Somatic therapy is a powerful, body-centered approach to mental health treatment that highlights the profound connection between the mind and body. This transformative therapy effectively addresses issues such as PTSD and CPTSD by enabling individuals to release stress, tension, and trauma that may be stored within their bodies.
By blending traditional psychotherapy with physical techniques, somatic therapy fosters holistic healing and personal empowerment. It acknowledges the dynamic interplay between mental and physical states, emphasizing the crucial role of bodily awareness in achieving deep emotional healing.
Holistic Healing
In Western medicine, the mind and body are often treated separately. Somatic Therapy recognizes the important connection between the two, drawing on practices from Eastern medicine that have been utilized for hundreds of years.
Somatic therapy also recognizes that trauma and negative emotions can become trapped in the body. After experiencing a traumatic event, our nervous system can frequently activate our fight, flight, or freeze responses. This activation causes stress hormones, such as cortisol, to be released, which increases blood sugar and blood pressure. This has a direct impact on our immune system. When our body is subjected to frequent or constant stress, it affects not only our mental health but our physical health. By integrating somatic therapy techniques, we can begin to physically heal and prevent further damage to our health.
Somatic therapy incorporates a diverse range of practices and is frequently integrated with other therapeutic approaches to enhance emotional regulation, diminish trauma responses, and foster effective coping strategies. Some of these practices include:
- Body Awareness
- Grounding Techniques
- Sequencing
- Titration
- Pendulation
- Resourcing (also used in EMDR)
The Phoenix Center has several therapists on our team that can integrate Somatic Therapy, somatic practices, and Trauma-Informed Yoga. We also have a holistic provider that can offer Acupressure, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, and Reiki.
