Somatic psychotherapy toolbox : 125 worksheets and exercises to treat trauma & stress. (2024)

FAQs

Do somatic exercises really release trauma? ›

Somatic experiencing was designed to help release trauma that's “trapped” in the body. During therapy, you'll work with your therapist to safely release pent-up energy to overcome your triggers.

Somatic therapy should be done with a therapist, but there are some somatic experiencing exercises you can do on your own. Doing things like breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation can help a person find some relief throughout their everyday life, along with seeing a somatic therapist.

The bottom line. Although experts haven't yet found conclusive proof to support the benefits of somatics, some evidence does suggest these approaches may help relieve pain and tension and promote easier movement. Future research may shed more light on these benefits and other possible uses.

Somatic therapy is considered a successful and mainstream branch of psychotherapy by the European Association for Psychotherapy.

Trauma is not physically held in the muscles or bones — instead, the need to protect oneself from perceived threats is stored in the memory and emotional centers of the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. This activates the body whenever a situation reminds the person of the traumatic event(s).

When you release trauma, you will feel less tension throughout your body. You may clench your jaw, hold your shoulders tight, and have other physiological reactions to the trauma you feel. This makes you feel tense and anxious. As you heal from the trauma, these issues will go away.

SomaShare has a personalized feel, an intuitive interface, and beautiful design. First, you choose what you would like to feel. From there, you pick from a list of guided somatic practices.

Risks of somatic therapy include misinterpretation of touch, re-traumatization, breaking down of defenses, abusive touch and inappropriate regression.

Somatic healing is similar to Reiki in that it can be used to help someone shift out of fight-or-flight mode, but they're two distinct types of energy work, notes Marcenelle. "Reiki and somatic energy healing are both considered holistic, spiritual, healing modalities," she explains.

Technically, any physical exercise can become somatic if it is completed with intention and done very gently, explains Schauster. Yoga, qigong, tai chi, and meditation are ancient somatic practices that involve both body and mind, she adds.

Does a somatic therapist touch you? ›

As with any form of therapy, it's essential to be in an emotional and mental place where you have the time and energy to process complex feelings. If you're doing somatic therapy in person, touch is often involved.

Somatic massage therapy treats all of the soft bodily tissues: muscles, connective tissues and organs. The act of therapeutically touching and massaging areas affected by traumatic pain has a healing effect and triggers an emotional response.

How long will it take before I can see some results with SE therapy? Some clients already experience some symptom relief after only one session. More complex cases may need up to 20 sessions before they experience significant symptom relief.

Several studies show the positive effects of a type of somatic therapy called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). In EMDR, the client recalls traumatic experiences while moving their eyes from left to right.

Somatic Therapy sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes, providing ample time for exploration and integration of therapeutic techniques. Initially, weekly or bi-weekly sessions are often recommended to establish a strong therapeutic relationship, build momentum, and develop somatic awareness.

Criticisms of somatic experiencing

Others have voiced concerns about the use of touch. This could be triggering to some trauma survivors, and in the wrong hands, it could be exploitative or interfere with the therapeutic relationship between a client and therapist.

How often do I need to come in for SE therapy? Usually we recommend starting with weekly sessions and spacing them out further after approximately 4 sessions. However, this may also vary considerably from client to client.