Somatic Based Therapies
Somatic Therapies focus on the connection between the body and mind, using physical techniques to help individuals process and release emotional trauma or stress stored in the body. These therapies recognize that emotional experiences can manifest as physical tension or discomfort, and aim to promote healing through body awareness, movement, breathwork, and touch. Common approaches include Somatic Experiencing, which helps clients release trauma by increasing bodily awareness, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which integrates body-focused interventions with talk therapy to address trauma and emotional regulation. The goal is to achieve holistic healing by addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of well-being.
Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE)
This is a body-centered therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and release trauma stored in the body
It focuses on increasing awareness of physical sensations and using these sensations to resolve trauma-related symptoms.
SE aims to help clients restore their natural ability to self-regulate and integrate traumatic experiences by gently addressing the body’s autonomic responses
(Levine, 2010).
Sensori Motor Therapy
This combines traditional talk therapy with body-focused interventions to address the effects of trauma and emotional dysregulation.
It integrates somatic awareness, movement, and mindfulness into therapy, focusing on the physical manifestations of trauma to promote healing.
This approach helps clients become more aware of bodily sensations and movements, facilitating the release of trapped emotions and fostering emotional resilience
(Ogden, Minton, & Pain, 2006).
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
This is a therapeutic approach that views the mind as composed of distinct subpersonalities or "parts," each with its own perspective, emotions, and behaviors.
These parts are typically categorized into protectors, exiles, and the Self, with the goal of achieving internal harmony and healing by fostering a compassionate relationship with all parts.
IFS aims to help individuals access their Self, the core of wisdom and compassion, to heal wounded parts and restore balance within the internal system
(Schwartz, 1995).
References
Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books.
Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: Interventions for trauma and attachment. W. W. Norton & Company.
