The History of Somatics: Revolutionizing Trauma Healing
The field of somatics has revolutionized trauma healing by bringing a greater understanding of the mind-body connection and the role of the body in trauma recovery. Traditionally, trauma healing focused primarily on addressing the psychological and cognitive aspects of trauma, often neglecting the physiological and somatic manifestations of trauma in the body.
Somatics, on the other hand, recognizes the inseparable link between the mind and body and the significant impact trauma can have on the nervous system and physical well-being. Trauma can be stored in implicit memory, making it challenging to access and process through traditional talk therapy alone. Somatic approaches incorporate body-centered techniques that help access and work with the unconscious aspects of trauma, leading to more profound and lasting healing.
Today we're going to explore some of the somatic therapies that have made a profound shift in how we approach trauma.
Hakomi
Hakomi was developed by Ron Kurtz in the early 1980's and is grounded in the principles of mindfulness, non-violence, and body-centered awareness. The word "Hakomi" is derived from the Hopi language and translates to "How do you stand in relation to these many realms?" The name reflects the emphasis on self-awareness and mindful exploration in the therapeutic process.
The development of Hakomi was influenced by various therapeutic modalities, including Gestalt therapy, psychomotor therapy, and the principles of mindfulness and Eastern philosophies.
The key principles of Hakomi include:
1. Mindfulness. Ron Kurtz has said that "the principle of mindfulness refers to the understanding that real change comes about through awareness, not efforting.” A Hakomi practitioner supports a client in staying with their present experiences and sensations in the here-and-now.
2. Nonviolence. In Hakomi, the therapist gently guides the process but never inserts themselves or tries to challenge what feels right to the client. Resistance is also welcomed into a session instead of trying to confront or fight or get rid of or overpower it. This allows space to reveal the wisdom in the client's behaviors.
3. Mind-Body Integration. A Hakomi practitioner will explore the client's somatic experience including habitual movements, posture, gestures, and body structure to build awareness of the client's experience of the world and expression in it.
4. Unity. This principle sees people as living, organic systems that are whole and composed of parts. Hakomi supports a person with integrating disconnected parts and practitioners work with a client's physical body, interpersonal, family, cultural, and spiritual factors.
5. Organicity. We can be self directed and self actualizing when we feel connected to our inner wisdom and all parts of our self are communicating with each other. This principle assumes that we will naturally guide ourselves and the practitioner supports a client's organic process toward wholeness.
A decade after these core principles of Hakomi were created, Ron Kurtz added one more and that was loving presence. This was included based on research stating that "the personhood or inner state of the therapist is at least 8 times more predictive of therapeutic success than the methods used." A Hakomi practitioner meets whoever they work with from a place of loving presence to further foster self acceptance.
Hakomi has supported others in developing a deeper understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, gaining insight into patterns that may be holding them back or causing distress. Clients learn to tune into bodily sensations, which can reveal hidden emotions, unresolved traumas, and core beliefs. Hakomi helps clients identify and work with core beliefs that may limit their self-concept or create coping mechanisms. Through mindful exploration, clients can challenge and transform these limiting beliefs, leading to more empowering narratives and increased self-esteem.
The Hakomi approach creates a safe and non-violent therapeutic environment. This compassionate setting allows clients to explore vulnerable emotions and experiences without judgment or criticism, fostering a sense of safety that supports healing. The therapist's loving presence and attunement help clients feel seen, heard, held, and understood, leading to a sense of connection and trust that promotes relational healing. Clients often report continued personal growth and increased emotional well-being long after completing Hakomi therapy.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
In the early 1970s, while working as a technician and yoga/dance teacher at a short-term psychiatric hospital, Pat Ogden became curious about the connection between the body, physical patterns, and psychological issues. She would go on to create Sensorimotor Psychotherapy or SP, which is a specialized therapeutic approach that integrates principles from somatic psychology, physiology, neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and attachment theory. She co-founded the Hakomi Institute and then created her own school called the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, which functions on the same core principles in Hakomi. Over the years, it has gained recognition for its effectiveness in treating trauma and various mental health issues. SP focuses on the mind-body connection and the role of the body in processing and healing trauma and emotional distress.
SP has three phases that include Safety and Stabilization, Processing, and Integration. This process helps a person develop resources that were missing when a traumatic experience occurred. From the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute website, "Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a “bottom up” “phase oriented” method. This means therapy generally begins in the first phase: developing resources to regulate arousal. The second phase of therapy addresses memories and emotions, and the final phase is focused on moving forward through expressing emotions, addressing relationships, and widening the window of tolerance. The phases of therapy do not necessarily happen in order, and phases or skills learned within a phase may be revisited as needed. In a typical first session, the therapist provides psychoeducation on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, assess the client’s abilities and goals, and evaluates which phases, if any, the client has already worked in. The therapist and client create a plan to reach the client’s goals."
SP explores a client's movement, posture, and sensation to tap into a client's natural ability to heal, adapt, and develop new capacities. SP focuses on regulating arousal levels, as trauma and emotional distress can lead to dysregulation of the nervous system. Clients learn grounding and self-regulation techniques to manage emotional states and distressing sensations. SP integrates concepts from attachment theory, recognizing the significance of early relational experiences in shaping an individual's sense of safety and security. In a session, clients may engage in simple physical movements or use gestures to explore and release emotional experiences. SP aims to repair attachment disruptions by offering corrective emotional experiences within the therapeutic relationship.
Hellinger Constellation Work
Hellinger Constellation Work, also known as Family Constellation or Systemic Constellation, is a therapeutic approach developed by Bert Hellinger, a German psychotherapist. It is based on the idea that unresolved traumas and entanglements within a family system can create emotional and psychological challenges for individuals in the present.
The core principle of Hellinger Constellation Work is that families are interconnected systems, and the emotional experiences of previous generations can influence the experiences of current family members. This intergenerational connection may result in family members unknowingly carrying unresolved traumas, loyalties, or entanglements that impact their relationships and health.
In a Hellinger Constellation session, a facilitator guides the client through a group process. During the session, representatives are chosen from the group to represent family members or other significant individuals. These representatives are placed in the physical space in relation to one another to form a constellation that reflects the client's family system or issue.
Through this constellation, hidden dynamics and emotional entanglements within the family system are brought to light. Participants in the constellation may experience emotions, sensations, or insights that mirror the experiences of the individuals they represent. The facilitator observes the constellation and intervenes as needed to explore and release entanglements or traumas.
The goal of Hellinger Constellation Work is to bring balance and resolution to the family system by acknowledging and honoring the experiences of past generations. By doing so, individuals can gain clarity and free themselves from unconscious patterns that may be hindering their growth or causing emotional distress.
Hellinger Constellation Work is used to address a wide range of issues, including family conflicts, relationship difficulties, health challenges, and feelings of entanglement. It is not intended as a replacement for therapy but rather as a complementary approach that can provide unique insights and facilitate healing in a group setting.
Collective Healing
Collective healing refers to the process of healing and transformation that occurs at the collective level, involving entire communities, societies, or even humanity as a whole. It acknowledges that individuals are interconnected within larger social systems and that the healing of one person or group can have a ripple effect on others. Collective healing recognizes that many societal issues and challenges are deeply rooted in historical, cultural, and systemic factors that require collective efforts to address effectively.
Collective healing involves recognizing the historical traumas and injustices that have affected communities and have been passed down through generations. This acknowledgment is a crucial step in addressing intergenerational trauma and fostering understanding and empathy among diverse groups. Collective healing involves developing empathy and compassion for the experiences and struggles of others. By fostering a sense of interconnectedness, individuals and communities can come together to support each other's healing journeys. Collective healing emphasizes the power of community support and solidarity in facilitating healing. Creating safe spaces for individuals to share their experiences and receive support can be transformative for individuals and the larger community.
Collective healing calls for challenging oppressive systems and structures that perpetuate inequality and harm. Addressing systemic issues requires collective efforts to advocate for justice, equity, and social change. Collective healing seeks to build resilient communities that can collectively navigate challenges and promote well-being. This involves fostering community connections, nurturing shared values, and promoting mutual care and support. Collective healing often involves processes of restorative justice and reconciliation. These processes aim to address past harms and facilitate healing and understanding among affected individuals and groups. Collective healing extends beyond human communities to include the healing of our relationship with the natural world. Addressing global challenges, such as climate change and environmental degradation, requires collective efforts and a sense of responsibility for the well-being of the planet and all its inhabitants.
Collective healing is a dynamic and ongoing process that requires active participation and commitment from individuals and communities. It involves fostering a sense of responsibility and accountability for the well-being of others and recognizing that our actions and choices impact not only ourselves but also the wider world. By working together to address deep-rooted traumas, injustices, and systemic issues, collective healing has the potential to create more compassionate, just, and resilient societies.
In a collective healing session, participants come together as a group to address shared concerns, heal collective wounds, and foster a sense of connection and support. The session is facilitated by a trained professional who creates a safe and inclusive space for everyone to participate and share their experiences. The specific format and activities may vary depending on the nature of the collective healing work, the facilitator's approach, and the needs of the group.
Here are some common elements that can occur in a collective healing session:
Group Sharing and Storytelling: Participants are encouraged to share their experiences, emotions, and stories related to the collective issue or trauma. Group sharing fosters a sense of mutual understanding and solidarity among participants, allowing them to witness and support each other's healing journeys.
Rituals and Ceremonies: Are often incorporated to mark the beginning and end of the session and create a sacred and meaningful space for healing. These may involve symbolic actions, prayers, or guided meditations that honor the collective experience.
Artistic Expression: Participants may be invited to engage in artistic activities, such as drawing, writing, or movement, to express their emotions and experiences related to the collective issue. Artistic expression can be a powerful means of processing and releasing emotions.
Guided Meditations and Visualization: The facilitator may lead the group through guided meditations or visualizations that facilitate relaxation, grounding, and emotional exploration. These practices can help participants connect with their inner resources and emotions.
Group Processing and Reflection: Group members may have the opportunity to process and reflect on their experiences during the session. The facilitator may lead group discussions to explore themes that emerge from the sharing and activities.
Healing Circles: Are a common format in collective healing sessions where participants sit in a circle to create a sense of equality and interconnectedness. Healing circles provide a supportive environment for sharing and listening.
Experiential Exercises: The facilitator may lead experiential exercises that involve group interactions, role-playing, or other activities aimed at exploring and resolving collective issues.
Rituals of Release and Closure: Towards the end of the session, participants may engage in rituals of release, forgiveness, or closure. These rituals allow individuals to let go of burdens related to the collective issue and move forward with a sense of resolution.
Resources and Support: The facilitator may provide resources and support materials for participants to continue their healing process beyond the session.
Collective healing sessions provide a space for individuals to connect, heal, and find strength in their shared experiences. They can be transformative opportunities for addressing collective trauma, fostering resilience, and building a sense of community and belonging.
Somatic Abolitionism
One recent evolution of Collective healing is called Somatic Abolitionism created by the author of the New York Times' best seller My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem. Quoted from Menakem's website, "Somatic Abolitionism is living, embodied anti-racist practice and cultural building —a way of being in the world. It is a return to the age-old wisdom of human bodies respecting, honoring, and resonating with other human bodies. It is not exclusively a goal, an attitude, a belief, an idea, a strategy, a movement, a plan, a system, a political position, or a step forward. Somatic Abolitionism is not a human invention. It is the resourcing of energies that are always present in your body, in the collective body, and in the world. Somatic Abolitionism is an emergent process. Somatic Abolitionism is an emergent form of growing up and growing into a more fuller energetic human experience."
In an interview Menakem said, "somatic abolitionism is the idea that we can and must be about the work of not just abolishing white-body supremacy cognitively, but also spend the time slowing down and beginning to abolish it in the body first. In the body and bodies. Through reps, through practice, through working with, through play, through all those different pieces. Through conditioning and tempering. That it is our work to start there first, not start with the cognition."
You can learn more by checking out Menakem's book The Quaking of America.
Somatic Experiencing
We will end today with how this whole series got inspired by the New York Times article that only addressed one part of the field of somatics which is Somatic Experiencing created by Peter Levine. Somatic Experiencing, often referred to as SE, is a body-centered therapy that focuses on resolving the effects of trauma and stress-related disorders by working with the body's natural capacity for self-regulation.
Peter Levine created SE based on his observations of how animals in the wild recover from life-threatening situations without developing trauma. He noticed that animals in the wild instinctively shake, tremble, or engage in other physical responses to discharge the intense energy accumulated during life-threatening events. This natural process allows animals to restore balance in their nervous systems and recover from the trauma, without holding onto unresolved stress.
SE emphasizes the importance of establishing a sense of safety and resourcing before exploring traumatic memories or experiences. Clients are supported in developing self-regulation skills to manage emotional states and arousal levels during the healing process. SE works with trauma in small, manageable doses. This approach, known as "titration," ensures that the client does not become overwhelmed while exploring difficult emotions or memories.
Another SE concept called Pendulation involves moving between states of activation (arousal) and deactivation (relaxation) during the therapeutic process. This rhythmic movement allows the nervous system to gradually release held tension and integrate unresolved experiences. SE encourages clients to focus on bodily sensations and experiences as a means of accessing and processing traumatic memories. This somatic awareness helps clients safely explore and release the stored energy of trauma. SE supports clients in completing the instinctual fight-or-flight responses that may have been interrupted during a traumatic event. This completion helps discharge pent-up energy and supports the restoration of the nervous system's balance.
In a SE session, the practitioner begins by creating a safe and supportive environment for the client. They may engage in discussions to understand the client's history, current challenges, and goals for therapy. Establishing a sense of safety is essential, as it allows the client to feel grounded and supported throughout the session. The client is encouraged to become more aware of their bodily sensations. Clients are guided to notice physical sensations, emotions, and any areas of tension or discomfort in the body. The client learns how to track their bodily sensations and arousal levels. They may pay attention to changes in sensations, such as heat, tingling, trembling, or changes in breathing. By tracking these bodily experiences, the client can access and process the body's responses to past traumas.
The practitioner uses the principles of pendulation and titration to ensure that the client does not become overwhelmed while exploring their inner world. The practitioner may guide the client through exercises to complete the instinctual nervous system responses that may have been interrupted during the traumatic event. Toward the end of the session, the practitioner guides the client in integrating their experiences and grounding. This may involve gentle movement, deep breathing, or a guided relaxation exercise to support the client in feeling present and connected to their body. There is often space to verbally discuss the session to integrate what came up.
Somatic Eating®
Now, if we shift the focus to your relationship with food, I want to add Somatic Eating® and Somatic Nutrition into this discussion that I've been working on and growing for over a decade in all that I have learned and been influenced by those who have created, fostered, and grown the field of somatics. Somatic Eating® is a body-oriented, sensation focused therapeutic approach to eating. It takes the premise that your current patterns with food are a reaction to a trauma response in your body that could be your own lived traumatic experiences or generational trauma that has been passed down to you.
Somatic Eating® is an approach to eating that uses somatic resources to help regulate the nervous system and increase interoception to release food from the responsibility of supporting you in feeling and regulating. It teaches how to interpret your food patterns as information about the state of your body and experience the wisdom in your behaviors. It addresses the root of your dysregulated relationship with food so you can decrease your attention on food and increase your attention on what your food behaviors are trying to tell you.
A typical Somatic Eating® session includes discussion about what's currently going on in your relationship with food and unpacking what was going on in your body before, during, and after those eating experiences to cultivate compassion and also begin to explore similarities in that eating experience to what you have experienced in your body in the past. There is an ebb and flow with cultivating understanding of your current food patterns as the answer to what you've been through in the past and exploring new responses to your body in the present that leave you feeling safe, secure, and satiated.
If you've been tuning in week to week in this History of Somatics series, I want to offer you a special gift of 50% off my Intro to Somatic Eating mini course. This mini course will provide you with 3 Somatic Eating® resources to start creating the regulating relationship you're desiring to have with your food and body. Click HERE to purchase with the discount applied.
I hope you've enjoyed learning more about the rich history of somatics and this ever evolving and growing field of therapeutic work. If you have any questions about anything that has been explored or about my work of Somatic Eating®, email me at support@stephaniemara.com anytime!