Somatic Therapy
Why Somatic Therapy Might Be The Right Choice For You
Are you considering therapy for help with anxiety, feelings of overwhelm, feeling unsafe, or feeling “on guard” all the time? Have you considered talk therapy but find the idea of sitting and talking about yourself and your life unappealing? Maybe you think it would overwhelm you even further or worry you won’t be able to explain what’s happening in your head.
When you feel unsafe in your body, which may feel like being on edge all the time, or show up as shallow breathing, having a rapid heartbeat, or the sense that there’s always something lurking around the corner, it can be hard to shut those symptoms off to discuss them.
If you are looking for a catalyst to change your nervous system reactions, somatic therapy may provide a way to rediscover a sense of safety. Many feelings can become locked away due to anxiety—and especially due to trauma—but somatic therapy can help you access these feelings and rediscover a sense of safety.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy involves a number of theories and techniques that involve tuning into the feelings and sensations of the body, re-establishing a sense of safety and groundedness, while processing stress and uncomfortable feelings.
This therapeutic method can help with many mental health issues like anxiety and depression, as well as for individuals who have experienced trauma, emotional or physical abuse, or an "attachment injury" from their caregiver. This may show up in their life as consistent anxiousness or fear, timidity, compulsive thoughts, feeling overwhelmed, anger, having addictions, being on "autopilot," or having a sense of disconnect.
What Does Somatic Therapy Look Like in Practice?
This is a 'bottom-up' approach to addressing mental health, and the process and activities vary from person to person based on your background, limitations, and interest level. My aim is to meet you where you are and to go from there.
When you reach out to my practice to begin therapy, I’ll look at your life from a holistic point of view. Are you finding time in the day to move your body? Are you exercising, sleeping well, eating well, and engaging in the world? Are you engaging with friends? Together, we can explore how to discover more balance in your life, and somatic therapy can be a path to achieve that.
From there, we will practice relaxation exercises such as deep breathing and meditation to promote calm and a sense of grounding. We will explore physical practices that aid in re-directing the energy through your body, which may include traditional exercises like walking, yoga, or other movement practices.
Developing Resources and Learning Body Awareness
I’ll help you develop resources within yourself to regulate your emotions more effectively, enabling you to move out of fight or flight responses you might be stuck in, and tapping into your intelligence so you can think clearly. Somatic processes can help you find the ability to release anger, frustration, and tension in your body that might have been attached to negative experiences or even trauma. These sensations will have less and less of a hold on your ability to engage fully in your daily life.
Somatic therapy can induce strong physical reactions and sensations that are a natural way of processing uncomfortable memories and experiences and can lead you toward healing and developing a more integrated sense of self.
Somatic mindfulness practices can help you become more aware of your body experiences as they relate to your emotional reactions. This could involve noticing where your body feels tension when you are upset. For example, where do you feel the sensation of anger? When you think back on a moment that fostered anger in therapy, you can work on processing that feeling in your body and moving through it so that it doesn’t literally and figuratively hold you back anymore.
My Background In Somatic Psychotherapy
I discovered the benefits of mindfulness and grounding-based practices almost twenty years ago, incorporating them into my own mental health journey after experiencing feelings of stagnation and a lack of progress. I trained in Hakomi Mindfulness-based Somatic Psychotherapy in 2015 and became a Certified Hakomi Therapist in 2020. In addition, I have a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Somatics, I’ve studied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma, and am trained in NeuroAffective Touch for Developmental Trauma.
I have worked with individuals who hadn’t felt success or progress in their mental health journey until we involved somatic practices in our sessions, such as developing mindful awareness, discovering safety through grounding, and encouraging movement in session, like taking a walk.
I have found mindfulness and somatic practices incredibly helpful in feeling more present, aware, and grounded both personally and as a therapist. Through my own inner process and education, I felt inspired to assist others in their own healing, and hopefully help you discover a renewed sense of safety and groundedness.
I Welcome You To Try Somatic Therapy At My Practice
Please reach out through my contact form or email me at dj@davidjavate.com to learn more with a 15-minute consultation. I look forward to connecting with you and discussing how somatic therapy can help invigorate your mental health journey.
Somatic therapy sessions are $190 per 50 min session.
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