Trauma affects not only psychological health, but also has deep impacts on your nervous system and brain functioning. There are physical impacts in the brain, nervous system and body of a trauma survivor. Some psychology researchers like Bessel van der Kolk assert that traumatic events are stored in the physical body and have a fundamentally somatic component to them. The field of somatic psychology, therefore, is an especially helpful framework to help understand and heal through traumatic events.

Somatic psychology

Somatic psychology is a relatively new branch of psychology that focuses on the body or somatic components of psychological health. Somatic psychology looks at how emotion, feeling, and trauma all have roots in and are fundamentally stored in the energies of the body. You might notice how when you feel a strong emotion, it also has a physical effect on you. For example:

• Panic attacks and anxiety

• Grief and crying 

• Depression 

• Anger

All these experiences have a psychological component to them, and if you pay attention, you can also feel that they affect your body. Somatic psychology seeks to understand and address the physical aspect of these emotional experiences to help you relieve emotional distress and heal.

A somatic approach to trauma healing

Somatic approaches are particularly helpful in trauma healing because of the way in which trauma interacts with your nervous system, brain, and body. In my other article, how trauma affects your nervous system, I outline the ways in which trauma can impact your physical body and can have negative effects on not just your emotions but also your nervous system responses. A somatic approach to trauma starts with feeling and understanding the physical symptoms of trauma and finding ways to work with the uncomfortable physical sensations. By making space for and befriending the uncomfortable sensations associated with trauma, you can find new ways to relate to your body and find ways to release traumatic energy and heal. 

Somatic meditation

Somatic meditation involves closing your eyes and turning your attention inwards to try to notice whatever physical or somatic sensations you are experiencing in your body. You may notice all sorts of interesting or uncomfortable feelings in your body when you do this. In a somatic meditation you can just try to make space for whatever is happening in your body without trying to change anything. You are just trying to take stock of what feelings are present inside.

Somatic meditation can help you notice and understand what sorts of sensation and energy is present in your system. If you are in psychological distress, often there will be a corresponding somatic or physical distress. By exploring your somatic landscape in meditation you can become more aware of what’s bothering you and it can help you understand why you might be suffering emotionally or psychologically.

Some common sensations to look for in your body are

• Tightness / relaxation

• Warmth / coolness

• Uplifting energy / grounding energy

• Expanding / contracting

• Energizing / calming

If you pay attention inside, you will notice these, and many more sensations happening inside your body.

Somatic resourcing

If you have experienced trauma or are in intense distress, you might encounter extremely overwhelming sensations when you close your eyes to explore. If this is happening to you, it’s important that you find resources to support yourself in grounding the distress when it emerges. Somatic resourcing can be a helpful support when you are exploring overwhelming sensations in your body.

Somatic resources can be anything in your body that feels comfortable, grounding, or “safe”. If you notice uncomfortable sensations in your meditation, see if you can also scan your body and search for any comforting, grounding or supportive sensations or parts of your body. Chances are, while some of your system might be in distress, another part of your system will feel more resourced. Find and identify these resources within yourself to help you understand where in your body might be a safe or supportive place to feel into. This can be extremely helpful and important when you are facing overwhelming negative sensations that can come along with trauma.

Somatic resources can vary widely between different people, some common examples are;

• A cozy feeling in your feet

• The grounding sensation you get when you feel the floor underneath your toes

• A calm warmth in your belly

• The comforting coolness of the breath entering your lungs

• Feeling the study strength of your shoulders

In conclusion

When you think of psychological healing, you might just think of what is happening in your head. Somatic psychology helps you understand and explore how what is happening in your body is also affecting your mental wellbeing. Taking a somatic approach to trauma healing can help you ground and withstand uncomfortable trauma triggers, and can help you create a safe and comfortable relationship with your body. 

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If you are struggling with the effects of past trauma or you are interested in exploring how somatic approaches to therapy might help you, you are welcome to reach out to connect. I offer trauma therapy in Santa Cruz and online anywhere in California. Reach out today to schedule a free 20 minute consultation and get the support you deserve.