Somatic therapists believe some people may be able to address deep emotional issues not revealed through talk therapy simply by paying attention to the communication of the body.

 The use of somatic, body-oriented practices as part of an integrated approach to the treatment of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress is becoming more prevalent, and leading trauma experts such as Bessel van der Kolk, Pat Ogden, Stephen Levine and Diane Poole-Heller all emphasize that somatic approaches are in fact essential in trauma treatment.

 Trauma informed somatic practice supports safety, choice and healing.  At its most basic, trauma arises from an unexpected, unwanted experience that a person is unprepared for and cannot prevent or stop. This experience manifests as trauma when a person’s brain and body are overwhelmed and cannot cope with or integrate the ideas and images that are produced. When this response is triggered in a chronic or sustained way, it can result in toxic stress and lead to harmful lasting changes in the structure of the brain, hormonal issues, digestive problems, or tension in specific parts of the body such as the head, neck, shoulders, or stomach.

 Healing requires regaining a sense of safety in one’s body, relationships and environment; reconnecting to the present self; actively working through the anger, fear and grief about unwanted or abusive experiences; connecting with others in meaningful relationship; and exercising choices that use our strengths and expand what’s possible for us. We realign with our values, access our intuition, and learn to trust our world with renewed wisdom and discernment.