Beyond Words: Exploring the Power of Somatic Therapy
We often find ourselves trapped in cycles of repetitive thoughts, replaying old stories, and struggling to break free. Talk therapy, with its emphasis on understanding our thoughts and behaviors, can be immensely helpful in this process. However, sometimes our bodies hold onto experiences that our minds can't fully grasp. This is where somatic therapy offers a complementary and experiential approach.
Think of talk therapy as a deep conversation with a trusted guide, helping you make sense of your experiences and challenge unhelpful thought patterns. Somatic therapy, in contrast, delves into the realm of physical sensations and the body's innate wisdom, because it’s your unique body that has been with you, the whole time trying to keep you respectively safe and protected. Here it’s about tuning into those gut feelings, that tension in your chest, or the way your shoulders seem to carry the weight of the world.
It's important to emphasize that somatic therapy is not meant to replace or diminish the value of talk therapy. Both modalities offer unique strengths and can work synergistically to support healing and growth. Talk therapy excels at exploring the cognitive and behavioral aspects of our experiences, while somatic therapy focuses on bringing those thoughts and beliefs into the physical manifestations of emotions and trauma and weaving them together for neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is like your brain's superpower – its ability to rewire and reorganize itself throughout your life. It's not just about thinking new thoughts; it's about experiencing things that create new neural pathways. Imagine it like this: every time you learn a new skill, navigate a challenging situation, or even have a heartfelt conversation, your brain is subtly reshaping itself. These experiences, both big and small, leave a lasting imprint, strengthening some connections and weakening others. This ongoing process of adaptation is what allows us to learn, grow, and heal from past experiences. So, while positive thinking is great, it's the actual doing and feeling that truly transforms us on a neurological level.
In Somatic Therapy, to use another analogy it’s like telling yourself to relax versus tuning into the part that isn’t relaxing, attuning to that part and attending to the need, concern, worry etc. By attending to it we can work together to bring that part into the present, into regulation and this provides a new experience for that part leveraging neuroplasticity so the next time that part feels worried, it has a new neural pathway wired for regulation and won’t activate as much.
The Body as a Vessel of Experience
Trauma in its various forms, can leave a lasting imprint on our nervous systems. Peter Levine, a pioneer in the field of somatic experiencing, describes how trauma can become trapped in the body, leading to anxiety, panic attacks, and a range of physical symptoms. Somatic therapy offers a gentle approach to releasing, reorienting, and rewiring how this trapped trauma plays out in the system, allowing the body to process and heal.
Pat Ogden, another prominent figure in somatic therapy, highlights the importance of "sensorimotor psychotherapy," which emphasizes the connection between physical sensations and emotional experiences. This approach involves paying close attention to how our bodies react in different situations and learning to regulate our nervous system responses.
What to Expect in Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy involves more than just talking about your experiences. It's about paying close attention to your body's signals – your breath, your posture, your muscle tension. It may include gentle movement, breathwork exercises, or even mindful touch (always with your explicit consent). The core aim is to cultivate a deeper awareness of your physical sensations and how they relate to your emotional state.
When working with me (Andria Lea), expect creative use of language, hand gestures, parts work, sensorimotor art techniques, lots of gentle touch and even sound healing. Many Somatic (body focused) therapists work differently while still focusing on the body.
Here's an example:
Imagine feeling anxious about an upcoming presentation. In talk therapy, you might explore the thoughts and beliefs contributing to your anxiety. In somatic therapy, you might focus on the tightness in your chest, the shallowness of your breath, or the subtle trembling in your hands and wave the story into the feelings. By consciously acknowledging these physical sensations, you can begin to learn how to specifically soothe your nervous system around this story and regulate that emotional response.
Beyond Trauma: The Benefits of Somatic Therapy
While somatic therapy is particularly effective for addressing trauma, its benefits extend far beyond that. It can be valuable for anyone seeking to:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve body awareness
Develop emotional regulation skills
Heal from past experiences
Cultivate self-compassion
Improve attachment styles
Increase felt awareness
Learn to sense opportunities for boundaries
Reduce fears and unease
A Powerful Partnership: Somatic Therapy and Talk Therapy
Somatic therapy and talk therapy can complement each other beautifully, creating a holistic approach to healing and growth. Talk therapy can provide insights into the underlying causes of our emotional patterns, while somatic therapy offers tools for processing and regulating our physical and emotional responses.
If you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed, consider exploring the potential of somatic therapy. It might be the missing link in your journey toward greater well-being. And if you're already benefiting from talk therapy, integrating a somatic approach could further enhance your progress and deepen your connection to yourself.
About The Author
Andria Lea is Brooklyn N.Y. native. She is a certified Somatic Therapist with the Somatic Therapy Center. She is a Somatic Rubenfeld Synergist, is trained in Integrative Synergy and IFS; internal family systems. She is also a member of the The United States Association of Body Psychology & International Association of Rubenfeld Synergists.