What is somatic psychotherapy?

Somatic psychotherapy is a more mind-body approach than traditional therapy.

TALK THERAPY KEEPS YOU IN YOUR FRONT (LOGIC) BRAIN. TRAUMA IS STORED IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AREA, THE MID-BRAIN. TALK THERAPY CAN ONLY TAKE US SO FAR. 

In the past thirty years, we have learned that trauma inherently affects the brain.

There is also evidence that moments of overwhelm that produce trauma in our nervous system create shame, guilt, and worthlessness as a by-product of the event or chronic events that form the wound.

The wounding occurs in the form of one catastrophic event, long-term exposure to a toxic situation, or sensing the necessity to help others to our detriment.

Our brains change to take in the overwhelm we have ingested, changing our thoughts, memories, beliefs, and overall perceptions of the world.

These nervous system patterns create fixed mindsets, fears, an inability to engage healthily with emotion, and feelings of hopelessness. 

Sensing what we feel in our bodies and connecting it to how our brain works with memory, loss avoidance, and aversion, and gaining the skill of reminding the brain of what we want, is just the beginning. 

This therapy challenges us to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and face the moments we repeatedly play in our thoughts that we try to avoid, stuff actively, and ignore.

I also offer Biodynamic cranial sacral practices while noticing sensations and processing through them. Laying comfortably on a table and receiving a cranial sacral touch while working through uncomfortable feelings is the safest way to encourage people to process their trauma. This aspect of my work allows clients carrying triggered emotional responses to calmly gain a broader perspective of who they are, what they have come through, and why the behavioral response was necessary. I teach practices that help us attain the same benefits if we work remotely.

I know trauma modalities, including Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Trauma Release, neuroplasticity exercises, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Body-mind Centering, Biodynamic Cranial Sacral, Reiki, and meditation. 

The disorders Somatic psychotherapy can help with are:

ANXIETY/ANXIETY ATTACKS

FIXED STUCK BELIEF PATTERNS THAT INTERFERE WITH OUR CAREER AND RELATIONSHIPS

PTSD

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA

DIVORCE

MOLESTATION/RAPE

EATING DISORDERS/OVEREATING

GREIF DEATH OF A SPOUSE, FRIEND, PET

MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS AND THOUGHTS

DEPRESSION

A free consultation is the best place to start.

Call me to set up an online or in-person interview.

719-201-1243

Founders of this work:

Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk- The Body Keeps the Score

Somatic Experiencing-Dr. Peter Levine- Awaken the Tiger Within

Dr. Stephen Porges- The Polyvagal Theory

Pat Ogden-Trauma and the body-a Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy

James Finley PhD- Transforming Trauma

Paul Conti, M.D.-Trauma The Invisible Epidemic