Somatic Therapy: Incorporating Mind and Body

Quick Summary: Somatic therapy is built on the idea that the mind and body are closely connected, and that past trauma often shows up as physical symptoms like tension, headaches or sleeplessness. Rooted in the work of pioneers like Thomas Hanna and Dr. Peter Levine, the practice combines psychotherapy with attention to physical sensations to help release stored stress. Many Christian counselors use somatic techniques alongside biblical counseling to help seniors work through anxiety, grief and PTSD-related symptoms.

The concept behind somatic therapy is that the body stores memories of traumatic events. When reminded of them, seniors may experience bodily symptoms such as flashbacks, headaches, sleeplessness or stomach pain.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy uses a combination of psychotherapy and physical therapy. It’s based on the concept that the emotions in the mind and physical sensations in the body are closely connected. In some ways, somatic therapy is an extension of conventional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), better known as talk therapy.

In addition to talk therapy, somatic therapists pay attention to what’s going on in the patient’s body. Somatic therapists may ask questions such as “What are you experiencing physically?” or “What is your body telling you now?” during a therapeutic session. Some therapists use touch therapy to help release physical and emotional stress. Somatic therapies have much in common with emotion-related therapies like music therapy and the role of emotions in human cognitive processes.

History of Somatic Therapy

Modern somatic practices first appeared in the 1970s with three broad concepts:

• Somatics: Developed by a philosophy professor, Thomas Hanna, who postulated that chronic pain and other negative health effects are worsened by what he termed sensory motor amnesia. He showed that directed mental and physical therapy helped patients control chronic pain and other ailments by restoring mind-body pathways.
• Somatic experiencing: At the same time, Dr. Peter Levine, a psychologist, discovered he could help patients suffering from PTSD by tracking the body sensations attached to their traumatic experience.
• Hakomi: With links to Eastern philosophies, Hakomi therapists use consensual touch to help patients uncover and come to terms with unpleasant feelings.

Use of Somatic Therapy in a Christian Context

Somatic therapy is primarily rooted in psychology. The work done by Thomas Hanna and Dr. Levine in developing somatic therapies was based on experimental work with their patients.

Many Christian counselors use somatic therapy to help people deal with anxiety, grief, poor self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorders, together with other therapies like cognitive behavior therapy and biblical counseling. An independent literature review performed in 2021 and reported in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology concluded that somatic experience therapy has a positive impact on PTSD-related symptoms.

The only form of somatic therapy with Eastern religious connotations is the Hakomi form of therapy, which incorporates Buddhist and Dao (Taoism) beliefs.

Benefits of Somatic Therapy

The benefits of somatic therapy are gradual, and full recovery may take time. It’s always best to work with a registered therapist who has experience in somatic and other therapies. Areas where somatic therapy may help include dealing with chronic pain, trauma, anxiety and depression.

Chronic Pain Relief

Somatic therapy can help seniors cope with chronic pain that’s aggravated by unresolved stress and anxiety. Examples include tension headaches, unexplained stomach problems and chronic back pain.

Relief From Trauma-Related Stress and PTSD

Many people suffer from trauma-related stress due to accidents, injuries or traumatic events such as the loss of a loved one. Somatic body-focused therapy helps seniors deal with these negative feelings and move on emotionally.

Anxiety

As people age, they often develop anxiety disorders that overwhelm their emotions. Stressors include unfamiliar environments, meeting new people, financial stress and separation anxiety. Symptoms include trembling, palpitations, nausea and shortness of breath. Somatic therapy mind-body techniques can help seniors release these pent-up emotions and resolve anxiety issues.

Depression

Senior depression is common and frequently related to loneliness, functional limitations and poor health. Somatic therapies combined with psychotherapy and medication may help reduce the symptoms of depression in seniors.

Some Somatic Therapy Techniques

A somatic therapist may use several techniques, including:

• Breathwork: A relaxed and conscious form of breathing that releases tension and creates body awareness
• Brainspotting: A technique where the therapist helps patients identify and process unresolved negative and traumatic experiences
• Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR): In EMDR, therapists use bilateral eye stimulation to help patients recall traumatic memories and positively reprocess these memories
• Body awareness: Recognizing areas where the body is tense and learning how to release physical tension and relax
• Pendulating: A technique therapists use to help patients resolve trauma by bringing them from a relaxed condition into one where they face the emotions related to past trauma and then back to a relaxed state

Deciding If Somatic Therapy Is Right for You

Although the Western discovery of somatic therapy is relatively new, the interaction between the human body and mind is something Eastern therapists have understood for a long time. If you’re considering somatic therapy from a Christian perspective, it’s important to choose therapists who differentiate between Eastern religious experiences and the practical application of somatic techniques.

As practiced by many Christian and other therapists, somatic therapy focuses on the natural interaction between the body and mind and is a therapy practicing Christians can comfortably embrace.