Somatics & IFS: Combining Modalities for Deeper Change
This is what I do. I combine modalities to help you achieve a deeper transformation. Why? Because I truly believe in a holistic approach. There is no prioritising mind over body, the two go hand in hand.
Working in the mind-body integrates the two hemispheres of the brain. And working in the Self allows for a deeper connection with other aspects of the body, the more esoteric bodies where we can also hold trauma.
We make sense of our experiences with our mind through language (the left, logic side of the brain) but we feel the physical body through the right hemisphere, where we experience emotion and spiritual connection.
Our physical body, the subtle energy centres of the chakras — or plexi (bundles of nerves) that form part of our nervous system, our emotional sensations or neuroception and the mind, our inner wisdom or knowing, and finally our true nature or Self. These are the layers of our being. Only the Self is immune to the effects of trauma. But disturbances in the layers of our physical body, emotions and mind, and inner wisdom hide the Self like clouds across the sun.
This is where IFS and somatics work together to restore these parts of us back into equilibrium so we can access our true nature, our Self, with more ease.
How Does Somatic and IFS Integration Work?
Combining somatic work with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy creates a powerful synergy for healing. By bringing focus to the body’s sensations and experiences, you give yourself access to emotions that may have been trapped or unexpressed for years.
Somatic work helps you connect deeply to your emotions through your physical and subtle energy bodies. You start to feel again. Instead of repressing. Be with your experiences, not in.
IFS helps you explore and understand your internal parts or sub-personalities that are clouding your Self, hijacking your physical, subtle, and emotional bodies, and your inner wisdom.
Through these beautiful practices that don’t require you to relive difficult past experiences, but create a loving relationship between your parts and Self, you can create a deeper connection and a greater ability to heal.
Body Awareness: Somatic practices encourage you to tune into your physical bodily sensations (interoceptive cues) related to emotions. By tuning in, you can develop a greater understanding of when you get activated into reactive states. Awareness gives us information.
Grounding Techniques: In session, we often incorporate grounding exercises, like mindful breathing, self-touch, or body scans. This helps you calm the nervous system. Creating a space of safety and Self to part connection. Emotional regulation anchored in safety helps you to make those leaps in healing.
Releasing Trauma: Memories stored in a layer of the body that remain unaddressed through talking therapy alone can hinder progress. Somatic approaches combined with IFS can help you release this trauma in a safe, appropriately paced way.
Integration of Experience: After exploring your parts using IFS, somatic techniques can help you integrate your newfound understandings. This might include expressive movement, chanting, tapping, or breathwork, supporting the emotional release and allowing for healing on all levels.
Enhanced Connection: Somatic work and IFS is about creating a profound connection between parts and Self across all layers of the body. This brings self-love and compassion, nurturing the relationship with all parts. You can finally return to wholeness.
What I love most about somatic and IFS work is that we start with the premise, as we do in ancient yogic traditions, that we are already whole, and that the Self is an unchanging beautiful expression of our true nature. The aim is to cultivate a relationship with the Self, and unburdening our parts so they can operate in synchronicity with the Self.
They are also grounded in compassion and kindness. There is no activating reliving of past experiences. There is only a loving approach to understanding what is triggering us now in relation to what happened in our past. All the healing is done by you, by forming a bond with your Self. I am merely a facilitator.
This teaches you that you have far more empowerment than your past experiences and conditioning may have led you to believe. Everything you need is already inside you, it is just a case of finding how to access it.
Tuning into your bodies allows access to parts that have been hidden or neglected. Hidden away and ignored. We follow the story of the sensations that come up. This somatic awareness can help you engage with these aspects of yourself in a more compassionate and understanding way.
Emotional healing involves both the mind and physical body AND the subtle bodies. This truly holistic approach enriches the therapeutic experience and empowers you to develop that sense of true safety within your bodies. Healing comes from safety. Safety within your body, and safety in your environment.
If you are interested in working with me one to one, reach out by email or book a free consultation using the button below.
Namaste.
