#5 What is Somatic Based Therapy?
CBT is well renowned for its talking, and easily accessible techniques. However, it is also unfortunately known as being ineffective for treating more complex psychiatric disorders. Henceforth, Somatic Therapy became another form of care for those afflicted with their series of unfortunate events. Somatic therapy includes talk therapy, but also concentrates on other methods of working through emotions and events (so is effective for PTSD), for example via the movement of your eyes you can limit flashbacks that could potentially cause a relapse and otherwise considerable emotional distress. It "incorporates body-oriented modalities such as dance, breathwork, and meditation to support mental healing".
Unlike standard mental health therapy, such as CBT which focuses predominantly on the mind," somatic therapy incorporates body-oriented modalities such as dance, breathwork, and meditation to support mental healing. In addition, somatic experiencing therapy sessions include talk therapy and mind-body exercises.
Beyond the standard somatic therapy, numerous subgroups use its framework in specific ways. These include:
Sensorimotor psychotherapy 1:
A comprehensive therapy that uses the body as both a source of information and intervention targets.
Psychotherapy that integrates scientific, psychological, and spiritual sources, focusing on four core concepts: gentleness, nonviolence, compassion, and mindfulness.
Body-psychotherapy that combines bodily, analytic, and relational work based on understanding energy.
Biodynamic psychotherapy 4:
A combination of allopathic (medical) and holistic therapy modalities that include physical massage by the practitioner
In addition to mind and bodywork, this therapy incorporates eye positioning to retrain emotional reactions.
Those on the ASP tend to benefit from Somatic as I believe many hold forms of trauma similar to PTSD and can allow for those with alexithymia to bring awareness to the ways their body responds to their environment and experiences.