#49-Ecstatic About Somatic

Many therapists might think that Somatic therapy is new to the therapy scene. However, Fritz Perls from Gestalt Therapy incorporated many somatic type interventions in facilitating his work. Often he would tell clients, “Lose your mind, and come to your senses!” The direction of therapy would guide clients to get in touch with their body’s inner energy and sensations. In this way he would encourage people to express and release the wordless blocks that prevented their energy from flowing more freely and openly. Dr. Peter Levine expanded on this concept with his work in Somatic Experiencing. He recognized how trauma and stress could become “locked” in the body. When this occurred, such trauma would not only effect people emotionally and psychologically, but lead to physical symptoms of anxiety, depression, shallow breathing, and many other physical issues. On the surface Somatic therapy seems to focus mainly on becoming aware of tension in the body, followed by the process of learning to release these blockages. But a good somatic intervention does much more than this… In this podcast we will address how the somatic approach provides therapy with an agenda and direction, but will also explore the often overlooked underlying ‘active ingredient’ that is necessary for such interventions to be successful in ensuring long term healing.