Many of us have experienced events that rattle our ability to understand or control our emotions, upset our sense of who we are and affect how we relate to the world around us. Perhaps you have done some talk therapy around a traumatic event. Placing an equal emphasis on both the body and mind can provide a holistic type of treatment to resolve these traumatic events.
Integrating somatic body therapy with talk therapy sessions is based on the concept that events in our lives are not only stored in our brains, but in the body as well. Talk therapy is a “top-down” process that brings awareness to our thoughts and perceptions, while somatic therapy can add a “bottom-up” process to our healing. Sometimes called body/mind psychotherapy, this type of therapeutic approach can support the development of a greater awareness of the mind, the body and the connection between the two.
In these integrated sessions, clients are supported in feeling safe in their bodies as they are guided to develop awareness of the physical sensations, traumatic memory emotions, experiences and thoughts they have while recalling a disturbing event. The therapist may use a variety of techniques during a session like breathing exercises, postures, gestures, and other forms of movement. “What’s going on in your body?” “What are you experiencing right now physically?” could be some of the questions a therapist might ask.
To hear firsthand what a client could expect in a body/mind therapy session, I contacted two Albuquerque therapists that integrate both the body and mind into their practice.
Dalila Michele Baied, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, encourages patients to differentiate between thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and behaviors.
“I help them notice the totality of their experience, which isn’t just in thoughts. Not that thoughts aren’t important,” Baied says. “People are skilled in thinking, however we’re definitely not skilled at being with emotions and reporting our emotions and we’re even less skilled at reporting a somatic experience.”
“I provide a supportive environment where clients feel heard and understood,” Baied explains. “The significance of giving clients a sense of agency and control in therapy encourages them to reflect on their emotions and body sensations.” Baied supports “non-judgmental curiosity about bodily experiences, rather than trying to assign blame or make sense of them immediately.”
Jessica Salgado, also a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, integrates somatic therapy and trauma-informed care into her therapy sessions.
“I’m observing what they’re saying with their words and what they’re saying with their body,” Salgado says. “A lot of communication is done non-verbally. They might be saying one thing and their bodies are saying something else. I try to bring their awareness to what I’m observing.”
“Feeling safer in our body is all about integrating our past and present because a lot of us are operating from past selves, younger versions of ourselves, versus the more embodied adult versions of ourselves,” Salgado explains. “The goal is to bring the two together and integrate them.”
“When individuals feel safe in their body, they can live the lives that they want. They feel more embodied and more empowered to have the relationships that they want, to feel their feelings, and express themselves with ease. I think that’s the moment when you really see transformation,” Salgado says.
Dalila Michele Baied, can be contacted at 505-448-0461. Jessica Salgado at 505-591-6219