From an early age, we were all indoctrinated into believing things about ourselves and how we are supposed to live in the world. We were built around societal norms that taught us to turn away from our inner knowing and our truest self. We spent our childhoods learning these norms on how to interact, how to love others and ourselves, and how to be accepted in the world.
Stay small, stay nice, put others first. Your life is not about you, it's about others.
Don't be vulnerable, it's weakness. They won't like you if you show more of yourself.
Don't get mad. Don't rock the boat. Just accept what you get in life.
Then we go into our adult years realizing that these beliefs do not give us the life we want. "I need to put myself first." "I need to love myself before I can love others." "I need to..." Usually we know what we need to do. But a lot of us don't know how to get there. This is where Somatic Therapy comes in. The body will show you the way, the body is the answer.
Why Somatic Therapy?
The mind-body connection is evident: what happens to us does not just happen in the mind, it happens in the body as well (Scroll to the bottom for videos on this). When we learned how to navigate the world, those beliefs became engrained in our body.
Somatic work makes what's unconscious in our body more conscious for us - in a more compassionate way. Somatic work gets to the root cause of what's holding you back, it allows for a deeper lens to understand yourself better. We do this by using guided visualizations, inner child work and science-backed Trauma work.
Somatic work makes what's unconscious in our body more conscious for us - in a more compassionate way. Somatic work gets to the root cause of what's holding you back, it allows for a deeper lens to understand yourself better. We do this by using guided visualizations, inner child work and science-backed Trauma work.
Guided Visualizations
Did you know that according to the brain, our imagination feels a lot like reality? (Check out this study.) Guided imagery work uses our imagination to help reduce overwhelm, anxiety, panic, fears, among many other issues. Our typical imagery work starts with building a "safe space" in our mind and some boundary making, if needed.
Inner Child Work
Do you ever wonder how much your childhood impacts you today? (Hint: it affects you a ton) You may even have experiences today that make you feel like a little kid, possibly leaving you confused. Doing Inner Child work can help you understand the connections of childhood experiences with how you are today.
Trauma Work
We all have childhood wounds, even if we may not realize it. And trauma has many forms, usually put into a category of "big T" or "little t" trauma. "Big T" trauma is the one that is typically spoken about - physical abuse, sexual violence, and/or life threatening events. These would be most commonly associated with a PTSD diagnosis. "Little t" trauma has a more subtle impact - growing up with emotionally immature and/or distant parents, bullying experiences, significant losses, and/or non-life threatening injuries. "Little t" traumas are still impactful and can be highly distressing to our nervous systems.
Somatic work gets to the center of those traumatic wounds to heal them at a deeper level. Part of the trauma work I provide includes education and awareness about your specific Nervous System and how it operates. This is done through experiential work with the support, guidance and presence of a specialist (me!). Peter Levine says "Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness." It is through this therapeutic relationship (empathetic witnessing) that trauma can be healed.
Somatic work gets to the center of those traumatic wounds to heal them at a deeper level. Part of the trauma work I provide includes education and awareness about your specific Nervous System and how it operates. This is done through experiential work with the support, guidance and presence of a specialist (me!). Peter Levine says "Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness." It is through this therapeutic relationship (empathetic witnessing) that trauma can be healed.
What does a typical Somatic Therapy session look like?
Although based on what each client’s specific desires for themselves, each session usually starts with:
“What do you need today?” and/or “How are you feeling today?”
Based on what you want or need (and it's also okay if you don't know what you need!), we can focus our attention on the body, using meditative and grounding techniques to help you feel safe and comfortable. And depending on what comes up and how you feel, there could be a focus on emotional support work, inner child visualizations, more grounding techniques, self-reflective work, among many other things.
Sometimes, it's very hard to explain what happens in sessions - so don’t worry about trying to figure this out now! I can help to guide you in becoming more body-centered so you can feel better, understand yourself more and live the life you want.
Some questions you may hear me ask could be:
Sometimes, it's very hard to explain what happens in sessions - so don’t worry about trying to figure this out now! I can help to guide you in becoming more body-centered so you can feel better, understand yourself more and live the life you want.
Some questions you may hear me ask could be:
“Where do you feel that in your body?”
“How are you feeling in your body right now?”
“What’s coming up for you in your body right now?
How does Somatic Therapy work virtually?
You may think it's odd that this deep work in therapy can be done in a virtual format. You'll be surprised - it works. Video sessions can be just as effective as in person, and in some ways more so.
It can be hard for some people to enter a new space with a new person and immediately be able to open up. If you are able to do sessions in your home, you are already in an emotionally safe environment and thus can feel more comfortable. It takes away the nerves of what it will feel like to be in a new space.
Doing virtual sessions also allows for boundaries. I've noticed that being in front of a professional can trigger feelings of performance and insecurity in how one looks, among other things. Doing it virtually can take away these insecurities so you can be more present.
And the best part is that I get to see your space, your environment, even your pets! This way, the experience doesn't have to stay in the therapy room, you can bring it home with you.
It can be hard for some people to enter a new space with a new person and immediately be able to open up. If you are able to do sessions in your home, you are already in an emotionally safe environment and thus can feel more comfortable. It takes away the nerves of what it will feel like to be in a new space.
Doing virtual sessions also allows for boundaries. I've noticed that being in front of a professional can trigger feelings of performance and insecurity in how one looks, among other things. Doing it virtually can take away these insecurities so you can be more present.
And the best part is that I get to see your space, your environment, even your pets! This way, the experience doesn't have to stay in the therapy room, you can bring it home with you.
A bit of science backing up Somatic Therapy
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Emma McAdam on Nervous System and Trauma, and how to use the body to help heal ourselves
**Note: I don't use the Somatic Experiencing approach** |
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More details about Fight, Flight, Freeze responses as related to anxiety |
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Irene Lyon's talk on trauma and how stress is stored in the body -- "We have to shift how we relate to our bodies so we can feel it, so we can heal it" "In order to heal, we have to reconnect to the body" |
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PO BOX 1302, PAWTUCKET, RI 02860 PH: 401-285-2319 FAX: 401-441-6519
Erica Albert (formerly Gebhart) Social Work Licenses: Rhode Island #ISW02348; Massachusetts #116267