As I stated in yesterday’s post, today’s will provide some specific techniques through which somatic therapy is conducted. Yesterday’s post was a sort of introduction to the concept of somatic therapy as opposed to delving into the nitty gritty details of how exactly it is performed, so I thought I would address that in today’s post to ensure we are all well-informed on the topic of somatic therapy.
Again, this information comes from forbes.com.
“Somatic therapy typically encompasses multiple practices that focus on both mind and body.
“Breathwork involves breathing intentionally to boost awareness of your body and help it ‘become an intentional tool for self-regulation,’ says Mulloy, who prefers this tactic in her practice. Because breathwork involves the physical act of breathing and the mental act of focusing on the breath, it effectively links the mind and body, aiming to provide awareness and insights into your nervous system and emotions.
“Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) uses bilateral (left-right) physical stimulation to reduce the vividness and emotion of a traumatic memory. During an EMDR session, a patient recalls a traumatic memory while experiencing rhythmic bilateral stimulation, often eye movements, audio tones or physical taps, with the intention of altering the way the memory is stored in the brain. The patient may also be prompted to check in with their body to see what sensations they are experiencing, and what emotions may be trapped in those sensations. EMDR may not be suitable for individuals with serious medical conditions, people who are pregnant or those who frequently dissociate, advises Dr. Fedrick.
“Brainspotting identifies points in your field of vision, or brainspots, that are associated with trauma stored deep in the brain and aims to desensitize you to those associations. Brainspots may be identified by the therapist watching the patient’s eyes (known as ‘the outside window’), the patient themselves (‘the inside window’) or by acknowledging a spot the patient already fixates on (‘gazespotting’). Once a brainspot is identified, an individual focuses on that location while reliving or recalling a traumatic memory to the therapist. The goal is to allow the person to properly process the traumatic event, through identifying sensations and emotions, now that they are in a safe environment and to lessen the traumatic association to that brainspot.
“Hakomi, which means ‘Where do I stand in relation to the many realms?’ in Hopi, emphasizes mindfulness (being aware of your internal state, your surroundings and their interaction), nonviolence and the body as an indicator of your psyche, according to the Hakomi Institute. In a Hakomi therapy session, an individual spends most of the time in mindfulness to more deeply understand their emotions. In turn, Hakomi practitioners pay attention to the patient’s physicality, such as gestures and posture, which is believed to reveal unconscious memories and associations. Hakomi practitioners also focus on their own consciousness, mindfulness and loving energy to better facilitate the therapy,” the web page explains.
A couple of days ago, I didn’t have the slightest inclination as to what exactly somatic therapy is, but I think I’ve now garnered a solid comprehension, and I hope you have, too.
Photo by youssef naddam on Unsplash
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