What is Somatic Therapy?

So, one of the most common questions I hear is, "What is Somatic Therapy, anyway?"

Well, let's take a little journey back in time.

Picture this: It's 1933, & Wilhelm Reich drops his groundbreaking book, "Character Analysis."

In it, he suggests something pretty radical for the time - that traumatic experiences we push aside end up setting camp in our bodies, wreaking all sorts of havoc.

This was the birth of Somatic Psychology, folks - a brand new way of looking at mental & physical health that says, "Hey, mind, body, heart, soul...we're all in this together.”

Enter somatic therapy, also known as body-based or body-oriented therapy. It's the idea that our bodies are like storage units for all of our unresolved traumas.

It's a bit like that sweater you tucked away in the back of your closet. You know, the one you can’t see but it’s still there, quietly taking up space — except in this case, the out of sight, out of mind sweater is causing harm.

Here's the kicker: Our bodies aren't just vessels for carrying our brains around. They have memories of their own, just like those dusty photo albums in your attic.

Our experiences - past, present, & those we'd rather forget - leave their mark on our bodies, both physically & emotionally. And though we may prefer it, ignoring them probably isn't a good plan.

You see, trying to tackle past (& present) traumas by just talking or thinking will work for a period of time, but not forever. It's like trying to fix a leaky boat with duct tape - it might work for a bit, but eventually, it won't hold.

That's where Somatic Therapy steps in.

It's about getting your hands dirty, diving into those murky waters, & finding out what's really going on beneath the surface, even though it might be uncomfortable.

So, how do we do it? Well, it starts with listening - really listening - to what your body's trying to tell you.

Maybe it's that knot in your stomach that won't go away or the tension in your shoulders that won't loosen up. This is your body's way of saying, "Hey, friend, something wants our attention.”

At TMM, we work to create a safe space for you to let your body take the wheel. Through body-oriented approaches, we help you peel back the layers, uncovering the wisdom & insights that have been there all along.

Because here's the truth... healing isn't just about fixing what's broken; it's about rediscovering the wholeness that's been there all along. And sometimes, that journey starts with a simple conversation between you & your body.

So, let's make a pact: Let's befriend our bodies. Let's listen when the body speaks, honor the wisdom that comes from our body, & trust in the body to guide us home.

Here's a little nugget of wisdom from Nayyirah Waheed to ponder:

"And I said to my body softly, 'I want to be your friend.' It took a long breath and replied, 'I have been waiting my whole life for this.'"

— Nayyirah Waheed

Lisa Messina