Trauma can have a profound impact on a person's mental and physical health. The effects of trauma can be long-lasting and can often manifest in physical symptoms such as chronic pain, muscle tension, and fatigue. Somatic therapy is a type of therapy that aims to address the physical symptoms of trauma by working with the body and the nervous system. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to somatic therapy exercises for trauma.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the physical sensations of the body, rather than just the thoughts and emotions of the mind. It is based on the understanding that trauma can be stored in the body, and that by working with the body, it is possible to release trauma and improve overall well-being. Somatic therapy can take many forms, including bodywork, movement therapy, energy medicine, visualisation work, emotional trauma release, breath-work and much more. It is often used in conjunction with dialogical trauma work to provide a holistic approach to healing.
How Does Somatic Therapy Work?
When we experience stress, the insular cortex activates the body's stress response system, which prepares us for action. This response can be helpful in short-term situations, but chronic stress can lead to dysregulation of the insular cortex, which can lead to a range of physical and emotional symptoms including dissociation where we disconnect from our own emotions and body and end up feeling numb and ghost like. Both our ability to sense and feel emotion and respond to stress and develop internal resilience at a nervous system level, are severely impacted by trauma in childhood, particularly physical and sexual abuse. Somatic therapy works by helping individuals to tune into their physical sensations and become more aware of their body. This increased awareness can help individuals to identify areas of tension, pain, or discomfort that may be related to past traumas.
Through a variety of exercises and techniques, somatic therapy can help individuals to release physical tension and retrain the nervous system to respond differently to stress and trauma.
Some of the most common techniques used in somatic therapy include:
Body Scans
Body scanning is a mindfulness practice that involves paying attention to different sensations in the body, such as tightness or tension. It is related to interoception, which is the awareness of bodily sensations. Through body scanning, individuals can learn to become more aware of their bodily sensations and learn to regulate their nervous system. This can help in healing trauma, as trauma can often manifest in the body as physical sensations and tensions. By bringing awareness to these bodily sensations through body scanning, individuals can start to release the stored trauma in their body and regulate their nervous system. Here are my top 5 body scan meditations, for more please tune in and subscribe to the Kimiya Healing Podcast! 1.13 min body scan
You might also like to try this body mapping practice which will help you identify the root causes of your symptoms so that you can heal.
Grounding Exercises
Grounding is important because it can help individuals to feel more present and connected to their body, and to the world around them. It can help reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm, and promote a sense of calm and relaxation. Grounding exercises have also been shown to be effective in helping individuals to manage symptoms of trauma, depression, and other mental health conditions. Additionally, grounding can be a helpful tool for individuals who may struggle with dissociation or feeling disconnected from their body or surroundings. Grounding exercises can help individuals to feel more connected to their body and the present moment. These exercises may involve focusing on the sensation of the feet on the ground, or the feeling of breath moving in and out of the body. Here are my top 5 guided grounding sessions, for more please tune in and subscribe to the Kimiya Healing Podcast! 1. 20 min grounding practice
Somatic & Energetic Practices
Somatic Experiencing is a therapeutic approach that aims to address the physiological and psychological impacts of trauma by exploring bodily sensations and promoting interoception. Interoception is the awareness of one's internal bodily sensations, and by tuning into these sensations, individuals can better regulate their emotional and physiological responses to stress and trauma. Through somatic experiencing, individuals can learn to safely explore and process traumatic experiences, ultimately leading to a greater sense of healing and well-being.
Here are my top 5 guided somatic practices, for more please tune in and subscribe to the Kimiya Healing Podcast! 1.Womb-heart-throat axis
You might also like to take my online Masterclass on Sacred Somatix to deepen your somatic healing work.
The Benefits of Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy, which emphasises the connection between the mind and body, has been found to be effective in helping individuals who have experienced trauma. One of the main benefits of somatic therapy is that it can help to reduce physical tension and pain that may be associated with trauma. This is achieved through various techniques that focus on releasing physical tension and promoting relaxation in the body.
Somatic therapy can also help to improve sleep, which is often disrupted by trauma-related symptoms such as nightmares and flashbacks. By promoting relaxation and reducing physical tension, somatic therapy can help individuals to achieve a more restful and restorative sleep.
Another benefit of somatic therapy is that it can increase emotional regulation and resilience, which can be particularly helpful for individuals who struggle with intense emotions or feelings of numbness. By learning to connect with and regulate bodily sensations, individuals can develop greater awareness and control over their emotional experiences.
In addition, somatic therapy has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, which are common after traumatic experiences. By addressing the underlying physiological aspects of these symptoms, somatic therapy can help individuals to feel more grounded and connected to their bodies.
Overall, somatic therapy can promote a greater sense of well-being by helping individuals to release physical tension, regulate emotions, and feel more connected to their bodies. These benefits can have a profound impact on an individual's quality of life and ability to heal from trauma.
Heal from Trauma and Dissociation: Enrol Today in this Powerful Self Paced Online Course or book a 1-1 Programme
If you have experienced childhood trauma and abuse and are struggling to have a healing breakthrough, somatic therapy may be your next step. Through body-centered techniques, such as body scanning and grounding exercises, somatic therapy can help reduce these symptoms and improve your overall well-being.
If you're interested in taking your healing journey a step further, consider enrolling in our self paced courses on healing dissociation and healing childhood sexual abuse.
Our comprehensive program incorporates somatic therapy techniques and advanced energy healing to help you overcome dissociation and connect with their body and emotions in a safe and sacred environment.
For those who prefer a more personalized approach, I offer a 1-1 program to help you heal from trauma and reclaim a sense of wholeness and well-being.
As always, if you're ready to start healing reach out to me.
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