guide me about somatic therapies
 

kindly guide me about somatic therapies .. i could not find a proper site for this topic and its types with details.. regards

Somatic therapy is a holistic experience that combines the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of our being. The therapy teaches us to become aware of our bodies and how we experience sensations. Soma has been defined as “the body experienced from within.” When we bottle up worries and stress deep inside of us, they can become physical manifestations on the outside of the body.

Muscle aches and pains are often the result of repressed concerns and stresses. Somatic therapy teaches us how to become aware of these tensions so that they can be released and the pain relieved. Some people may not even know that they have areas of discomfort until they stop and become aware of their bodies.

Somatic therapy works by taking the time to check-in with our bodies on a regular basis. This provides us with the ability to get in touch with our feelings, rather than remaining lost in a host of thoughts and worries. While focusing our attention we may become aware of uncomfortable sensations in our bodies. Every time we experience something traumatic, we remember it “physically” as well as emotionally, in the form of muscle tension or pain. When we become aware of this, the initial reaction is to move away from any uncomfortable sensations or memories. However in somatic therapy, we want to remain focused on them. When we remain focused on the event we can help ourselves move on from it and bring about a moment of healing.

Somatic Psychology (body mind psychotherapy, body-oriented psychotherapy, etc.) is a holistic form of therapy that respects and utilizes the powerful connection between body, mind and spirit. How we are in this world, how we relate to ourselves and others, is not just purely about the mind or our thoughts, but is also deeply rooted in our bodies and our spirits.


Somatic Psychology has a long and rich history and is primarily derived from the theories and practices of Wilhelm Reich, a psychoanalyst and student of Sigmund Freud. Since that time, it has been influenced by existential, humanistic and gestalt psychology, dance, movement and art therapy, family and systems theory, biology, neurology, and Far Eastern philosophy and spirituality.

Individuals seek this form of treatment for similar reasons they might look to more traditional talk therapy, to address stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and sexuality issues, grief and loss, addictions, trauma including abuse recovery, as well as more purely medical reasons including pain, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Somatic Psychotherapy includes many different techniques that can be utilized depending on the specific needs of each client. Such interventions can include developing mindfulness and awareness of one's physical presence using relaxation and meditative techniques; movement in order to promote a deeper physical awareness and to expand one's capacity to feel and express emotions; breathing techniques to increase awareness of and improve functioning of the breath.

Somatic is a Greek word which means living body. Somatic therapy is a type of movement therapy that utilizes mind and body training as an alternative treatment for managing pain, improving balance and increasing the ease with which range of motion is performed.
[B]History and Development of Somatic Therapy[/B]
This therapy was developed by Thomas Hanna in 1976 hypothesizing that the sensory-motor system of the body responds to the traumas and stresses that occur throughout our daily lives with very specific muscular reflexes that are involuntary and become habitual contractions. These involuntary contractions can cause soreness and stiffness. Over time your body suffers from a type of amnesia known as SMA (sensory-motor amnesia) which is a loss of the meaning of how your muscles feel and how you can control them.
Hanna believed that there were three reflexes that led to SMA. The startle response which he termed the red light reflex is a response of withdrawal that occurs in the abdominal muscles as demonstrated when the body curves over on itself in reaction to distress. The second of these reflexes is the landau arousal response, termed the green light reflex. This reflex applies to the action response of the back muscles where the body is constantly thrust forward to respond to our daily responsibilities. The last of these three reflexes is the trauma reflex which we experience when an injury to our body has occurred.
These reflexes are learned reflexes and Hanna’s theory was that what is learned can be unlearned. He developed and taught exercise program to facilitate the release of these chronic learned tension holding patterns.
[B]Benefits of Somatic Therapy[/B]
It is believed that re-education of the muscular system with somatic therapy can relieve and sometimes offer a cure for many conditions. Some of these are arthritis, back pain, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), joint dislocations, balance problems, frequent urination, dizziness, foot pain, pulled hamstrings, joint pain, headaches, sacroiliac pain, sciatica, scoliosis, obesity, tightness of the shoulder or pain in the shoulders, spinal stenosis, TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome, whiplash injuries and even uneven length in your legs.

Teaching you the ability to control problems associated with your muscles is the general goal of Somatic Therapy. The exercises are slow in motion and performed in sitting or prone positions. During the movements you are instructed and reminded to be aware of how your muscles feel. At various stages throughout the program deep breathing techniques are applied. Keep in mind to always move in a slow and gentle fashion never forcing the movement. Never forget to keep your attention focused on the feelings and internal sensation that the movement creates. The benefits are cumulative as your flexibility and the ease of your movements improve.

there are 3 main types of somatic(bodily) therapies. Somatic therapies are administered by psychiatrists.
1. psychosurgery
2. phama therapy
3. electroconvulsive therapy