Talk Therapy vs. Somatic Therapy

Navigating the Seas of Healing!

Talk therapy & somatic therapy both have a similar goal - to support one’s mental & emotional wellbeing; however, they differ in their focus & methods.

Let's dive in!

You can think of talk therapy as sailing the seas of self-discovery using words as our compass. We hop on board & chat with our therapist about all the stuff swirling around in our heads & hearts.

The therapist may use various techniques such as active listening, reflection, & exploration of patterns to help clients gain insight, cope with challenges, & begin implementing positive changes in their lives.

It's sort of like having a captain guide us through the waves of emotions & thoughts, helping us uncover insights & steer toward positive changes.

But most of the time... our body gets left on the shore, missing out on the adventure altogether!

Enter somatic therapy. 

The cool cat of healing that gets the whole gang involved - mind, body, heart, soul, & more! Similar to talk therapy, we chat it out. We also roll up our sleeves & dive into the physical sensations that arise when we call up experiences & emotions. We get in contact with our sensory experience in real-time, allow information to emerge, & explore impulses & instincts that come from a deeper, more primal place. 

In essence, somatic therapy focuses on the whole living organism. It recognizes the integral connection between the mind & body in the process. This approach emphasizes the importance of:

physical sensations
intrinsic movements
bodily experiences

to understand & heal trauma or distress. 

It's like unlocking a treasure chest of healing potential!

With techniques like focussing, tracking, labeling, resourcing, pendulating, titrating, & somatic exploration, we're not just sailing; we're surfing the waves of restoration and holistic healing. 

In this wide-open ocean of exploration, talk therapy guides us through the cerebral currents, while somatic therapy invites us to plunge into the depths of embodied experience, navigating the waters where mind & body are one. 

Trained somatic practitioners work with clients to explore & address ways in which emotions & trauma are stored in the body & guide them back to resolution & a felt-sense of safety. 

Because, you see, we're not just minds floating around; we're entire ecosystems, interconnected from the mind to the physical body, the heart, & spirit - the whole soma. These parts work gracefully together & all need tending to.

Talk therapy & somatic processing both offer their own magic when done in a safe environment with someone you trust.

But remember, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to healing, & exploring different modalities can help you discover the best approach for your unique needs & preferences. 🫶

So, if you're feeling drawn to the healing potential that somatic processing can offer, book a complimentary call with me & together we’ll dive into a journey of self-discovery, healing, and restoration. 

xo, Lisa

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