Can somatic therapy be done 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. 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 some of these insecurities so you can be more present.
It can be hard for some people to enter a new space with a new person and 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.
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 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.
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.
Who would benefit from this type of therapy?
I believe that everyone would benefit from this type of therapy as it helps us reconnect to ourselves, that includes our body and soul. The kind of clients that I usually see have been to therapy in the past and they may not be getting the kind of impact from therapy that they expected. . They've tried different types of therapy, they may be on medication for their anxiety or depression.
What kind of somatic techniques do you use?
Depending on your needs, there are many different ways of working somatically. Here are a few:
- Breathe-work and grounding techniques
- Mindfulness based body-tracking
- Polyvagal-informed techniques
- Inner child work
- Guided imagery work
- Psychoeducation about nervous system
How does somatic therapy work with trauma?
Because somatic therapy works with the body and the body holds the memories of what's happened to us, we are automatically working on trauma.
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!). It is through this therapeutic relationship that trauma can be healed.
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.
Because there are so many different reasons for entering somatic therapy, there are also many different benefits to the work. A lot of my clients report feeling more connected to their body and body reactions. They also report a deeper understanding of how they cope with feelings through a different kind of lens than what they're used to. The interesting part of somatic work is that we do not have to re-tell or re-live the trauma directly in order to work through the trauma.
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!). It is through this therapeutic relationship that trauma can be healed.
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.
Because there are so many different reasons for entering somatic therapy, there are also many different benefits to the work. A lot of my clients report feeling more connected to their body and body reactions. They also report a deeper understanding of how they cope with feelings through a different kind of lens than what they're used to. The interesting part of somatic work is that we do not have to re-tell or re-live the trauma directly in order to work through the trauma.
"Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness."
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