somatic therapy for bipoc folx
You’ve done years of talk therapy, and you still feel like you are stuck in survival loop? I may know why 👀
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is a bottom up approach to therapy. It’s a form of therapy that prioritizes the experience of the body by offering relief to incomplete threat responses such as stress and trauma that accumulates in the body. Somatic therapy is heavily informed by our nervous system that protects and keeps us alive. Often stress in the body can feel like constriction, tightness, or heaviness. Instead of starting with your thoughts or feelings (cerebral approach) we start in your body. In Western therapy we neglect the body in our sessions. We live in a society that prioritizes the intellectualization over embodied experience.
What is the difference between talk therapy vs Somatic therapy?
Talk therapy also known as psychotherapy prioritizes cognitive strategies that center thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors. Talk therapy has limitations and it fails to address the somatic experience of the stress and trauma the body holds from current or past experiences. Somatic therapy prioritizes the body mind connection through noticing sensations to and address unresolved trauma and stress.
Why somatic therapy for BIPOC folx?
Somatic therapy for BIPOC folx can be a game changer. Racism is a public health crisis that exponentially impacts people of color. Existing in a non white body under the system that is constantly dehumanizing black and brown bodies can be exhausting. Hell, the wealth of the U.S was stolen labor on backs of stolen black bodies. Living in a perpetual survival response has negative health consequences. I remember reading an article out by the Atlantic: Being Black in America Can be Hazardous to your health. The health disparities mentioned in the article were alarming to say the least (link to the article here). In summary prolonged stress of systemic oppressionnweakens our immune system, increase the occurrence of chronic illness, infertility, GI issues, etc. Racism, classism, sexism, are making us ill. Historically we’ve had to be disconnected from our bodies to survive the violent systems. That doesn’t have to be case moving forward. Feeling safe in our bodies is the begining of liberation and healing. We can’t heal if we do not feel safe in our bodies.
What are the benefits of somatic therapy for BIPOC folx.
Reduction in trauma symptoms
Emotional regulation
Expanded capacity to manage stress
Increase in body awareness
Increased feelings of safety and connection
Increased discernment