5 benefits of somatic therapy that will help you cope with trauma 🫶

It's estimated that 6 out of 10 people will experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or related disorders within their lifetime.

One way to treat PTSD and other related trauma disorders is through somatic therapy(ST) — a great tool for addressing trauma and its physical and emotional effects.

"Somatic" means "relating to the body". The mind and body coexist and depend on each other to create a healthy whole.

For example, if your mind is feeling stressed, you'll notice symptoms in your body such as high blood pressure or tension.

Photo by Mor Shani on Unsplash

When "somatic" is combined with the word "therapy", meaning "to relieve or heal", we heal through the process of relating our mind to the body.

During ST treatment, therapists use mind and body techniques, such as:

• breathing

• meditation

• body movement

Somatic therapy can help people in many areas:

1. Body awareness: ST emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. This helps develop a deeper awareness of bodily sensations, emotions, and patterns of tension.

2. Trauma resolution: ST addresses trauma and its physical and emotional effects. This process helps to reduce stored trauma, allowing for healing and growth.

3. Stress reduction: ST uses breath work, body scans, mindful movement, and other relaxation techniques. This cultivates a sense of safety and reduces the impact of stressors on the body.

4. Enhanced well-being: ST can help people experience increased energy and overall better health. By releasing tension, trauma, and emotional blockages, ST helps restore balance.

5. Emotional regulation: ST helps individuals develop skills to regulate their emotions more effectively. By learning to notice bodily sensations associated with different emotions, people can gain greater control over their emotional states and respond to triggers more adaptively.

The video clip below is an example of how body scans are used in ST to calm the mind and body.

Try practicing along with Jen! 👇

You're not alone in the healing process. Therapists that specialize in somatic therapy are here to help you!