In this blog, we share techniques for working with trauma from a somatic therapy approach.

But first, we want to start with a reminder for anyone who might be new here. Trauma is not what happened to you; it is the stress of experiences left over in your body that leave a profound effect on both the mind and the body. Traditional talk therapies focus on addressing trauma through verbal processing alone. However, trauma is stored in the body. Therefore, to heal the effects of trauma, somatic trauma therapies take a different approach by recognizing the integral role the body plays in trauma healing.

Somatic Therapy Techniques:

1. Body Awareness: Clients are encouraged to develop a heightened awareness of their bodily sensations, movements, and postures. This awareness helps to identify areas of tension, discomfort, or numbness (or some other sensation) that may be arising in the moment and to allow your body to do what it is intended to do, heal. If you had a cut on your hand, you would trust that with the right tending and patience your hand would heal; your nervous system is the same.

2. Polyvagal Grounding Techniques: For some, focused breathing techniques support grounding, regulation, and relaxation. Deep, mindful breaths can help individuals connect with their bodies, release tension, and calm the nervous system. For others, grounding items or activities such as gentle movement, a cup of tea, a favorite blanket or candle, provide their bodies much needed regulation and calm.

3. Somatic Experiencing: Developed by Peter A. Levine, somatic experiencing focuses on renegotiating and releasing stored trauma by gently guiding individuals to notice and release bodily sensations associated with past traumatic events. This might mean just noticing a sensation as it moves through your system or making movements or expressions that you were not able to or allowed to make as a child or at the time of the experience.

4. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Developed by Francine Shapiro, EMDR combines elements of talk therapy and bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tactile sensations, to help individuals reprocess traumatic memories and reduce the distress associated with them. EMDR can facilitate the integration of fragmented traumatic experiences and promote healing.

5. Internal Family Systems (IFS): Developed by Richard Schwartz, IFS focuses on understanding and harmonizing the various "parts" within an individual's internal system. By bringing attention to where these parts are stored in the body and engaging in a process of presence, this modality helps individuals explore the different aspects of themselves that may have been affected by trauma, promoting self-compassion and healing.

Conclusion:

Somatic trauma therapy techniques offer a holistic and integrative approach to trauma healing by recognizing and including the body's role in processing and releasing trauma. Techniques such as EMDR and IFS complement this approach by facilitating the reprocessing of trauma in the body and moving toward integration with your present self. By working with bodily sensations, movement, and the nervous system, individuals can access profound healing and transformation. Remember, each person's healing journey is unique, and finding the right therapeutic approach for your needs is essential. We believe, and have found to be true for ourselves and our clients, that we need lots of options and that everyone's path is their own.

Keywords: Somatic Trauma Therapy, Mind-Body Connection, EMDR and IFS, Trauma Healing,