What Does Somatic Mean?

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You may have noticed the words "Somatic", "Somatics", and "Somatic Therapy" circulating amongst therapists and wellness practitioners for a while now.  For those who are not familiar with those concepts, it can be confusing to understand what those words even mean and why it has become so popular in the realm of psychology, mental health, and wellness. Somatic is just another word for body.  Somatic-based modalities aim to make the healing process more holistic by integrating the body and physical responses as opposed to just mentally exploring certain topics or just using words.

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So often words fail us.  Many of us know this already, but from a biological lens this phenomenon can actually be born from a positive, protective coping strategy. Highly stressful situations often trigger our survival responses in order for us to focus on what will keep us alive such as running away, fighting, or going into shock/hiding.  In these cases communication is less meaningful than gut instincts and heightened body awareness.  It is understandable then why words can fail.  As a result, feeling stressed can also mean needing an embodied intervention not always found in traditional talk therapy settings.

 

Without proper space to heal from negative events, people get stuck in those survival or stress responses which is often the case for those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  More so, being creatures of habit, we pick up much more than we realize on an unconscious, bodily level.  This can be exemplified by the deep seated messages we carry from our childhood or other ongoing relational patterns that we re-enact without even realizing it.  It is for this reason that body-based interventions have become a priority in mental health treatment and trauma recovery. 

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What does Somatic Therapy Look Like? 

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There are a variety of ways body work can be integrated into a therapeutic context.  Some examples include mindfulness exercises, meditation, expressive movement, creative arts, cathartic release, mirroring, role playing, dance, energy work, and more.  Somatic modalities vary in regards to their focus.  For example some modalities focus more on nervous system regulation and easing emotional discomfort which would be the case in modalities like Somatic Experiencing or Mindfulness-Based Therapies.  Others have more of an interactive, spiritual, or energetic quality which can be seen in Hakomi Therapy, Yoga-based Therapies, or integrative Reiki practices.   Some have a strong focus on creating movement and catharsis in order to embody new ways of being such as Core Energetics, Bioenergetics, Dance Therapy, and Drama therapy.  In addition to this we are seeing more and more practices designed to help people simply reorient to their physical surroundings as a result of screen usage and overuse of mental energy.    

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My Somatic Approach 

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While my primary theoretical background and training is in Core Energetics (more information here), I find it extremely important to learn from and integrate a variety of body-based frameworks in order to create more understanding and safety with clients.  Some forms of body work can be very provocative, so I have made a point to focus more on mindfulness and grounding techniques for mental health clients who need more emotional regulation and a clearer structure.  The more provocative body-work interventions like movement, catharsis, and therapeutic touch are more appropriate for Holistic Service clients (with their consent of course!) who are not focusing on symptom reduction, but who want to use their time to explore and create awareness.  

 

At the start of any Somatic modality, I strongly recommend that clients consider what "Somatic Therapy" means to them, what they are expecting sessions to look like, and what they are hoping to see change as a result.  Clarifying these things with yourself and your practitioner at the start of the work can help inform what direction the sessions should take.  ​​