Somatic therapy?

[UnicornSightings]

Do you guys have any experience with it? I've tried to google it but haven't really found a clear description of what it's like.

 

[Muted]

Do you guys have any experience with it? I've tried to google it but haven't really found a c...

I think it’s like being in tune with your body.. yoga maybe?

 

[Friday]

@UnicornSightings

Are you talking about SE / Somatic Experiencing Therapy, created by Peter Levine?

Or other forms of somatic therapies?

* Somatic is just one of several scientific term for the physical body, and is used in a lot of different contexts. (Somatic nervous system, somatic processing, somatic psych, etc.). There are quite a few different somatic treatments/therapy models, and even a whole branch of psychology... But SE is a specific therapy developed for PTSD, so that's why my first Q.

 

[UnicornSightings]

Her page just said somatic psychotherapy so that's why I was asking.

 

[Friday]

Okay... That's the school of thought in psych, rather than a specific therapy (like psychoanalytic & cognitive-behavioral & humanistic are schools of thought).

There's a pretty decent article on it here >>> Somatic Psychotherapy

 

[UnicornSightings]

Okay... That's the school of thought in psych, rather than a specific therapy (like psychoanalytic & cog...

I sent out an email to her to talk more about what she specifically does. I've been doing some reading and it seems like it really varies. I think I would really benefit from talking in depth about body sensations while I talk about the past (and current things that are related to past experiences) because I'm so detached when I try to talk about it. If the whole thing is true that trauma is stored in the body then maybe that would be a way to release it. I've started yoga for trauma with a teacher but we don't talk so there's no associating memories with the body. Hmm. I don't know what exactly will help but I love to try new things. I hope she's accepting new clients and can meet with me.

 

[PDH]

I had first appointment with new T the other day who is a Hakomi therapist, and is also training in SE
Just from that first session, I feel as though I'm going to get a lot out of it.

 

[UnicornSightings]

I had first appointment with new T the other day who is a Hakomi therapist, and is also training in SE
Just...

Ooooh! Can you tell me more about that? There's a hakomi therapist in my city as well but she's $175/hr which is way outside my budget but I'm interested in any kind of body stuff.

 

[PDH]

Ooooh! Can you tell me more about that? There's a hakomi therapist in my city as well but sh...

I guess for me, I'd reached a place where Ive felt "stuck"....almost like I've run out of words, but there is so much that feels like its stored in my body. The Hakomi is a really body oriented approach, using mindfulness to get curios about different tensions you hold, postures you adapt...things going on inside your body, and then different experiments around those to try and access deeper core material. Its a really interesting process.

I have a second appointment on Thursday so will be able to tell you more after that.

 

[PDH]

Sorry for the delayed response on this...
I had my second appointment with my new T last week and it was pretty groundbreaking.

I wish I could explain the experience better, but it felt like my body completed actions it wanted to do all those years ago, but couldn't.
Being mindful of a certain posture and tension pattern that I hold, we explored it, and it took me back to a memory that was quite powerful. From there it was kind of like I just knew what I had to do, how I needed to move and what needed to happen, and it was quite a beautiful experience.
Its like something got re-written inside me.

Since the appointment I have had some inner conflict at times, and have been a bit up and down...and I know there is more to explore here, but I do feel like something has shifted. For me, I feel like I'm on the right path with this therapy at the moment.