Embodiment
In the last post, I reflected upon the world of somatic therapy in general, from its inclusion into the mental health paradigm as well as the spectrum of views that exist within that framing—from the degree of training one is involved in to the scientific enterprise undergirding these trainings. What I will reflect upon today, though notably these are mere simple reflections that are not intended to be scholarly nor introduced as formal learning, I still nonetheless will sketch the nature of somatic therapy as it pertains to my background and understanding.
The nature of somatic therapy is twofold: process and integrate, with a happenstance of catharsis, and ultimately regulate and grow in resilience (on the positive side—not white-knuckling). That said, the totality of such a process of healing is what I shall call embodiment. This nature—embodiment—is rooted in a regulated system, one that can return again and again to a basic center, has been shaped by the forces of life, and has learned to find its own footing amidst adversity; call this resilience. It has moved through past experiences of overwhelm to integrate the memories, be they explicit (biographical in nature), implicit (emotional in nature), or procedural (physiological in nature). When a person has achieved these skills inherently and feels most present and free of the past (not in perfection, but merely wholeness—another word for the basic integration of one’s life), then a type of flow and connection happens within in relationship to the outer world. This flow is the experience of embodiment and therefore, embodiment is the ideal state that allows for connectivity of the inner self and objective reality (outer world).
Perhaps this is reflective of a more philosophical tone, but it does indeed also reflect a very real physical experience. This process may be experienced as openheartedness, grounded centeredness, ease of breath, a soft tummy, a relaxed and alert state, strong muscles but not constricted, open eyes with clearer vision and perception, as well as cognitive clarity. Perhaps there is also a moral category of honesty, transparency, grounded truth-telling, accountability, and a desire to become more responsible on higher levels in order to grow toward greater states of awareness.
In conclusion, this process of somatic therapy is included in the models of Somatic Experiencing and touch training, such as NeurAffective Touch and Touch Skills. These are offered within my services, with Somatic Experiencing functioning as the most reputable training, reflected in the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, which is roughly a three-year program with considerable commitment, after which only touch skills are available. These post-advanced trainings can be seen as a kind of graduate degree from the undergraduate work of SE. Touch is to be considered a more advanced version that should only be considered after thoroughly understanding the rudiments of the nervous system, types of trauma, and safe ways to access such states.
In sum, this outline provides a kind of mosaic of the work that I offer, but also a fair evaluation, from my perspective, of the types of somatic approaches available, as well as considerations for the individual as they seek assistance from a well-trained therapist. These trainings should be taken with utmost sincerity, and behind each training should stand a commitment to learning and a program rigorous enough to require dedication—not only in the process of training, but in the inner work required to understand how to hold and heal the nervous systems of those needing that kind of support.
