If you are interested in being introduced to somatic group work, please feel free to join us for the weekly virtual drop in group, Soma-addicts. This group is also appropriate for those familiar with somatics who would like more community space.
In the vastly changing paradigm of today’s world, the field of psychology is keeping pace. There is now a myriad of therapy modalities that fall under the category of ‘somatics’. If you have been researching mental health support for yourself or a loved one, you may have run into this term. So, what is somatic therapy? According to the Oxford dictionary, somatics means “relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind”. The root word, soma, is Greek simply for ‘body’.
Somatic therapies or practices could be any exercise or intentional self-inquiry that supports a non-judgemental observation of our sensate experience.
The pivotal work of psychologist and trauma expert Peter Levine, though begun nearly fifty years ago, is finally gaining a foothold both in the American mental health system and internationally. His somatic frameworks are helping to update the standards of Western psychology. Levine’s work includes a framework of therapy known as Somatic Experiencing which is based on somatics.
Western psychology frames somatics as a bottom-up therapy framework. Bottom-up approaches to therapy are those that focus on first noticing an experience or behavior without judgment, and then observing any felt change from that experience. For example, if I notice some tightness in my belly and slow down enough to be with that sensation- rather than ignoring or distracting myself from it- I might realize the sensation is connected to my worry about a dear friend. Meaning and feeling have then emerged from the intentional and gentle observation of my sensory experience. Once I notice this emotion that is connected to the sensation, the tightness in my belly may or may not change. Either way, I now have more information about myself because I slowed down enough to observe with a curious mind.
Traditional Western therapy could be considered top-down because it orients more around thinking as the pathway into the self. The idea is that if we change the way our mind is working through thoughts it will then impact our behaviors and emotions. For example, each time I remember a previous partner and become sad, I can remind myself that I am better off now without them. I can focus on the healthy ways my life has actually improved since the separation. When I remind myself of this reality, my body might lighten up and I can get back to the present moment. The focused training of my thoughts has had a positive impact on my emotional self. This approach- typical of Western Psychology- is a top-down processing framework. There are other more specific therapy methods, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, that follow this structure as well.
For the majority of people, a combination of both top-down and bottom-up therapy approaches is most efficient for both healing mental challenges and emotional growth.
Most somatic therapies that have emerged in the west have emerged with traditional Western psychotherapy as their foundation. Some individuals within Western culture find themselves without access to language that clearly articulates their emotions, or they may find it difficult to access information from the body. This is partially because Western culture values intellectualism over other ways of thinking such as emotional intelligence, bodily wisdom, and mystical and creative thinking. The inability to put words to our emotions or sensations could be considered a missing experience- and yet it is common. Because it is common, somatic therapy modalities- which have been created from the standard psychology model- inherently include the top-down foundation within their structures. Both EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Somatic Experiencing, two therapy modalities specific to rewiring the nervous system and trauma, do include top-down structures within their framework.
Considering all of this, somatics are appropriate for anyone curious about developing a closer relationship with their own body’s experience.
Whatever a potential client or participant is reasonably comfortable with, is what is appropriate for them. We cannot explore if we do not feel safe, and what makes each of us feel safe is, of course, unique. I say ‘reasonably comfortable’ because an honest introspective process can sometimes be uncomfortable. So what we are going for here is comfortable enough to stay curious and to trust the process. If you are at all curious about somatic therapies, then they are an appropriate tool for you.
While there are still major accessibility gaps in our healthcare system, there are somatic tools that honor the wisdom of our bodies. I have faith that these tools are becoming more and more prevalent in society, and am honored to be a part of this movement. Beyond these specific therapy modalities, any sort of focused movement, such as dance, yoga, walking, or martial arts- especially in nature spaces when available – can support the deepening of our somatic awareness.
By Annie Boheler
Edited by Aiyana Deyoung