I am a clinical and counselling psychologist and a BABCP fully accredited CBT therapist who specialises in all kinds of trauma as well as a variety of common mental health conditions.
I have a keen interest in how somatic approaches can facilitate resolution of trauma and many other mental health issues.
I have encountered many clients who, despite having done ‘talk’ therapy (which engages cognitive processing) felt stuck or like things were not fully resolved. Cognitive work helps, but often we cannot simply think our way of trauma or many symptoms that show in our body.
One of the issues we – human beings face is the fact that we are embodied and therefore can feel trapped by our physical and emotional states. Somatic interventions can help us directly intervene by developing new neural pathways and behaviours that provide alternative ways of responding to your environment without getting stuck in the habits of the past.
Whilst Brainspotting is my primary approach as a somatic therapist, I often draw on various techniques from Somatic Experiencing, Soma, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Polyvagal exercises.
About me as a Somatic therapist
“All emotions, even those that are suppressed and unexpressed, have physical effects. Unexpected emotions tend to stay in the body like small ticking bombs – they are illnesses in incubation”
~ Marilyn Van M. Derbur
Somatic Psychology engages body awareness as an intervention in psychotherapy. It forges the connections between the brain, the mind, and behaviour. Therapists who emphasize “talk therapy” generally focus on the mind as influencing psychological health, however the somatically oriented therapist uses knowledge if the basic functions of the nervous system to greatly enhance the therapeutic process. Polyvagal Theory (Dr Steven Porges) is often drawn on in explaining the principles of somatic interventions. It emphasises the role of the autonomic nervous system – especially the vagus nerve – plays in regulating our health and behaviour.
Somatic therapy often may include interventions such as:
- Grounding,
- Cultivating deep somatic awareness, resourcing (increasing the sense of a choice and safety),
- Titration (experiencing small amounts of distress at a time with a goal to discharge the tension). Titration is used in Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Pat Ogden and Kekuni Minton) and Brainspotting (David Grand) and achieved by “pendulating” or oscillating attention between feeling the distress and feeling safe and calm
- Sequencing: when somatic tension begins to discharge or release, we typically report the movement of emotion and sensations. Tension in the belly might move to chest and then becomes tightness in the throat and forehead. Sometimes we might visibly see hands or legs shake and tremble. The tension eventually releases–sometimes in the form of tears, an ability to breathe more freely, or possibly the feeling of lightness.
- Movement and Process: somatic therapies tap into our innate healing capacity by inviting us to listen to the story as told by the body. Our postures, gestures, and use of space provide insight into our experience, and as we become more aware of our patterns, we may introduce new movements. As we intuitively re-engage various protective movements, resolution may arise with a new-found sense of calm in her body.
- Boundary Development: when we allow our somatic awareness to guide the pacing of therapy we must work in the here and now. Focusing on the present moment empowers you to stay responsive to changing needs and helps you develop clear boundaries. A boundary allows you to recognize and speak your “yes” and your “no” in a way that helps you feel protected and strong.
- Self-Regulation: modern somatic therapies integrate research from neuroscience about how we respond to stress and trauma. Such research emphasizes the importance of mindfully staying connected to the body in the midst of big emotions or sensations. When you develop awareness of body sensations you are better able to regulate (respond effectively) to emotional intensity. Ultimately this helps you stay connected and supported amidst the intensity of healing trauma.