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. Somatic therapy helps you navigate difficulty with emotions, from a more embodied nervous system approach. It gives you the tools you'll need to connect, hold and feel emotions which will make you feel more whole and alive.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How is somatic therapy different from talk therapy?
Traditional talk therapy focuses on thoughts and emotions and how those are connected to behavior change. Somatic therapy focuses on the body and how to bring that experience into healing. The body is the catalyst to exploring your nervous system, especially if it has been through stress and trauma.
What does a typical session look like?
While each session is unique to each client, I often start by asking:
"What do you need today?"
Based on what you want or need from the session (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.
Based on what you want or need from the session (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.
There are certain areas of focus that come up regularly in my work. Each session usually involves experiential work. This kind of session is working directly with the body on feeling, sensing, grounding and settling. This is where we co-regulate, in real time. We can hold a lot of pressure and tension in different parts of the body and these kind of sessions are wonderful for working directly with them. If you are unaware of where you hold tension, that is okay. I help guide you and work with your nervous system to uncover the blocks directly, and then help you release the stored stress and trauma being held in your body.
Another focus is on embodiment work. You may come in with a conflict at work, a struggle in your marriage, or overwhelm of some kind. This kind of session helps you to embody those senses and feelings and feel more connected to the present day experience. These sessions help you to feel while also learning about how you cope with things. As much as we can focus on present day situations, there is always a connection these situations have with our past.
I love doing Inner child work while working with my clients. I am always thinking of us as deeper than just who are as adults. When we start inner child work, we start a connection with the younger versions of ourselves by saying "I'm here. I'd love to learn more about you."
After some time in therapy, we can also do a Somatic Insight Session where we speak about and "feel into" the different themes and patterns that your body holds. This kind of session allows for more clarity and focus on where your growth and healing lies. These sessions also help you deepen into your own story, both from a nervous system perspective and inner child perspective.
Another focus is on embodiment work. You may come in with a conflict at work, a struggle in your marriage, or overwhelm of some kind. This kind of session helps you to embody those senses and feelings and feel more connected to the present day experience. These sessions help you to feel while also learning about how you cope with things. As much as we can focus on present day situations, there is always a connection these situations have with our past.
I love doing Inner child work while working with my clients. I am always thinking of us as deeper than just who are as adults. When we start inner child work, we start a connection with the younger versions of ourselves by saying "I'm here. I'd love to learn more about you."
After some time in therapy, we can also do a Somatic Insight Session where we speak about and "feel into" the different themes and patterns that your body holds. This kind of session allows for more clarity and focus on where your growth and healing lies. These sessions also help you deepen into your own story, both from a nervous system perspective and inner child perspective.
How Bodies Store TraumaBessel van der Kolk on how trauma came to be seen and how the body holds trauma.
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A bit on Polyvagal TheoryDeb Dana on the nervous system and Polyvagal Theory - and gives the viewer an experiential experience to understand body responses.
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A bit of science backing up somatic therapyEmma 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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In-Person at 285 Governor St, Providence, RI 02906
Mailing Address: 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