What is Somatic Therapy? How Does it Help with Depression?
Are your emotions out of control? Are you at the mercy of intense sadness, grief, and/or pain? You're not alone. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. And also, there is help available.
One form of treatment that is particularly effective for depression is somatic therapy. In this blog post, we will explore what somatic therapy is and how it can help you manage depression.
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is a type of body-based psychotherapy that focuses on the mind-body connection. It uses bodily sensations, movements, and awareness as a way to access and heal emotional trauma stored in the body.
The theory behind somatic therapy is that our bodies have an innate wisdom that knows how to heal themselves. However, when we experience trauma, this wisdom can become blocked. Somatic therapy can help to reconnect us with our body's wisdom so that we can heal on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Talk about total body wellness!
How does somatic therapy work?
Somatic therapy can take many different forms, and all approaches focus on helping you to develop a deeper awareness of your body and your physical sensations. This may involve gentle touch, massage, or other types of bodywork. It may also involve movement exercises or simple awareness exercises. The goal is to help you to become more aware of your bodily sensations and learn how to use these sensations as a way to access emotions and memories stored in the body.
Somatic therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma. It can also be helpful for people who are struggling with chronic pain or other medical conditions. The commonality here is lack of control, and somatic work gives you back the control over your body through consistent practice of various techniques.
Each person will respond differently to somatic therapy, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. A qualified therapist will work with the individual to tailor the therapy to their needs and goals. If you are looking for a holistic approach to healing that can address both your mind and body, somatic therapy may be right for you.
What are the benefits of somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy can offer several benefits, including:
reducing stress and anxiety
improving sleep
increasing energy levels
improving mood
increasing self-esteem
promoting healing from trauma
providing tools for self-care
The different techniques used in somatic therapy
There are several different somatic therapies, each with its unique approach. Some common somatic therapy techniques include:
Grounding
This technique can help people to feel more connected to their bodies by reducing stress and anxiety. Sometimes called earthing, such intentional activities can genuinely reconnect you to the Earth. It involves focusing on the sensations of the body, such as the feeling of your feet in the gritty beach sand or the sensation of your breath, hot and tasting like coffee with cream.
Somatic experiencing
This type of therapy uses a variety of techniques to help people process and release trauma from the body. It is based on the belief that our bodies hold onto trauma, as if the body hasn’t had the chance to properly move through and past something traumatic. By working with the body, we can heal from a devastating past.
Body mapping
Body mapping is a method that helps people to become more aware of their bodies through data research and storytelling. The goal with these activities is to understand how the body responded to traumatic events. It can be used to help people learn about their own physical and emotional responses.
Titration
This technique helps people to slowly and safely release emotions from the body. It is often used in trauma therapy to help people process and release traumatic memories at a comfortable, slow moving pace.
Sequencing
This technique helps people to connect with their bodies and to understand the mind-body connection. It involves linking together different somatic experiences, such as the feeling of your breath or the sensation of your heartbeat.
Breathwork
Breathwork is about conscious and intentional control of the breath, our literal life force. This type of therapy emphasizes the importance of breathing in our overall health and well-being. Breathwork is more than a coping skill to help people relax, increase energy levels, and promote healing. It’s the ultimate influence in our emotional, physical, and spiritual body.
Bodywork
This type of therapy is collaborative , and it uses touch to help people connect with their bodies and release emotions. Common bodywork modalities include massage, Reiki, and craniosacral therapy. Also at a slower pace, the goal is to orient the nervous system slowly and safely to process deep level things.
Movement and process
This type of therapy uses movement to help people connect with their bodies and release emotions. Think Dance Movement Therapy, where doing both Zumba and laying on the floor like a sloth is exactly what the holistic doc ordered. Moving the body can be used to change mood and release pain, especially with consistency and routine.
So how does somatic therapy help with depression?
There are a few different ways. First, somatic therapy can help you to become more aware of your body and how it feels. This is important because oftentimes, we hold our stress and anxiety in our bodies without even realizing it. Tense shoulders? Rubbing your eyes often? By becoming more aware of your body and how it communicates with you, you can start to release some of that energy.
Second, somatic therapy can help you to connect with your emotions in a new way. When we're depressed, it's quite normal to feel like our emotions are out of control or that we're just numb. Somatic therapy can help you to get in touch with your emotions and understand them better by focusing on the physical body. This can be a really powerful tool in helping you to manage your depression.
Finally, somatic therapy can help you to create a new relationship with your body. When we're depressed, we often have negative and harmful thoughts about our bodies. Somatic therapy can help you to see your body in a new light and start to appreciate it for all that it does for you. This can be a positive step in managing your depression as well as boosting self esteem.
Things to keep in mind
As with any type of therapy, you must find a therapist who you trust and feel comfortable with. This will help to ensure that you get the most out of your somatic therapy experience when your therapist tells you to do something silly or out of your comfort zone. In addition, somatic therapy is not a quick fix. It's important to be patient and to trust the process. If you're looking for a long-term solution to managing your depression, somatic therapy may be right for you.
How to find a qualified somatic therapist?
If you're interested in somatic therapy, the first step is to find a qualified therapist. You can ask your doctor for recommendations or search online for therapists in your area. When you're looking for a therapist, it's important to make sure that they're properly trained and certified in somatic therapy. In addition, you'll want to find a therapist who you are willing to trust and get honest with. Even somatic work requires bravery and vulnerability.
If you're ready to give somatic therapy a try, book an online depression therapy session with The Sassy Shrink. We're a team of licensed therapists and coaches who specialize in helping women manage their depression, anxiety, trauma, and more. We'll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that's tailored to your unique needs.
If somatic therapy sounds like something you're interested in, I encourage you to reach out and book a free consultation. We would be honored to support you on your journey to wellness.
I hope this article has been helpful and that you'll give somatic therapy a try.
Thanks for reading!
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