What is somatic psychotherapy?
Somatic psychotherapy is a branch of psychotherapy that seeks to treat psychological trauma by manipulating the physical body. People who practice somatic psychotherapy believe that traumatic emotional experiences remain in the body, usually in areas of tension that can change posture, movement, body language or facial expressions. Somatic psychotherapists try to treat unresolved emotional traumas by releasing these tension from the body and nervous system. Somatic psychotherapy generally includes a discussion of physical feelings, especially related changes that one experiences in physical feeling because one mentally revives traumatic experiences. During this type of therapy, the body can release stress and nervous tension, usually in the form of twitching, flushing, stomach or a sense of physical discomfort. Psychological stress and increased psychological resistance. People who undergo this type of therapy may be easier to think clearly and generally can find more fulfillment in everyday life. PracticingSomatic psychotherapy believes that various physical symptoms may occur as a result of emotional trauma. These symptoms usually include digestive disturbances, immune problems, sexual problems and unbalanced hormone levels. Disorders of depression and anxiety, problems with addictive substances and post -traumatic stress disorder are disorders that are expected to benefit from treatment of somatic psychotherapy.
Most doctors of this type of therapy require patients to pay attention to their own physical feelings when they discuss the past trauma. When strong physical feelings arise, the practitioner uses small, fine touches and physical movements. It is assumed that these feelings release the bodies.
somatic psychotherapy elements can be found in many types of psychotherapy, such as desensitization of eyes and overwork (EMDR) in which clients are led to repeat eye movements during discussionabout past traumatic events. Most psychologists believe that the principle of somatic psychotherapy, the body itself that retains the stress of the past emotional trauma, is healthy. Among the early modern practices of this form of psychotherapy is Wilhelm Reich, considered the first psychotherapist to use the body manipulation during psychotherapy. Pierre Janet is also attributed to the development of some of the first theories concerning somatic psychotherapy, although it is believed that these theories have not put into practice on their patients. Some psychotherapists point out that the principles and techniques of somatic psychotherapy have a similar nature as in energy -based therapies such as Reiki.