The mind and body have a closer connection than many people think. That kind of interconnectedness can help you deal with mental health issues by tapping into different physical movements.

When those movements are guided using specific techniques, it’s referred to as somatic therapy.

Somatic therapy focuses on physical awareness and uses gentle movement to help people process their emotions. It’s especially effective for those dealing with trauma who might have repressed memories or feelings that have been “trapped” in the body for too long.

Let’s look into a few of the most common somatic therapy techniques so you can know what to expect if you’re interested in this modality.

Body Scanning

Somatic therapy is all about awareness. So, your therapist might begin or end a session with a body scan. They will direct attention to specific parts of the body and attempt to notice any lingering tension or physical sensations that occur when those parts are in focus.

Body scans help you become more in tune with these sensations. You’ll learn where your body tends to hold tension so you can start to let go of it. This technique also can help you feel more connected to your body.

That might sound silly at first, but many people ignore these sensations or try to play them off as nothing. When you allow yourself to be grounded and recognize that your body can “keep score” of emotional issues, you’ll develop a greater sense of interconnectedness.

Breathing and Movement

Breathwork and gentle movement are key components of somatic therapy. Different breathing techniques can help to release tension and make it easier to relax. Plus, when you learn them in therapy sessions, you can use them on your own to reduce stress and be more mindful.

Speaking of being mindful, that’s what the gentle movement process is all about. You’re not just “exercising” for no reason. A therapist will guide you in using gentle, mindful movements to release stored emotions and feel more connected to your own body.

It’s not uncommon to use techniques like yoga or even free-form dancing in somatic therapy sessions. But, it doesn’t always need to be so structured. Even things like shaking or stretching can release these emotions and help you feel a sense of freedom.

Staying Grounded

Grounding techniques are exceptionally useful for people dealing with anxiety or struggling with traumatic memories. Grounding is all about staying in the present.

If you have a hard time doing it on your own, your therapist might encourage techniques like encouraging you to focus on surroundings and noticing physical things around you. They also might have you engage in physical activities to break free from memories and negative thoughts and to return to the present.

Body Work

In some cases, therapists use gentle touch to further facilitate healing. If you’re carrying a lot of muscular tension in the body, something like a light massage can help to release it while allowing you to connect with your body on a deeper level. While somatic therapy isn’t the same as massage therapy, this type of touching can be useful if you can’t seem to let go of stored tension and it’s creating a roadblock on your healing journey.

As you can see, somatic therapy is a different experience from traditional talk therapy methods. While you’ll certainly talk to your therapist and help them understand what you’re feeling and what you’ve experienced, the goal is to help you release the thoughts and memories you might not be able to fully open up about. That is when you truly can start to move forward.

If you’re ready to learn more about somatic therapy or schedule an appointment, reach out soon.