What is somatic psychotherapy?
“How does Somatic Psychotherapy differ from traditional talk therapy?
The road to permanent change is not found in our voices and stories alone; it is in sensing our bodies. ”
As a practitioner of somatic psychotherapy, I advocate for a more holistic approach by recognizing the profound connection between the mind and body.
In the past thirty years, we have learned that trauma is stored in the body.
A wounding can occur as a result of one catastrophic event, long-term exposure to a toxic situation, or sensing the necessity to help others to our detriment.
Our brains change to take in the overwhelm we have ingested, changing our thoughts, memories, beliefs, and overall perceptions of the world.
These nervous system patterns create fixed mindsets, fears, an inability to engage healthily with emotion, and feelings of hopelessness.
Sensing what we feel in our bodies and connecting it to how our brain works with memory, loss avoidance, and aversion, and gaining the skill of reminding the brain of what we want, is just the beginning.
This therapy, while challenging, provides a safe space for individuals to face the moments they repeatedly play in their thoughts, offering reassurance and comfort in discomfort.
With over twenty years of experience in massage therapy, I have developed a unique approach that combines massage and Biodynamic cranial sacral therapy with somatic treatment. Clients can have a massage where we focus on particular places of discomfort or pain. Cranial sacral therapy can be applied to help with processing particularly difficult sensations. Sitting and using somatic techniques to notice sensation while talking across from one another works well, too. There are so many ways to get a client inside their body in a safe way to work through long-held trauma patterns.
Somatic therapy is a deeply personal journey, and no two clients are the same. We will collaborate to identify the most effective modalities for you, and these can evolve based on your needs on any given day.
My knowledge spans various trauma modalities, including Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Trauma Release, neuroplasticity exercises, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Body-mind Centering, Biodynamic Cranial Sacral, Reiki, and meditation, providing a comprehensive understanding of trauma processing.
The disorders Somatic psychotherapy can help with are:
ANXIETY/ANXIETY ATTACKS
FIXED STUCK BELIEF PATTERNS THAT INTERFERE WITH OUR CAREER AND RELATIONSHIPS
PTSD
RELIGIOUS TRAUMA
DIVORCE
MOLESTATION/RAPE
EATING DISORDERS/OVEREATING
GREIF DEATH OF A SPOUSE, FRIEND, PET
MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS AND THOUGHTS
DEPRESSION
A free consultation is the best place to start.
Call me to set up an online or in-person interview.
719-201-1243
Founders of this work:
Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk- The Body Keeps the Score
Somatic Experiencing-Dr. Peter Levine- Awaken the Tiger Within
Dr. Stephen Porges- The Polyvagal Theory
Pat Ogden-Trauma and the body-a Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy
James Finley PhD- Transforming Trauma
Paul Conti, M.D.-Trauma The Invisible Epidemic