Somatic therapy is an approach to healing encompassing the powerful mind-body connection. We don’t use the term ‘mental health’ in our practice, as we are aware of the innate embodiment of our emotional states. We don’t just feel in our heads, we feel in our hearts and bodies.
We take a holistic approach to health and healing that recognizes the reciprocal impact of our mental (or cognitive), emotional and physical (soma) states. When one system is impacted, it can influence all other systems. Take depression, for example. The emotion associated with depression is sadness. When we are sad, we tend to describe it as feeling low, down, blue (sensations). Mentally, it impacts our outlook, which may be less optimistic, we may be more focused on the past or things that are not working out for us. We may also experience a lack of energy or motivation. We may experience a sensation of heaviness. We lose interest or pleasure in activities or experiences that previously brought joy, interest, engagement or passion. It’s a whole person experience.
At Sunnyside Healing Arts, our therapists incorporate somatic approaches and techniques in order to help our clients learn to heal. Somatics can involve soothing self-touch, deep breathing and relaxation techniques (meditation, visualization, self-reflection, a warm bath), as well as healthy activity – think gentle (walking, yoga) or active (running, dancing, sports) movement and we also encourage bodywork approaches (massage, osteopathy, craniosacral therapy or Reiki).
Somatic experiencing has been gaining significant attention due to its inextricable link to whole health and treating the whole person. Learning how to listen and respond to our hearts, minds and bodies when we’re in pain is part of the transformational nature of holistic healing. Are you ready to create the conditions necessary for vibrant health? Our therapists are here for you! Call or email to get started.
© Sunnyside Healing Arts, Inc. 2024