What is Somatic Movement Therapy?
Somatic movement therapy explores how the body expresses deeply painful experiences, applying mind-body healing to aid with trauma recovery. The body is the starting point to achieve healing. This form of therapy cultivates an awareness of bodily sensations and teaches people to feel safe in their bodies while exploring thoughts, emotions, and memories. Harvard Health Publishing
The somatic theory holds that the effects of trauma can live on, interconnectedly, in both the mind and body. Working on releasing these holds may help you to heal from a traumatic event or episode. Healing through somatic therapy involves developing an awareness of these connections and carrying out different exercises. Somatic exercises are body-focused, meaning they are focused on physical sensations rather than thoughts and emotions, as is the case in talk therapies. They can be particularly useful for people displaying symptoms of PTSD or chronic stress.
Grounding Techniques
Somatic grounding techniques can help you to focus on the here and now. In a similar way to mindfulness, anchoring yourself in the present can help you to move away from past events that are causing you distress. This could involve flashbacks or symptoms of anxiety and dissociation linked to past events or behaviors. In terms of addiction recovery, these techniques can help the person in recovery deal with cravings or anxiety, which can be very valuable in relapse prevention
Benefits of Somatic Therapy on Addiction Recovery
Studies have shown that somatic practices can rewire the brain’s neural pathways, leading to profound and lasting changes in individuals recovering from addiction. By engaging the body in the therapy process, these practices bring about neurobiological shifts that support recovery and prevent relapse. Creates new neural pathways to pleasure.
Mind-body awareness
Somatic therapy can help people develop a better awareness of their bodies and minds, which can help them recognize unhealthy thought patterns that may lead to cravings or relapse.
Grounding techniques
Somatic grounding techniques can help people focus on the present moment, which can help them move away from past events that may be causing distress.
Neurobiological shifts
Somatic practices can rewire the brain’s neural pathways, which can lead to lasting changes that support recovery and prevent relapse.
Improved brain and heart function
Somatic therapy can enhance brain and heart function, which can reduce stress held in the body.
Sense of connection
Somatic therapy can help people develop a sense of being grounded and connected to themselves and others.
Combats “prolonged freeze”
Somatic therapy can help combat the “prolonged freeze” state that people can experience after trauma, which can lead to worsening mental health and substance use disorder.