SOMATIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
The body always leads us home . . . if we can simply learn to trust sensation and stay with it long enough for it to reveal appropriate action, movement, insight, or feeling.
- Pat Ogden
Talking is the foundation of most psychotherapies. It’s important to have a place to say how you feel, to sort things out, to put words to feelings, and to truly be listened to, without judgment. What gets left out much of the time, however, is our bodily experience, and insight is not enough to help us bring in the change we wish to see. Somatic psychotherapy can help you to access the more hidden parts of yourself; when you befriend these parts, you have the ability to become more of the “driver” in the choices you make, influencing what you draw towards you in your life.
Our bodies are engaged constantly in how we think, what we believe about ourselves and the world, how we feel, and how we act. It’s natural in our culture to try and “figure things out” by thinking things through. Sometimes this is valuable, and we find solutions to our problems this way. But sometimes, there are things we can’t think our way out of. Or, we can understand why we feel or act in certain ways, but still nothing seems to change.
Neuroscience is now catching up with what many cultures have known for thousands of years: that our minds and bodies are interconnected and constantly influencing each other. Often, our suffering comes from dwelling in the past or the future: what could have been, what we should have said or done, worrying about what will or will not be. Working bodily is powerful because it brings us directly to what is true for us in the present time, allowing us to step out of our limiting stories and beliefs. When we can be in the present moment, we are in the realm of new possibilities. I incorporate somatic and mindfulness work from various approaches that utilize present moment experience. These include:
Hakomi therapy
A therapeutic method that draws from Buddhist philosophies, allowing you to go underneath the surface of your words and habitual cognitive thinking. We work with learning to listen to what is normally under the radar of consciousness by slowing down and tuning into body sensation and emotion, allowing access to information about your limiting beliefs, patterns, and habits. This process shines light on how to make change in these areas, illuminating and supporting your “organic self” that naturally wants to unfold into healthier processes.
Formative Psychology
Whose central principle is that the body is the basis for knowing ourselves. Using bodily-based exercises and inquiries, you can learn to use formative principles for making and managing change by uncovering and learning to reorganize habitual stances and attitudes that are normally outside of your conscious awareness.
At times, stances and breathwork from yoga and martial arts may also be brought in to the work.
Touch may be used sparingly as a powerful, deepening tool, but only with your full permission every time. Some clients’ work never includes touch and is no less powerful because of it.
"Parts" Work
Which holds that all of us have many parts within us. Some can be in conflict with each other, for example, one part may long to have a close relationship, while another part feels scared of closeness, and another part pushes people away in order to protect that scared part. Sometimes these parts have a big hold on us and “take over the wheel” at the driver seat of our lives. When we can get to know these parts from a place of curiosity rather than judgment, and enter into relationship with them so that these parts really feel understood, all the parts become more cooperative, so that your adult Self can be more in the driver seat of how you walk through your life.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS
Depending on your interest and what is appropriate for a particular session or moment, we may
use drawing, painting, clay, collage, poetry and other writing, and music and voice work. I also
use sandplay therapy, a modality which incorporates small figures which can be placed into a
tray of sand to make a “world” that reflects something about your inner experience. Some
people choose never to use these ways of working, while others may use them often, or
occasionally. I never pressure anyone to do anything that they don’t want to do. The expressive
arts are a wonderful way to stretch beyond your normal, logical ways of thinking, and to bring a
sense of playfulness and curiosity to the process of human growth. When we move outside of
our usual cognitive, linear ways of talking and thinking, and open ourselves to the deeper voices
inside of us that are often hidden away, new perspectives emerge that give us fresh insight into
ourselves…and we can even have some fun along the way.
No artistic experience necessary!
Some people say, “I’m not creative,” or, “I’m not artistic.” While we all come into the world with different gifts, I believe that every human being is by nature a creative being, and when that is not supported, it gets shut down or thwarted. Trauma induces a sense of constriction in the body and spirit, often diminishing our ability to allow the flow of our natural impulses, dimming our aliveness. When this occurs, we not only lose touch with the creative part of ourselves, but a vital connection to our inherent life energy is cut off. I love supporting people in reconnecting with and trusting their creative spark, which may or may not be “artistic”…that could be cooking a meal, or creating a beautiful garden, or, as a teacher of mine once said, the greatest creative act of all: creating your life.
DREAMS
Working with dreams is a wonderful way of receiving messages, information, and the longings of your deepest self. We can work with your dreams to help you learn what is wanting to come into being, and how to give form to these things. Sometimes, people don’t remember their dreams, but there are things we can do to help you remember them, if you would like to explore the rich world of symbol they can offer you….your own personal mythology.
Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you.
Dreams are answers to questions we haven’t yet figured out how to ask.
Interested in booking a free 20 minute consultation? I look forward to talking with you.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, #MFC39321
Registered with the CA BBS as Carrie Elizabeth Katz
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