Somatic therapies are a body – and mind-based approach to healing.
Far from just being a popular current trend, somatic therapies are evidence-based psychological techniques used by trained clinical social workers, psychotherapists, and psychologists to create lasting change in people struggling with trauma, including PTSD.
Current research indicate that somatic therapies recognise a fundamental truth: trauma and stress are not only stored in the mind, but also deeply embedded in multiple cells in the body. A great reference read is The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk.
When we experience trauma, our nervous system can get stuck.
Through clinical practices like bilateral brain stimulation, breathwork, movement grounding, and body awareness, you or anyone struggling to deal with embedded stress or trauma can learn to:
- Release deep-seated physical tension.
- Experience a true desensitisation to traumatic experiences.
- Regulate your nervous system.
- Reconnect with a genuine sense of safety.
A prime example of somatic therapy that works is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). EMDR is a highly researched, evidence-based treatment for an array of issues, including anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem and trauma.
To truly understand somatic therapy, it helps to look at what somatic therapy is not:
- Somatic therapy is not just talking. Traditional therapy stays in the analytical mind. Somatic therapy goes deeper to address how your body physically holds onto stress thus helping to relieve the stress at the cellular level.
- Somatic therapy is not energy healing. Somatic therapy can easily be confused with energy healing practices like Reiki or Access Bars. While energy healing can certainly complement your personal wellness process, somatic therapy is a group of psychological processes which are entirely different to energy healing.
Somatic therapy is strictly rooted in psychology and neuroscience. It is evidence-based, trauma-informed, and purposefully designed to bridge the gap between mind and body for long-term healing.
Ready to Reconnect?
If you are ready to move past traditional talk therapy and experience true, body-centered healing, we are here to help. Http://www.inneressence.co.za or call or WhatsApp directly on +27 (0) 82 331 8424 today to learn how EMDR and somatic practices can support your journey.
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