Somatic Therapy, Brainspotting & Trauma

“To capitalize on the body in therapy calls for a shift in emphasis from conversation to mindful exploration; from a sole focus on emotions and thoughts to the inclusion of body sensation, posture, and movements; from discussing new possibilities to experimenting with new actions.”

—Pat Ogden, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

What is Somatic Therapy?

Most of us know our story well. We’ve analyzed, processed and unpacked the details countless times with anybody that will listen, and sometimes it can feel like we’re stuck in the same loop, not getting anywhere. Somatic therapy allows us to try something different; rather than “talking about” the same story, the same ol’ way, we shift to being with our internal experience as it is happening right now. 

Think of the difference between snorkeling, where you’re swimming on the surface looking down at all the interesting, scary or bizarre things below, versus scuba diving all the way down to the deep ocean bed to check out what’s happening yourself! Somatic therapy invites you into a much deeper experiential and healing process.

Somatic therapy is based on the notion that past experiences are stored in our body, and re-enacted in our posture, movement, gestures, breathing patterns and bodily sensations. We use mindfulness to slow down and work with these elements of our experience to eventually unlock these maladaptive stored memories. This process is characterized by curiosity, openness, and the capacity to turn towards our difficult feelings and sensations in order to facilitate greater self-awareness and nervous system regulation, and to discover new ways of moving through the world.

“Healing asks that you turn toward your past to find relief from the weight of trauma. As a result, you become less defined by your history and have greater choice about your future.”

— Arielle Schwartz, PhD

What is Brainspotting? 

Brainspotting is a Mind-Body therapy approach that provides rapid-pace healing by processing and releasing traumatic memories, maladaptive beliefs and emotional pain stored in the deeper regions of the brain, in a way that talk therapy can’t access alone.

The brainspot is located by finding an eye position where the emotion is most strongly felt, which is related to the region of the brain and nervous system where the memory is stored. This approach can help decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and treat a wide range of issues, particularly those that have been caused by trauma. Some issues treated by Brainspotting including, childhood neglect, abuse, low self-esteem, physical pain, unhealthy relationship patterns, performance anxiety and much more. 

Somatic therapy and Brainspotting are easily integrated with other therapeutic techniques. If you’re curious to give it a try, get in touch to find out more.