In order to address the whole self, the mind and body need to be taken into account. Somatic therapy, or body psychotherapy, does just that- it incorporates the body into traditional talk therapy. This can look all different ways, ranging from me, as the therapist, tracking my body and the client’s body to movement interventions done by both me and the client. It all depends on client comfort and level of skill.

Somatic therapy is based on the framework that our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can impact our physical functioning, while physical factors such as diet, exercise, posture, and gestures can also affect our mental and emotional states. Some of the main goals are to build self-awareness and self-regulation skills with body psychotherapy practices. The body/whole system is constantly trying to heal and move towards health, and this form of therapy helps clients create the space for it to do just that.

Most people live from the neck up, so many folks begin therapy with me without much knowledge of their body, and that’s ok! It takes time, practice, and patience to learn to notice your body and then how to use this information. The key things are to be curious, willing to learn, and trust that your body is filled with innate wisdom.