Somatic Movement Therapy

Some people have gained plenty of insight about their issues through talk therapy, but they don’t feel any better. If anything, retelling their stories of pain and trauma concretizes their negative narratives about themselves. 

Somatic therapy takes into account your nervous system and body, which holds all of your experiences, and movement takes it one step further. Our nervous systems extend throughout the body, so when you move the body, it changes the mind. Rather than sitting and having a conversation which keeps the issues up in your head and doesn’t solve the pain in your heart, a bottom-up approach can help you get unstuck.

Words do not always express how you are feeling. Using gestures or movement allows you to bypass this barrier. Even without moving, body language does not lie. Since the mind and the body are closely connected, a somatic approach can be especially helpful for people with chronic pain or illness. It can also benefit people simply seeking personal growth. 

It’s common when one is feeling bad to take a walk and then feel a bit better or have a better perspective. By the same token, moving in therapy offers this benefit but with the chance to reflect immediately. It can also be fun and gives you an inroad to joy. 

My office has space to move or lie down, allowing you to be more in touch with your body.