If you are willing, take a moment to pause and check in with your body sensations. What are you noticing right now?  Is your heart racing? Are your hands sweating? Do you feel calm and settled? Are you tense? Do you feel a sense of collapse in your body? Is there any pain? Where might you feel neutral? Are you not sure what you feel? Do you notice nothing? All of these are normal and natural responses to notice inside of our bodies. Did you know that the language of the body is sensation? It is important to check in with how our bodies are feeling, also known as sensations, to help heal from trauma. Somatic therapy is an evidenced based approach that incorporates the body into the treatment of trauma. 

What is Somatic Therapy? 

Soma is another word for the “body.” Therapy means “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder or symptoms.” Therefore, somatic therapy integrates the body into the healing process. It is considered a “top down” approach. Somatic therapy addresses the connection between the mind and body. It can treat symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, OCD, or any mental health disorder. In somatic therapy, you are asked to bring their attention towards internal sensations rather than just your thoughts.

Can Somatic therapy be done online?

Did you know you can do most somatic therapies online? Physical somatic touch work cannot be done online, but somatic therapy that does not involve touch can done virtually. In a somatic online therapy session, the therapist does many of the same things as they would do in an in-person session. There are some minor differences. For examples, the somatic therapist would ask you to check in or report back on what parts your body that they cannot see on the video is doing. Also, certain somatic therapy exercises need to be adapted for the virtual setting. Somatic therapy on the phone is too challenging because it is helpful to see your facial expressions, body language and movements. 

What does treatment look like?

Have you ever wondered what a somatic exercise or technique might look like? If so, here are two common exercises we do in session!

Orienting:

If you would like, begin to let your eyes wander around the room and take in your surroundings. Allow your eyes to slowly look where they want to look, as opposed to where you think they should look. Notice what draws their curiosity.

Next, using your neck muscles, let your head turn slowly to check out the environment in all directions. If you like, also see what happens if you allow your head to look up and down as well. Take all the time you need.

• Notice if there is anything that indicates safety in the present moment.

• Notice if there is anything dangerous or threatening in the present moment.

• What happens as you take in your surroundings? What do you notice inside your body?

**Note: in somatic therapy, the goal of orienting isn’t necessarily to become more grounded or mindful. The goal is to develop a more accurate sense of safety, danger, or life threat in the present moment.

Noticing our impulses/urges:

Coming into awareness of what our body (not our mind!) wants to do can bring us into the power and possibility of choice. When we react without conscious awareness, this can lead to acting out of alignment with our values and/or engaging in self-destructive behaviors.

Here are some questions to consider:

• What wants to happen in your body right now?

• How does your body want to express itself? Is there a specific movement or action?

• What happens if you sit with an impulse or urge without acting on it?

• What might these impulses or urges be telling you about what’s happening in the here and now?

But is it even effective?

Research shows that somatic therapy, specifically Somatic Experiencing is an effective treatment for PTSD. Somatic therapy allows for healing without explicitly retelling the traumatic event(s). Instead the focus is on releasing bodily tensions. Somatic therapy integrates grounding techniques for PTSD in a titrated and safe way. There is not one, “best therapy for trauma.” Many people report that somatic therapy has been helpful in treating trauma when other trauma and PTSD treatments have not worked. 

Start Somatic Therapy in Detroit, Ann Arbor or Anywhere in Michigan

If you want to learn how to release stress and trauma from your body and feel more connected to yourself, reach out to meet with a Somatic therapist. A social worker can provide support and guidance in managing your symptoms of trauma and anxiety.

In order to start Somatic therapy at Embodied Wellness, PLLC follow these steps:

1. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation for Somatic therapy today.

2. Make your first appointment with a Somatic therapist in Detroit, Michigan

3. Start addressing and overcoming your trauma and PTSD symptoms

Other Online Therapy Services We Offer in Detroit & Throughout Michigan

At Embodied Wellness, PLLC we offer a variety of services for both adults and teenagers through online therapy in Michigan. Some of specialities we offer include empath counseling and OCD treatment. As well as anxiety treatment, depression treatment, trauma therapy, and PTSD treatment. Some of the other techniques we use include EMDR therapy and Internal Family Systems. If you are ready to start getting mental health support reach out to us today!