What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy is a blend of newly studied neuro-scientific findings, and an intuitive body-based art of softening the mind and allowing the body to steer the path towards healing.
In the past few years the word “somatic” has gained popularity as a new healing modality, and a variety of practitioners offer an array of somatic services. However many cultures world-wide have been practicing somatic-based ways of healing for centuries.
The word “somatic” is an Ancient Greek word meaning “ body”. In simple terms, the word somatic refers to the body.
InBody Therapies is a counselling based space, where “somatic therapy” is integrated into a Therapeutic Counselling modality. Clients learn to listen to the wisdom and guidance of the body, and you are taught and practice ways of self-healing through listening deeping to the body and heart.
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Marissa often starts working with someone with somatic therapy by gently encouraging pauses to check with the body how it is feeling and what is going on within it, and what we might be noticing about it when we take the time to be curious about it.
What we might notice could be the state of the breath, how the body is shaped in its seat, and/or subtle movements going on. We might notice areas of the body that are holding tension or construction, or sensations that feel more spacious or light.
For some people images, colours or sounds can appear as well, sometimes smells.
What one person experiences when they tune into their body can be vastly different from what another person may notice.
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There is no right or wrong way to be with and notice the body, as long as it is working towards being as compassionate as one can be towards it.
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The body is always trying to lead us towards healing. In fact, the body naturally knows how to heal itself. The work of somatic therapy often to give the body, mind, and heart space and safety to relax and do so.
Compared to traditional talk therapy, which can tend to stay in the mind when we look at situations and experiences we may wish to change or gain better clarity of; somatic therapy aims to come to clarity and healing from the body’s perspective. It tends to work with the question:
“If the body, (which holds and encompasses the emotions and the soul) could speak right now; what would it tell us? How would it guide us towards healing and fulfillment?”
Somatic therapy can be amazing at healing trauma. Physical trauma, emotional trauma, childhood or recent, big traumas or little traumas.
What is the definition of trauma?
Traumatic events take place when there is TOO much, TOO fast, TOO soon.
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Sometimes we question whether something in our life fits the label of “traumatic”. While this term is simply just a term, we can feel and sense in ourselves when there is something that is weighing on us that seems to have its roots or tendrils in our mind, body and hearts.
Somatic therapy can be a great option to help process these difficult events and experiences that many have struggled to work through alone or with traditional talk therapy. Somatic therapy can help the body process and transform where the mind cannot.
We cannot change what happened in the past, but we can change how the body is holding it.
