Somatic Healing

Leaving the body, also known as dissociation, is common for those who have experienced pain or trauma. As Peter Levine discusses in his work (notably Waking the Tiger), trauma doesn’t always manifest as “capital T” trauma; it can also come from “little t” traumas—those subtle experiences that accumulate and remain unresolved. Trauma can be physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual, but regardless of its origin, trauma causes pain. And pain often drives us to disconnect from our bodies. In some perspectives, pain is simply the result of stuck energy.

Somatic healing is a journey back into the body to reconnect with what has been stored there over the years. By exploring these areas, we not only help the brain and body reconnect, but we also open the door to rediscovering our senses and the physical experience of pleasure.

The more we inhabit our bodies, the less space there is for energies that aren’t aligned with our true path. The body, being fully present in the here and now (unlike the mind, which can dwell on the past or worry about the future), provides a space for the spirit to be truly present. The more comfortable we become in our own skin and space, the more embodied we are. Being more embodied means being more present, less fearful of the future, and less impacted by past wounds, depression, or anxiety.

Ultimately, I believe one of the goals of healing is to be more embodied. We are spirits in bodies after all.