Soma is the Greek word, for “the living body” and so Somatic Psychotherapy includes awareness of the body’s involvement when working with the psychological experience.
Wellness and wellbeing are affected directly and indirectly by physical, mental and emotional injury. These traumas together with negative feelings such as resentment, anger and frustration may prevent your body and mind from working together, creating an imbalance within the whole structure.
Many people, in order to deal with or avoid feeling emotional or physical discomfort, learn how to disconnect from their bodies. This can be a survival response to something traumatic, unpleasant, painful or confusing. If this disconnection becomes a constant way of being, you may lose touch with your deepest feelings and yourself. This can also manifest itself in physical adaptations creating many chronic problems.
Often people are unaware that the bodily ailments they are experiencing may be the result of an imbalance in their physical and psychological wellbeing.
The body, mind, emotions and spirit can communicate, and are all interrelated. As a Somatic Psychotherapist, I assist you in learning how to listen to the language of your body as well as that of your mind and understand aspects of yourself on all these different levels.
Somatic therapy supports physical and emotional changes by allowing, not only the mind, but also the body, to ‘communicate’ about its experiences. This facilitates the self-healing capacity of the body and allows you to feel integrated, whole, efficient, expansive and creative.
By facilitating your awareness of the interrelationship between your mind, body, emotions and spirit, you become capable of accessing the resources you have within, to respond successfully to the challenges and opportunities in your life. With these strengthened inner resources, you are able to make the changes necessary for your own growth and healing.
My background training is in Somatic Psychotherapy, with further qualifications in Integrative Bodywork, covering Structure, Metaphor and Alignment, Anatomy and Physiology, Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy and Polarity Therapy. I have a Master’s degree in Applied Science, majoring in Critical Perspectives in Psychological Practices.