Healing Trauma Through Somatic Regulation Therapy: Reconnect with Your Body for Lasting Recovery

Introduction to Somatic Regulation Therapy

Somatic regulation therapy or somatic therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It is a body-centered therapy and it uses talk therapy as well as physical therapy for a holistic treatment. Somatic therapy considers that psychotherapy requires addressing the split between the mind and body and that they need to be connected to achieve healing.

Moreover, while most therapies are talk therapies focusing on the mind, somatic therapy is a more holistic approach to therapy in that it considers the body to play a central role in achieving healing and balance. It believes that from facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, and movements, there is a lot to learn to achieve as well.

At the NuView Treatment Center, we offer somatic regulation therapy as a holistic approach to behavioral health conditions. We believe that by focusing on the connection between the mind and body, there is a greater opportunity for healing and growth.

Key Techniques in Somatic Regulation Therapy

Some of the key techniques that somatic therapy uses are:

• Raising Physical Awareness – It is about using mindfulness to direct attention to bodily sensations. For instance, if a client is upset, it is about getting to notice how their body reacts to the feeling.

• Descriptive Language – For raising physical awareness, descriptive language is necessary. To describe body sensations, descriptive language helps understand emotional experiences and releases pent-up tension effectively.

• Grounding – Grounding techniques are used to connect to the present, to stay in contact with the here and now.

• Resourcing – It is used to find a sense of stability and security in the world, mainly by recalling comforting loved ones or places. It helps in increasing interconnectedness as well.

• Somatic Breathwork – More than simply breathing in and out, it is a therapeutic method of conscious breathing that allows the mind and body to get more oxygen.

• Body Movement – The use of body movements is done to release emotions and heal trauma. It also helps in connecting with others. This involves techniques like the act of triumph (engaging the body to act defensively), allowing tension to flow through the body, and setting boundaries.

• Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation – Self-regulation is used basically to regulate one’s own emotions and to relax one’s body and mind through interpersonal connections.

Somatic therapy has developed from a wide variety of techniques, and the modern somatic therapy can be provided in the following ways:

• Somatic Experiencing – Somatic experiencing therapy believes that as a response to trauma, people can become stuck in the “freeze” aspect of the fight, flight, and freeze response. Frozen parts, over a period of time, gather energy that needs to be released to relieve stress, tension, anxiety, and other similar emotions. The goal of somatic experiencing therapy is to redirect this pent-up energy to other aspects of life, the healthier ones.

• Hakomi Method – It is a powerful experiential therapeutic method that uses somatic interventions and mindfulness to heal trauma, especially those that stem from developmental and attachment issues. The point of the Hakomi method is to focus on the “blueprints” or life that shape the present-day concerns. 

• Sensorimotor Therapy – While sensorimotor therapy is based on the Hakomi method, it also combines the fundamentals of cognitive behavioral therapy and neuroscience. It is a body-centered therapy that seeks to release those traumatic experiences that are buried deep within the body, especially those that talk therapy may fail to address.

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Benefits of Somatic Regulation Therapy

Somatic therapy is an evidence-based therapy, and it has a number of benefits. It can be used to treat the following conditions:

• Stress and trauma (including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/PTSD)

• Anxiety

• Chronic pain

• Depression

• Digestive problems

• Grief

• Sexual dysfunction

• Substance use disorders

Somatic Therapy for Trauma and PTSD

Somatic therapy, especially somatic experiencing therapy, has been particularly useful in the treatment of stress, trauma, and PTSD. It has been touted as an alternative treatment for trauma-focused therapies. For instance, in a study conducted over an 8-month period on tsunami survivors, 90% of the participants said that they experienced significant improvement, especially when it came to the symptoms of intrusion, arousal, and avoidance.

However, it must also be kept in mind that somatic therapy is not effective for everyone with trauma and PTSD.

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Somatic Regulation Therapy in Substance Use Recovery

Somatic therapy is useful in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). It focuses on self-regulation, which helps in controlling compulsive thoughts and actions commonly found in SUDs. It also reduces irritability and restlessness. Somatic therapy reduces stress and optimizes the body and mind functioning. Moreover, with the use of techniques like grounding, it helps connect with the here and now and also to oneself and others, whereas SUDs can lead to isolation. Connecting with the present and strengthening interconnectedness are crucial steps to becoming self-aware, and finding motivation and encouragement in overcoming SUDs and preventing relapse.

Who Can Benefit from Somatic Regulation Therapy?

The benefits of somatic therapy are many, some of them are as follows:

It helps treat mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even SUDs. So anyone suffering from these issues can benefit from a holistic approach to treatment.

It helps in releasing pent-up tension, not just by relieving the mind of unwanted stress, but also by relaxing the body.

The therapy uses techniques like mindfulness, which are easy to follow and practice even after treatment.

It equips clients with self-improvement tools like grounding and resourcing, which help in getting rid of any physical and mental blocks. These can also serve as self-soothing techniques.

Finding a Somatic Regulation Therapist

If considering somatic therapy as a treatment for behavioral health concerns, then finding a somatic regulation therapist is the first step in the right direction. At NuView, our medical and clinical team works closely with every client to understand their unique needs, challenges, and circumstances to connect them with the right somatic regulation therapist on their journey toward recovery and healing.

Our team prioritizes a personalized approach, wherein we provide somatic therapy with other treatments to facilitate our clients’ overall well-being. Moreover, we provide somatic therapy sessions virtually as well, and our clients can receive the full benefits of the therapy remotely via our telemedicine services.