While traditional talk therapies can be beneficial in helping people uncover and heal from the trauma that underlies mental health and addiction, recent research has focused on the mind-body connection in relation to trauma. In fact, there is a whole realm of therapy that operates out of the belief that trauma is carried far more in the body than in the brain.
Somatic therapy offers a unique approach by focusing on the physical sensations and movements that are tied to emotional pain and trauma. This mind-body connection can be incredibly powerful, helping to release stored trauma, regulate emotions, and improve overall well-being.
In this post, we’ll explore how somatic therapy works, the benefits it offers in addiction recovery and mental health, and how it can help you heal from the inside out.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and the body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which mainly addresses thoughts and feelings, somatic therapy works with the physical sensations and movements of the body to help process trauma and emotional pain.
It’s based on the idea that trauma isn’t just something that affects your mind, but also gets trapped in the body, impacting how you feel, behave, and experience the world.
The history of Somatic Therapy
Meadows Senior Fellow Peter Levine began developing Somatic Experiencing® in the 1960s while he was pursuing his PhD in biophysics and psychology and teaching at the Esalen Institute, a retreat center in Big Sur, California.
Developed over several decades, Levine’s approach emphasizes the importance of the body’s role in processing and healing from traumatic experiences. His theory is that trauma is not just a psychological phenomenon but an embodied experience; it is the body’s response to trauma, rather than the trauma itself, that affects us so profoundly.
If our bodies are unable to process a traumatic experience and move on from the initial fight, flight, or freeze response, the trauma can become “stuck” in the body. This is called somatic memory.
How Does Somatic Therapy Work?
In somatic therapy, the therapist guides you through practices that help you tune into your body’s responses and physical sensations, like tightness, tension, or discomfort. By becoming more aware of these bodily sensations, you can begin to release the trauma that may be stored there.
This mind-body connection can be a powerful way to heal, especially for those who find it difficult to access emotions through just verbal processing.
Sensation
Sensation is the first step in accessing the autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic functions in the body, like heart rate and breathing. This system plays a big role in how we respond to stress and trauma. In somatic therapy, the focus is on tuning into bodily sensations—like tightness in the chest, warmth in your hands, or tension in your muscles.
Trauma can sometimes block our ability to feel these sensations clearly. By paying attention to what’s happening in the body, somatic therapy helps you reconnect with these sensations and tap into your body’s natural ability to heal.
Imagery
Imagery involves the mental images or memories we form about past experiences. These images can be internal, like dreams or visions, or external, like memories of places or people. In somatic therapy, therapists may ask you to focus on certain images or memories to help process trauma.
This can unlock deeper feelings and help make sense of experiences that may feel disconnected or overwhelming. Imagery helps bridge the gap between what happened to you and how it’s stored in your mind, making it easier to understand and work through those experiences.
Behavior
Behavior in somatic therapy refers to both the actions you take and the unconscious habits you develop over time. These can be physical actions—like clenching your fists—or nonverbal cues—like avoiding eye contact. Sometimes, our behaviors can be shaped by past trauma, and they may become automatic without us realizing it.
In therapy, your therapist will help you notice these behaviors, bringing them into your awareness so you can understand what triggers them and why. By becoming more aware of these habits, you can begin to change your reactions and make healthier choices.
Affect
Affect refers to emotions and how they are experienced in the body. During somatic therapy, you might find yourself feeling emotions related to past experiences that you haven’t fully processed before. You may be asked to notice where you feel those emotions in your body—whether it’s a lump in your throat when you’re sad or tightness in your stomach when you’re anxious. These physical feelings are key to reconnecting your body with your emotions. By being more aware of how emotions show up physically, you can start to release trapped feelings and heal from them.
Meaning
Meaning is the final channel, where you begin to make sense of the connection between your body’s sensations and your emotional experiences. As you explore these connections, you may start to understand why you feel certain ways or how past trauma has shaped your life. Finding meaning helps integrate your mind and body, allowing you to process your trauma more holistically. This integration helps you gain clarity and insight into your healing journey, making it easier to move forward with a greater sense of understanding and self-awareness.
Benefits of Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy offers a unique approach to healing, especially when dealing with addiction and mental health issues. By focusing on the connection between the body and mind, somatic therapy can help release stored trauma, regulate emotions, and create a deeper sense of self-awareness. Here are some of the key benefits of somatic therapy in the context of addiction and mental health:
Helps Release Stored Trauma
One of the most significant benefits of somatic therapy is its ability to help release trauma stored in the body. Trauma, whether physical or emotional, can get trapped in the body, affecting not just your mental health but your physical health as well.
In addiction recovery, this can manifest as cravings, anxiety, or triggers that are hard to manage. Somatic therapy helps individuals become more aware of these stored emotions and physical sensations, which can help release the tension and trauma that fuels unhealthy behaviors. By processing trauma on a bodily level, individuals can experience lasting relief and a greater sense of calm and control.
Regulates Emotions
Emotional dysregulation is common in both addiction and mental health struggles. People often turn to substances as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions. Somatic therapy works to restore balance to the emotional system by helping individuals connect to their bodily sensations and emotions in a safe way.
Through techniques like breathwork, grounding exercises, and body awareness, you’ll learn how to calm your nervous system and manage strong emotions like anger, fear, or sadness. This emotional regulation helps prevent impulsive decisions or substance use, offering healthier ways to deal with life’s stressors.
Improves Mind-Body Connection
Addiction and mental health challenges often disconnect individuals from their bodies. Over time, numbing emotions or using substances as coping mechanisms can lead to dissociation or a lack of awareness of bodily sensations.
Somatic therapy helps rebuild that mind-body connection, allowing individuals to tune into their physical responses and emotions. This heightened awareness not only aids in emotional healing but also supports more conscious decision-making.
When people are more connected to their bodies, they can better recognize signs of stress, cravings, or triggers, giving them the tools to respond in healthier ways.
Reduces Anxiety and Stress
For those in recovery from addiction or managing mental health struggles, anxiety and stress are common issues that can derail progress. Somatic therapy is especially effective at reducing these feelings because it focuses on calming the body’s nervous system. T
echniques like deep breathing, movement, and body-centered mindfulness help lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone), promoting a state of relaxation. As you practice these techniques, you’ll develop healthier ways to cope with anxiety and stress, making it easier to navigate recovery without resorting to substances or harmful behaviors.
Increases Self-Awareness and Mindfulness
Somatic therapy fosters greater self-awareness by encouraging individuals to become present with their bodies. This increased mindfulness helps individuals recognize the early signs of emotional or physical distress, allowing them to intervene before these feelings escalate.
In addiction recovery, mindfulness practices learned in somatic therapy help individuals become more attuned to their cravings, triggers, and emotional states. This self-awareness is a crucial part of long-term recovery, as it allows individuals to make more mindful choices and remain grounded in the present moment.
Enhances Overall Well-being
By addressing both the mind and the body, somatic therapy promotes holistic healing, improving overall well-being. It helps individuals release physical tension, process emotional pain, and restore balance to their nervous system.
This comprehensive approach leads to increased energy, better sleep, and improved mood, all of which are essential for recovery from addiction and mental health issues. With somatic therapy, individuals can feel more in control of their bodies and their emotions, supporting long-term health and resilience.
Start Healing From Trauma
Here at The Meadows, Somatic Experiencing is one of the many groundbreaking therapeutic techniques we incorporate into our addiction and mental health treatment programs. If you or someone you love suffers from PTSD or other effects of emotional trauma, contact our admissions team to find out how we can help you get started on the road to healing.
