body Scans 

Body scans bring awareness to your body and help you identify where you hold tension or pain in your body, physically and emotionally. This practice is done by lying or sitting in a comfortable position and bringing awareness to your body, usually starting at your feet and working your way up, noticing your body’s sensations. It’s important not to rush the process. 

Resourcing and Visualisation 

When you’re feeling stressed, distressed, or anxious, visualisation can help you create and feel a safe sensation in your mind. Visualising a happy place, person or time where you feel at peace helps to relax your body and regulate your nervous system. 

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy tool used to engage both sides of the brain simultaneously to activate the natural healing response. The rapid eye movements used in this exercise are called bilateral stimulation, and this process helps reframe experiences and ignite new thought pathways to form, so the memories and feelings lose their once emotionally charged intensity. You can read more about EMDR here. 

Who Is Somatic Therapy For?

Somatic therapy can be extremely powerful for people who are feeling disconnected from themselves. It has been known to have a positive impact on conditions such as:

• Anxiety

• PTSD and trauma

• Depression

• Chronic pain

• Stress 

• Grief 

• Addiction 

How I Can Help

Whether you’d like to explore somatic therapy for your own self-healing journey or you’re a practitioner interested in developing somatic skills to help your clients, you can sign up for my online somatic therapy workshop, the Reset and Regulate Skills Workshop, which will take place on the 23rd of April. 

If you’d like more information about what I offer at Empowered Trauma Therapy, then please get in touch here.