How Somatic Approaches Help in Healing?
Many of our counsellors are trained in somatic practices and offer somatic therapy. Our clinic director/founder, Aditi Jasra has been a somatic practitioner/healer/facilitator for almost a decade supporting and serving communities across Alberta and BC from municipalities, non-profits to corporations. She shares that working with a body-based approach to healing can be helpful for several reasons. She strongly believes that ‘Emotion needs motion’ and motion through moving the body could be rejuvenating, relaxing or help us create space in regions where there is tension and congestion. No wonder she has been a student and a teacher of somatic healing and a trained yoga teacher, in love with movement, deep breathing, various breathwork and mindfulness. In her one on one work with clients, she creates safe space for folx to connect with their body and in the wellness workshops based in somatics she talks about emotional healing through various mindful exercises giving voice, space and expression to emotions. She also trains and supervises students in somatic healing work and is a proponent of mind body connection. Here are some of the main ways she thinks somatic approaches are beneficial for healing, growth, transformation and making sense of our experiences:
Research indicates that Somatic work helps with trauma recovery, hence we work with veterans, first responders, people in uniform whose work can be very heavy and can lead to Post traumatic stress. For individuals who have experienced trauma, body-based approaches can help in accessing the pieces of the experience that are fragmanted so clients can feel whole again. They can find their flow state again. Trauma can cause physical sensations and feelings of numbness, disconnection, and dissociation. Body-based approaches can help individuals reconnect with their bodies and learn to regulate their nervous systems, which is an integral part of trauma recovery.
Addresses physical sensations: Body-based approaches focus on the physical sensations and experiences that a person is having. By paying attention to these sensations and working with them, individuals can learn to regulate their nervous system and manage their emotions more effectively. This can be particularly helpful for people who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other emotional issues. Even if folks don’t want full on somatic therapi, they can utilize techniques that make sense for them.
Increases self-awareness: Body-based approaches encourage individuals to become more aware of their bodies and how they feel. This can help people become more attuned to their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, which can lead to greater self-awareness and self-regulation. If we can self regulate, we can help others through co-regulation.
Incorporates mindfulness: Our team incorporate mindfulness practices, which can help individuals become more present and focused. This can be effective for reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood, and increasing overall well-being. In this day and age, we can all benefit from stress management.
Connect with Wellness North Counselling Practitioners today to start your well-being journey and get rid of psycho-somatic ailments.
