Somatic Therapy
Go Beyond the Mind by Incorporating Body Awareness into Your Healing Process
Recognizing the Body’s Connection to Emotion is Crucial to Blooming into Your Own Powerful, Resilient, Triumphant Soul
Have
you ever looked in the mirror and failed to recognize the person on the
other side? Do you ever wish that things could go back to the way they
were when you felt unstoppable — like you could conquer the world?
On
the other hand, you might start each day overwhelmed with emotion —
like a lead weight is holding you down to the point where just getting
up in the morning feels like climbing a mountain.
Perhaps
you’re one of those people who feels like they have a leash on life,
until a situation, a sound, a smell or a feeling washes over you and you
remember…everything. Like you’ve been forcibly yanked from your own body and flung into a different reality where life is all too vivid and clear.
From
the non-stop worry of anxiety that prevents you from enjoying life, to
the emotionally drowning sensations of depression, to the waves of
detachment and terror that come with trauma and PTSD, you may be dealing
with what can only be described as an avalanche of feelings…
But you don’t have to deal with them alone.
Unlock the Power of Somatic Psychotherapy
The
truth is, our bodies are marvelous vehicles of capability, change and
resilience. They have the strength, the power and the ability to do so
much, yet you may feel as if you’re being held back by forces beyond
your control.
And
what’s worse, your body has likely reacted this same way before. It has
created a well-worn neural pathway in the mind — like an old, familiar
road you’ve traveled on several times. You recognize this place, but the
destination is definitely not the kind of place you want to go. Not
again.
With
somatic psychotherapy, we’ll work together, helping you take the wheel
and take back control. You’ll be steering your body out of that worn old
trench and onto more resilient roads that lead you where you want to
go.
Your
thoughts are directly reflected in your body, which is why you might
often feel the sweaty palms of anxiety, the crushing weight of
depression or the whole-body fight-or-flight of PTSD.
But
all too often, traditional talk therapy concentrates solely on the
mind. Somatic psychotherapy allows you to connect your very real
feelings to the reactions of your body and work through them in a
gentle, welcoming, accepting environment. It does this through a variety
of methods which are designed to support you. These include, but are
not limited to:
Bringing
awareness to your body — to change your reaction and overcome what has
been holding you back, it’s necessary to remember this beautiful,
powerful and magnificent vessel called the body. Take a moment and think
about your breath. Think about how your chest rises and falls as the
air is drawn in and released.
Until
the moment I asked you to concentrate on your breathing, I’m sure you
didn’t even think about it. But yet it’s so crucial to living that your
body has done it automatically for all the years you’ve been on this
earth. But awareness alone won’t solve all your problems.
- Healing old wounds and discovering your body’s reactive patterns — Imagine being so in touch with your body and its reactions that you can carefully, and with gentle guidance, work through those unwanted emotions and habits that are holding you back.
- Witnessing mindfulness — By turning your focus within, you’ll become both the observer and the self, seeing how your body acts and reacts to stresses, events, situations and other triggers as they unfold.
Imagine
watching a movie of your life, where you’re simultaneously aware of all
of the actors and yourself as the main character, yet also seated away
and watching intently.
By
being able to see the process unfold before your eyes and yet still
actively taking part in it, you’re able to see where old wounds, old
emotions, critical attitudes, buried trauma and other toxic behaviors,
both from within and around you, have been holding you back and putting
up barriers to your complete fulfillment.
Gaining the tools needed to overcome what’s holding you back
Of
course, simply being aware of these issues does not solve them. That is
where having the right tools can help. The somatic psychotherapists at Life by Design Therapy
can help you work through these issues on a mental, emotional and
physical level, allowing the constraints to simply melt away, as you
step forward with confidence, into the you that you were born to be.
The Healing Power of Touch in therapy
From
a welcome pat on the back to a couple holding hands, touch surrounds
us. You may be surprised to learn that it also has its place in therapy
as well.
Humans
are instinctively “wired” for touch. Even in research as far back as
the 1800s, researchers noticed that babies who were not cuddled simply
failed to thrive. Touch communicates on an energy level beyond what
words can say. It reassures us, comforts us, and adds flair to our
conversations much like a garnish on our favorite meals.
Touch
therapy is one part of somatic psychotherapy that can have significant
benefits, but needs to be evaluated to determine if it is helpful or
detrimental to your well-being. No matter what, the touch must always
align with your therapeutic goals and follow proper ethical codes.
In
the case of children, particularly those who have experienced trauma
related to touch, their unique developmental needs are taken into
consideration in order to help them in the greatest way possible.
Somatic therapy is One of the Many Holistic Methods Offered by Life by Design Therapy
Each
of our professional psychotherapists embraces the holistic perspective
to provide you with customized therapy that is designed to help heal
your mind, body, and spirit in a way that helps you to overcome and
thrive in spite of whatever has held you back.
And
while we’ve devoted a great deal of time explaining somatic therapy, it
is by no means the only method for helping to heal you holistically.
Every client we welcome to our practice is evaluated and treated as the
unique, incredible being that they are, which means that no two
treatments will be alike.
You’re
one step away from getting the techniques, tools and reassurance you
need to live a life that is fulfilling and full of immeasurable joy and
peace. It’s a life that only you can live, so reach out to us today to
take that first all-important step.
To learn more about how we can help you create a life you love, contact us at our Berkeley or Richmond therapy office today.
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