Talk therapy is beneficial to many, yet it doesn’t suit them all. There are times when words are not sufficient. That is where somatics enter the picture. Somatic therapy addresses the body’s part in healing. It assists individuals in paying attention to bodily sensations to process trauma, stress, and emotion. For numerous individuals, this is a path forward when other avenues fail.
In this article, we’ll discuss six important somatic practices that can change how therapy is practiced. Each one of them offers therapists a new skill with which to help clients achieve a long-lasting change. Let’s get started.
Practising and Learning from Professionals
While experience is the best teacher in somatic therapy, you should also consult experts to learn more. Most practising therapists observe experts who have gained experience and are willing to share their knowledge.
By observing or listening to what these experts do, you will gain more knowledge and improve your expertise. For example, you can learn how to use somatics in therapy by listening to podcasts that include actual sessions, theoretical arguments, and practitioner perspectives. These resources will help you improve your skills and knowledge, as well as demonstrate how to incorporate somatic work into various types of therapeutic practice.
Tracking body sensations
Tracking is the process of observing and labeling what happens in the body. A therapist may ask a client to slow down and describe how they feel in their chest, stomach, or shoulders. This alerts clients to physical sensations that could indicate stress, fear, or tension.
Clients learn to stay present with these sensations rather than avoiding them. They will gradually develop a better connection between body and emotion. This can result in new awareness or release. Observation also teaches control. When people learn to recognize rising tension early on, they can respond rather than react.
Grounding with Physical Contact and Movement
Grounding is what allows clients to feel safe and present. It usually involves simple movements or contact with objects. Clients may press their feet to the ground or hold something solid in their hands. These movements redirect attention away from rambling thoughts and toward the present moment. Grounding is the first step for people who feel scattered or dissociated. It provides them a channel to resolve issues before moving on to more complex work. Therapists can instruct clients to breathe and stretch slowly. These exercises promote trust between the body and the mind, particularly after trauma.
Using Breath to Regulate the Nervous System
Breathing is the most direct way to relax the nervous system. Clients in somatic therapy learn to recognize their breathing patterns. When someone is anxious, they may tighten up and hold their breath. Others take shallow and quick breaths. The therapist can encourage the client to breathe slower and deeper. This informs the body that it is safe.
Breathing exercises can help reduce stress and anxiety symptoms over time. They also help people remain present during emotional work. The technique is simple, but it has the potential to change a session quickly. When the body achieves balance, the mind usually follows suit.
Body Awareness and Boundary Exploration.
Boundaries do not exist solely in our minds. They manifest themselves in how we carry ourselves, how much space we keep from others, and how we react when touched. Somatic therapy can help clients feel their body boundaries. A therapist may have them observe how their body reacts when they set a boundary or say no.
This benefits people with stronger signals and responses. When someone crosses a boundary, it can also trigger old habits, such as shrinking or freezing. Body boundaries promote strength and clarity. They also promote authentic relationships and self-care.
Resolving Incomplete Fight or Flight Responses
When someone experiences trauma, the body may initiate a survival response—fighting or running—but not complete it. The body remains on high alert even after the threat has passed. Somatic therapy encourages people to notice and release their incomplete responses.
A therapist directs soft movement or instructs the body to finish what it started. This could be resisting a wall or stomping the feet. These small movements can help the body relax. This work provides relief that talk therapy does not always provide.
Somatic therapy is a practical, body-centered approach to promoting healing. It provides clients with tools for noticing, sensing, and changing what is going on internally, particularly in situations where language is limited. Techniques for tracking, grounding, and breathing can help people become more aware and secure in their bodies. Becoming proficient at identifying boundary points and completing remaining survival patterns strengthens the therapeutic practice. For the practitioner, daily demonstrations will serve to reinforce the process. Following these six steps can turn therapy into a feel-and-experience modality.