Feeling depleted of energy or distant from your true self? Do you sense that there is a gap between your emotional mind and your physical wellbeing? Maybe you tried receiving support in the past but you are growing tired of traditional talk therapy. You may be longing for an out-of-the-box approach to healing that strengthens the connection between your mind, body, and spirit. At Wisdom Within Counseling, we provide somatic, holistic therapy to help clients develop inner harmony and balance. Somatics is a practice that teaches you to survey your internal self and listen for signals your body is giving you about areas of pain, tension, discomfort, or imbalance. Engaging in somatic techniques can foster healing of the bodies’ systems and can also help connect you with your inner sense of being. Irinel Fishlock is a holistic clinical intern at Wisdom Within Counseling. She asserts that, “The body gives us physical cues that something is off-balance. Signs such as headaches, stomachaches, and nightmares to name a few, are indicators of underlying disease, illness, or trauma.” Irinel Fishlock maintains that somatic therapy can help get to the root cause of physical symptoms.
Where Did Somatic Therapy Originate?
Wilhelm Reich, an Austrian psychoanalyst, is among the first to propose the idea of body-centered work in therapy. He suggests that repressed emotions and an individual’s personality are reflected in muscular tension, posture, and physical movement. According to Reich, the application of physical pressure is necessary for clients in therapy to fully release emotions.
Somatic therapies have become increasingly popular since its development in the 1900s. More mental health experts are also beginning to recognize the importance of the mind-body connection and integrate a holistic approach to health and healing.
How Does Somatic Therapy Work?
Somatic therapy goes beyond traditional talk therapy by tapping into and accessing deeply held emotional states that are stored within the body. Oftentimes, we cannot effectively communicate our emotions through words. Tuning into these emotions in a physical, body-centered way, however, allows us to fully understand, process, and release them in a healthy way.
Additionally, experts that utilize somatic therapy help clients to pay attention to what their body is trying to communicate and use therapeutic techniques to release tension the body is holding. Some techniques of somatic therapy include breathing exercises, sensation awareness, physical movement such as dance or yoga, voice work, massage, and also grounding exercises.
Somatic Therapy for Trauma
Trauma is often deeply ingrained within the body’s nervous system. When one experiences a traumatic event, an imprint, or memory of the event is created in the body. The imprint of the event can manifest through tense areas of the body, muscle pain, and PTSD symptoms. For example, an individual who got into a car accident may have trauma stored in the upper shoulders and back due to the impact. Or, an individual who suffered a sports injury or a fall might have residual pain in a particular area, even years after the fact. In addition, emotional trauma can also generate physical symptoms such as tense back muscles, and headaches or stomach aches. Emotional trauma can be brought on from family relationships or romantic partners.
Somatic therapy accesses and releases this stored energy caused by trauma. By tapping into the body’s systems, one becomes increasingly aware of their inner state. This profound and mindful awareness allows you to recognize where in the body the trauma lies, and how to rid the body of the pain.
Bessel van derk Kolk is a leading expert in how trauma impacts the body and brain. In his work with clients, he maintains that body-centered and somatic therapies are essential in the treatment of trauma. Veterans with trauma histories are among one population he centers his work around. In his book, The Body Keeps The Score, he details the profound effect of somatic and holistic approaches in healing. Through the use of meditation, sports, drama, and yoga, Bessel van der Kolk reshapes the neural pathways of the brain, regulates the bodies’ nervous system, and ultimately rids one of harmful trauma symptoms.
Types of Somatic Therapy
Somatic Experiencing
This approach heals the body of trauma responses. During somatic experiencing, you may describe a traumatic experience. Or, you may describe the physical sensations you felt during the event. In addition to recalling the event, you may move your body in a way that activates any negative feelings that come up. The therapist will teach you to safely release any negative energy that surfaces to eradicate the trigger.
EMDR
In eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, you remember a traumatic experience in short doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Oftentimes, sideways eye movements are used as the focusing point. Other stimuli include hand tapping or listening to a specific sound.
Hakomi
The origins of Hakomi are rooted in practices of mindfulness. Here, the therapist helps the client to remain in the present moment without judgment. Unconscious or harmful beliefs about the self may come up, however, the client will learn to gently accept these thoughts and emotions as they come and go.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Sensorimotor psychotherapy is an effective approach that aims to treat the somatic symptoms of unresolved trauma. The individual’s bodily experiences are used as a means to increase awareness and improve overall emotional and mental health. In addition, this approach integrates a person’s physical, mental, and emotional states to gently relieve the sensations associated with the trauma.
Neurosomatic Therapy
Neurosomatic therapy exists to help individuals heal the physical aspects of their bodies. NST identifies areas of tension and pain in the nervous system, skeletal system, and also soft tissues. Techniques of NST include massage, posture work, and also exercises to correct imbalances.
Techniques of Therapy
In session, Irinel Fishlock can integrate a variety of somatic techniques into treatment. Irinel’s favorite techniques to use include resourcing, body scans and meditation, expressive writing, grounding, and movement. Common somatic approaches include:
Resourcing
Resourcing is beneficial to use at the beginning of somatic therapy treatment. This technique helps you to strengthen your sense of safety in the world. During the session, your therapist will help you to identify the resources you have available to you. This includes significant people, relationships, strengths, experiences, and places that provide you with a sense of stability.
Body Scans
A mental scan of the body increases overall awareness and allows one to recognize and identify where tension is. Your therapist can lead you through a guided meditation that encourages you to tune into each part of your physical body. Also, a body scan allows you to notice any thoughts and feelings that come up.
Grounding
Grounding is a technique that centers an individual’s awareness into the present moment. This simple act connects one to their body as well as the earth. It involves sensing the body and feeling the feet on the ground.
Movement
Movement is a natural way of allowing the body to release energy, emotions, and trauma stored within. Additionally, moving the body can create a sense of accomplishment for people whose bodies have been frozen or numbed from an experience.
Pendulation
During this technique, the therapist guides you from a relaxed state into one that feels similar to or mirrors your traumatic experience. Although it appears to be scary, pendulation ultimately allows you to release the energy that comes up. You may experience feelings of anxiety during this process, remember that this is normal and that these intense feelings are fleeing your body. The therapist will also guide you back into a relaxed state each time.
Titration
Titration occurs when the therapist guides you through a traumatic memory and asks you to describe it. Similar to pendulation, you will be encouraged to observe changes in your body and state of being. Additionally, your therapist will help you address any physical sensations that come up.
Sequencing
Sequencing involves paying attention to the order in which physical tension leaves the body. For example, your shoulders may feel tight, and then your throat. You may feel different sensations as this tension subsides.
Co-Regulation and Self-Regulation.
During co-regulation, your therapist assists you in calming yourself and regulating your emotions. This is an effective technique to use in relationships with others. Similarly, self-regulation occurs when you develop tools to calm down on your own.
Online and in person in Niantic, Irinel Fishlock helps couples, adults, children and teens in neighboring towns.
We help children, teens, and couples in Connecticut in Bozrah, Waterford, Old Lyme, Ivoryton, Griswold, Centerbrook, Westbrook, Essex, East Lyme, Newington, Shelton, South Windsor, Granby, Franklin, Branford, Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, Suffield, Lisbon, Montville, Bristol, Stratford, Hartland, Glastonbury, Colchester, East Haddam, Hadlyme, Hamburg, Enfield, Old Saybrook, Westport, Ridgefield, and Madison.
In other Connecticut towns, we offer video counseling in Connecticut to Portland, Berlin, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Milford, Kent, Bloomfield, East Hampton, Southington, Haddam, Litchfield, Simsbury, Fairfield, Cobalt, Marlborough, Cromwell, Canton, Avon, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Clinton, Wethersfield, Middlebury, Cheshire, Waterbury, Guilford, Chester, Deep River, Moodus, Durham, and Middletown, Connecticut.
Holistic Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling
As a holistic practice, Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic, Connecticut supports client’s growth by integrating approaches that heal the mind, body, and spirit. Our team of therapists aim to resolve trauma at its core, which is within the body. Through the use of somatic therapy techniques, your therapist will teach you how to access deeply rooted pain and release it from your physical body and emotional mind. At Wisdom Within Counseling, somatic therapy can help you process unresolved conflict, traumatic life events, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, self-harm, and more. Our team would love to help you!
Irinel Fishlock supports children, teens, couples, and families. At Wisdom Within Counseling,Irinel Fishlock integrates a trauma-informed and somatic approach in session.
