Debunking the Myths: Common Misconceptions About Somatic Therapy.
Somatic therapy is gaining recognition as a powerful approach to healing, yet many misconceptions persist about what it entails and how it works.
Today, I clear up some of the most common myths.
Myth 1: Somatic Therapy Is Just Physical Exercise
While somatic therapy involves awareness of the body, it is far more than physical movement or exercise. It focuses on the connection between the body and mind, using bodily sensations to access and process trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress. It’s not about working out, but about listening to the body’s signals to promote healing.
Myth 2: Somatic Therapy Is Only for People with Trauma
Somatic therapy is beneficial for anyone seeking to improve their mental and emotional wellbeing, not just those with a history of trauma. It supports the nervous system to regulate stress, manage anxiety, and form greater self-awareness, making it helpful for everyday challenges as well as deeper psychological healing.
Myth 3: Somatic Therapy Ignores the Mind
On the contrary, somatic therapy integrates the mind and body. By paying attention to bodily sensations, it helps uncover unconscious patterns held in the nervous system that affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. This holistic approach offers a deeper understanding of how past experiences shape present-day functioning.
Myth 4: Somatic Therapy Provides Quick Fixes
Effective healing through somatic therapy requires time, patience, and practice. It is not a one-session cure but a sustained process of reconnecting with the body and retraining the nervous system. Progress happens gradually as awareness and regulation skills strengthen. You also have to do some work outside of the therapy room. The women I work with who do the best in recovery are the ones who also do the work in between sessions.
Myth 5: You Need to Relive Trauma to Heal
Healing doesn’t mean flooding yourself with painful memories. Somatic therapy emphasises gentle tuning into the body’s experience in the present moment. It guides you to renegotiate trauma within safe boundaries. This helps to reduce overwhelm and create new, empowering experiences in your nervous system. The gentleness in approach allows you to be with your experiences rather than in them. And create a more loving relationship with your Self.
At Somatic Harmony Healing, I combine somatic approaches with therapies like Internal Family Systems to support you in healing your mind through understanding your body.
By debunking these myths, I hope to invite more women to discover the transformative potential of somatic therapy.
If you’re ready, why not book a free consultation to discuss your needs?
