You know the saying “mind over matter”? Turns out that’s not usually the best way forward.
Even with ancient knowing and solid research demonstrating how important it is to look at the mind-body-context connection in emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and general wellness, it’s so easy to default to shaming yourself for not being able to “get over it” or “let it go” when you “logically understand” something. This is so totally normal when living in a world where individualism and logic are valued over emotion and community!
your experiences are not just alive in your mind but also in your body and they cannot be separated from our context.
That’s why somatic therapy focuses on welcoming and centering the body as an integral source of information and healing. By engaging in bodywork from a mind-body-context perspective, you can practice emotional oscillation, nervous system regulation, and rebuild your relationship with emotions in a way that supports your full agency, liberatory rage, and scope of emotional experience.
By befriending your nervous system and creating supports for co-regulation, your emotions become less scary and taxing. You start to understand yourself on a deeper level, and you have more information to move your life forward with intentionality, discovering new ways of responding to stress and emotional triggers. The truth is, most emotions are valid responses to the world we live in, and nervous system regulation doesn’t just mean that we should not feel in the face of harm.
You are not just your mind. Your therapy should address more than your mind too.
In a typical session of somatic therapy in Vancouver, you can expect a combination of verbal dialogue and body-focused exercises.
Your therapist may guide you through mindfulness practices to increase awareness of physical sensations. They might also incorporate movement exercises or ask you to pay attention to your posture and breathing.
The therapist may encourage you to explore how emotions show up in your body and help you develop strategies to support your nervous system, while co-regulating with you. Throughout the session, you’ll be encouraged to stay present with your bodily experiences while processing emotions and memories, viewing them as crucial sources of information, reminding us of our aliveness and resistance.
General Considerations
As with all therapies, there are potential impacts to be aware of. General considerations specific to somatic therapy include temporary discomfort as you process difficult experiences with increased bodily awareness. Your therapist will support and guide you through this process of reconnecting with and grounding your body sensations.
All our practitioners have specialized training in and incorporate somatic-based approaches to our work. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to book a free consult with one of our therapists!
Q&A
No worries! As with every new skill it takes time to build. Your therapist will help walk you through the process and guide you every step of the way.
The number of sessions varies depending on individual goals and needs, but many clients start to notice more global changes after a few sessions. Generally, you can also witness the difference it makes, in the moment, the first time you engage in the process!
While beneficial for many, it’s essential to discuss your specific situation with a therapist so they can adapt their approach to your specific needs.
Not really, as long as it’s comfortable and doesn’t significantly restrict your movement, you’re good to go!
There’s no right answer or right way to build a mind-body connection, let yourself free associate! As you practice this form of emotional processing, you start to build a stronger relationship with your body to support you in your unique process for nervous system regulation.
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occupying the stolen, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Qayqayt, and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) peoples. Our relationship with these lands dictates our commitment to understanding and responding to the ongoing impacts of colonization in our practices in and out of the counselling room.
Learn more about the land you’re occupying at native-land.ca
