The Therapy Trap

Part of the problem is that stressful and traumatic events are sometimes impossible to put into words.  Also, talk therapy can often be retraumatising; the process of being asked to remember and retell a story before regulating the nervous system can cause uncomfortable feelings of reliving the traumatic experience all over again.

Mind Over Matter…?

Talk therapy is a top-down approach, teaching the use of the thinking mind to contain and control the emotional mind. This often works well in the short term, but the fundamental limitation of this approach is that you can’t think your way out of emotions, and the trauma is only inhibited, not eliminated, and so when life brings us new challenges and stressors – as it invariably does! – then these new scenarios are apt to re-trigger the stress hormones and cause a relapse and a return of stressful symptoms.

Thus, it is an incomplete approach to true healing, and explains why many of my clients have been in therapy for many months or years before working with me.

In short, talking therapy often provides short-term coping mechanisms rather than the deeper inner resilience that is required for lasting recovery.

 

The Missing Link

The holistic perspective operates on the principle that we are living archives of emotional experiences, with chronic stress, unresolved trauma, and even everyday emotions residing within the muscles, tissues, and nervous system of the physical body.

For instance, chronic stress might result in tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, or digestive discomfort, while trauma can leave deeper imprints, such as a hypervigilant nervous system or unexplained physical pain.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, has highlighted the connection between trauma and the body, noting that traumatic experiences often bypass the logical brain and become ingrained in the physical and emotional centres of our being.

And so, it is now becoming increasingly accepted that chronic stress and unresolved trauma are not limited to the mind or the brain, but rather that they are deeply embedded physiological issues that require a whole body response.

 

The Wisdom of the Body

Somatic therapy offers such a holistic approach to healing, facilitating a collaborative partnership between mind and body.

‘Soma’ is a Greek work that is often translated as ‘the body’.

But it is much more than that.  Soma is the body of life… the wisdom of the body, or ‘the body living in its wholeness’, encompassing the notion that our existence is more than a body, but that it is through the body that life is experienced.

 

Somatic Therapy

This approach to healing thus prioritises the body as the gateway to psychological well-being, focusing upon physical sensations as well as the stored memories, in order to release the unresolved emotions and traumatic experiences that often manifest as physical tension, discomfort or dis-ease.

Thus, the standard top-down approach of talk therapy is turned on its head, and bottom-up processing – starting with physical sensations, movements and breathwork to regulate the lower brain regions – provides a physiological foundation for emotional safety and effective cognitive processing, thereby bridging the gap between mind and body, and safely resolving emotional issues at their root.

This somatic reset leads to resilience, which negates the traditional reliance upon coping skills because resilience is an actual physiological shift in which the system naturally self regulates.

Somatic therapy is thus a powerful approach for lasting change.

Synergy

The connection between physical tension and energetic blockages is central to both somatic and energy work.  Physical discomfort, such as chronic pain or tightness, often corresponds to stagnation or disruption in the flow of life force energy.  Addressing these blockages requires an integrated approach that combines body-based techniques with energy healing.

The combination of somatic therapy with energy work cultivates a synergistic union between the body, mind, and spirit; the somatic work addresses the physical manifestations of chronic tension, while energy work clears the subtle energetic imprints that remain long after the emotional wounds are inflicted, and also resets the energetic stagnation that often accompanies tension and trauma.

Somatic work focuses on releasing physical restrictions through gentle movement and body awareness – for example, stretching or shaking exercises can help release tension in areas like the hips or shoulders, where emotional stress is commonly stored.  Energy work complements this process by revitalising the flow of energy in the affected areas; for example, a blocked lower chakra, often associated with feelings of fear or insecurity, can manifest as tension in the hips.  Energy healing clears the stagnation, allowing the vital life force energy to flow freely and restoring a sense of stability and grounding.

 

Powerful Healing

Somatic therapy and energy work are a powerful healing partnership – the somatic practices focus upon the physical release of trauma and tension, and the energy work addresses the subtle vibrational shifts needed for complete balance.

The many benefits touch every aspect of our being, calming the mind, and strengthening the body, boosting immunity and encouraging spiritual growth.  Some key benefits include:

• Deep relaxation
• Better sleep
• Reduced blood pressure
• Pain relief
• Detoxification
• Enhanced immunity
• Spiritual growth
• Increased energy flow
• Calmer emotional responses

 

Together, somatic and energy practices create a deeply restorative state, where the physical, emotional, and energetic systems are aligned, fostering resilience and calm.  By addressing both the physical and energetic dimensions of blockages, these practices work synergistically to promote healing.

This multidimensional approach targets both the tangible and intangible causes and effects of stress and trauma to provide a deeply transformational healing process that supports physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being through the harmonisation of the entire mind-body-spirit blueprint, from the cellular to the etheric.  When integrated, these modalities create a pathway for deep transformation, helping the body to reconnect with its innate capacity for healing and harmony.

 

Let’s Connect…

Soul-centred spirituality is at the heart of everything I do, and my tailor-made retreats are renowned for helping to catalyse a more meaningful and fulfilled life.

 

True Wellbeing

All my retreats offer holistic and somatically-based solutions to a variety of life issues to ensure that clients experience a balanced transformation that encompasses all aspects of their lives. This rounded approach fosters emotional resilience, improved relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.