What Happens in a Somatic Psychotherapy Session?
Somatic Experiencing acknowledges that the effects of trauma, anxiety, and sensory overwhelm are not limited to the mind but deeply ingrained in the body as well. Sessions can feel quite different than traditional talk therapy, and it can be helpful to be able to anticipate what you may experience in your Somatic Experiencing therapy process.
1. Psychoeducation: Understanding what is happening in your body
Somatic Experiencing revolves around the principle that our bodies possess an innate capacity to heal from trauma. It offers that the symptoms generated by your body are the key to unlocking what you need to heal. We start with understanding what is happening inside your body when you experience overwhelming events. Then, you’ll understand how your nervous system can become dysregulated and make sense of symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, and hypervigilance.
2. Exploring Your History
Sometimes we walk into therapy knowing what content we want to work on, but other times we aren’t sure where symptoms are coming from. Somatic Experiencing is a versatile approach that can benefit a wide range of people, including those who:
- Have a history of trauma (such as physical abuse, sexual assault, accidents, or emotional abuse)
- Struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias
- Experience sensory overwhelm
- Seek to deepen their mind-body connection and strengthen intution
We will explore what symptoms are bringing you into therapy and track the patterns that are happening in your nervous system.
3. Creating Customized Techniques
Once we have an appreciation of what is going on for you, we’ll come up with methods to help your body regulate. This varies widely on the person and their history/preferences. For example – focusing on the breath can be an incredible resource for some and a one-way ticket to a panic attack for someone else. The tools used in Somatic Experiencing are completely customized for your individual nervous system, so if one particular method doesn’t work for you, we just work around it. Check out “3 Tools from Somatic Experiencing to Use Daily” for more examples.
Remember, healing is possible. Your body has the innate wisdom to guide you toward a more vibrant and grounded existence. I look forward to seeing how we can work together to bring you closer to your goals.