Somatic Therapy in Philadelphia and Scranton, PA
The psychotherapists at Perez Psychotherapy are expertly trained in somatic therapy. They offer somatic therapy via virtual appointment to individuals residing throughout Pennsylvania and New York including Philadelphia, Scranton, and NYC.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It is based on the idea that physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts are interconnected and that unresolved emotional issues can manifest in physical symptoms.
The goal of somatic therapy is to help individuals become more aware of their bodily sensations and to process and release negative emotions that may be stored in the body. This can involve a range of techniques, including breathing exercises, movement, touch, and mindfulness practices.
Somatic therapy can be particularly helpful for individuals who have experienced trauma or have symptoms related to anxiety, depression, or chronic pain. By addressing the physical symptoms of these conditions, somatic therapy can help individuals feel more grounded, present, and in control of their emotions.
One of the main principles of somatic therapy is based around the principles of the automatic, sympathetic nervous system response when we experience trauma. This response is typically thought of as the ‘fight or flight’ response. However, in recent years, it has been added to with the addition of: freeze, flop and fawn. Somatic Therapy focuses on what happens when we get stuck in the ‘freeze’ response. In the freeze response we might experience changes in our autonomic nervous system:
- feel tense or rigid
- feel our breathing rate increase
- feel our heart rate increase
- feel nauseous from hormones such as noradrenaline flooding our body
- feel dissociated or ‘spaced out’ from what is happening
Through somatic therapy, individuals can learn to identify and work with their felt sense, which can help them better understand and regulate their emotions.
Overall, somatic therapy is a holistic approach to mental health treatment that emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. By addressing the physical symptoms of emotional issues, somatic therapy can help individuals achieve greater emotional balance and overall well-being.
