Healing Trauma By Unlocking Your Body's Natural Healing Potential
Traumatic memories and emotions are not solely stored in the mind; they are also held in the body. Somatic therapy, also known as body work, is a type of counselling therapy that recognizes the interconnection between the mind and body. Through somatic therapy, individuals can explore how emotional and psychological experiences can be held in the physical body and how they can contribute to mental health. Humans have a tendency to believe that most problems can be resolved by thinking and this results in the body not receiving the attention it requires, which can interfere with the healing process.
The increase of body awareness can help individuals notice their physical sensations. These physical sensations can teach us about how we respond to stress. This recognition and the steps we take to respond to the sensations can lead to better self-regulation and self-awareness, which is related to better mental health.
Body awareness allows individuals to observe and track sensations, helping them gain insights into how trauma is store in their bodies. By noticing and attending to these sensations, individuals can start processing and releasing energy associated with the trauma. For some people, paying attention to their body can feel stressful and uncomfortable. This can be due to a variety of factors that can be addressed during counselling therapy.
Some trauma therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) often work effectively with somatic approaches. EMDR recognizes and addresses the interconnectedness of the mind and body in trauma. Traumatic memories are often stored in sensory and emotional experiences and EMDR helps to activate and process these memories. By engaging both the mind and the body simultaneously, EMDR allows for the integration of traumatic memories into conscious awareness, facilitating their resolution by working with the nervous system.
Somatic therapy can help individuals raise body awareness, self-regulation, and to process trauma stored in the body. Not all of our struggles can be resolved by thinking and the somatic approach recognizes the inseparable connection between the body and mind. Some trauma therapies such EMDR work effectively with the somatic approach to promote healing. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach and it is tailored to each individual’s unique needs.
Professional Support
Trauma resolution and somatic processing are a personal process, which includes a lot of learning along the way. Guidance from a Psychotherapist can be beneficial in navigating this process safely and effectively. If you are still wondering if somatic therapy is a good fit for your needs, please Contact Us.
