Somatic psychology is focused on the connection between between mind, body and spirit, recognizing sensations, posture, and movement as meaningful pathways of information. It considers how trauma gets “stored” or “held” in the nervous system when the body gets stuck in a survival mode and did not get to complete a movement or expression at the time of the original stressful or traumatic experience.

Somatic psychology encourages awareness of the body and physiological functioning and expression. It may include the use of breath work for regulation, and orienting away from a stressed area of the body to a calm or safe area of the body.

Physical movement may be used to release stress or tension or to complete a cycle that wasn’t completed at the time of the original stressful or traumatic event.

Sometimes people learn to cope with traumatic experiences by detaching from their body. We will always approach body awareness carefully and titrated according to your specific needs. Sometimes we need to build a sense of safety around body awareness before we can utilize body awareness as a valuable pathway for intervention and healing.