What is Somatic Psychotherapy?
Somatic psychotherapy is the told and untold stories that our bones and heartbeat keep tight, the melodies of nervous systems that can come out of tune. It is the dances of our breath and activation of physical sensations that signal to us what and who is safe and dangerous.
In less poetic terms, Somatic psychotherapy is a type of therapy that helps people to heal from emotional and psychological pain by working with the body.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses mainly on thoughts and feelings, somatic psychotherapy acknowledges that the body is an important source of information about a person’s emotional state and can hold physical tension, pain, and trauma. This does not mean that we only stay with the body in sessions, but rather weave together an exploration of body, mind, and soul for deeper healing.
Through gentle techniques, exercises, and explorations I support and collaborate with my clients to increase their awareness of their physical sensations, emotions, belief systems, and thought patterns. It is through this awareness that we become mindful of the ways in which our nervous systems might have “come out of tune,” and learn how to better regulate ourselves in a safe and relational environment.
Our bodies do not exist in a vacuum. They move, breath, feel, learn, tense, and exist in relationship with people, systems, and cultures. This is one of the reasons why I work with a strong relational and anti-oppressive lens.
Somatic psychotherapy can be helpful for a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. By working with the body in this way, clients can gain a greater sense of control over their emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, create more meaningful connections, and improve their overall well-being.
Somatics and Couples Therapy
Somatic psychotherapy offers couples a unique avenue for profound healing and growth. By incorporating the wisdom of the body into the therapeutic process, this approach acknowledges that emotions and experiences are not solely cognitive but are also deeply stored within the body.
Through guided somatic techniques and explorations, couples can become more attuned to their own bodily sensations and reactions, allowing them to better understand their emotional responses and triggers with one another. This heightened awareness enables partners to communicate more authentically, navigate conflicts with greater empathy, and develop a more profound and intimate connection.
Somatic psychotherapy promotes the release of tension and stress, fostering a safe space where couples can explore vulnerabilities and re-establish trust. Ultimately, by integrating the body's innate wisdom, couples can achieve a more fulfilling and enduring transformation in their relational dynamics.
I specialize in supporting couples:
in which one or all partners are navigating lived experiences of neurodivergence and/or chronic illness.
Struggling with parenting and family dynamics
navigating boundary issues and enmeshment
who wish to explore and create relational agreements and goals together
increase their capacity to self-regulate and co-regulate through conflict and disagreement
re-building trust and intimacy after ruptures
navigating intimacy issues through health issues and/or body changes
navigating heartbreak and life transitions