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Elise Quiggins, MA, LMFTA
Systemic Therapy & Support Groups
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is an umbrella term that covers many types of therapy which seek to and use wisdom from the body to help in therapy. The style of somatic therapy I use most often is called Somatic Transformation.
1 | How does somatic therapy work?
Somatic therapy combines what we know about mental health, the nervous system, and neuroscience to help you find wisdom within you body that moves you closer to your treatment goals.
In a session, I constantly monitor the client's and my nervous systems to decide what to ask next or where to take the session. I frequently incorporate the body into treatment by asking questions and initiating mindfulness practices that can help you recognize the ways your body communicates with you.
2 | Who is somatic therapy for?
Somatic therapy can be helpful for many people, and it is most often used for clients with trauma. Somatic therapy has also been found to be helpful for people with anxiety, chronic illness, depression, grief, and more. Many people find their way to somatic therapy when traditional talk therapy just hasn't had as much impact as they hoped it would.
3 | How does somatic therapy help?
Somatic therapy can help you create change that may be deeper and more lasting. While traditional talk therapy primarily engages your brain (which is also useful!), somatic therapy invites the body and the brain into treatment. Many people find that somatic therapy can feel safer, as therapy moves at the pace of your nervous system, which can help avoid therapeutic overwhelm and flooding.
