[Asiablue]

I'm currently looking for a therapist that does trauma work, as it's been suggested that's what i may need.

I've been reading about childhood trauma, what it is, and some treatments. There was one which was Somatic therapy or something which involves the therapist touching different parts of your body to release emotion that the body keeps pent up.

Anyway, just reading about it has given me anxiety. Shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, feeling nervous etc. I'm not good at letting people touch me.

Will not be going for that sort of treatment but i'm surprised at the level just reading it has triggered me.

[Suratji]

I see a somatic therapist as a supplement to my regular T. She does not touch me. She knows I don't like to be touched. It is really a great way to access deeper parts of your emotions.

[Asiablue]

Originally Posted by Suratji

I see a somatic therapist as a supplement to my regular T. She does not touch me. She knows I don't like to be touched. It is really a great way to access deeper parts of your emotions.

Maybe i've misinterpreted what i've read... How does it work then?

[Suratji]

Well, I can't speak for other somatic therapists. Maybe there are some who do use touch but mine does not.

She just talks me through with noticing how my body is feeling. We will talk about some emotional issue and she directs me to pay attention to what's happening with sensations I feel.

Do I feel a knot in my stomach? Am I shaking? Do I feel tingly in my limbs? Is there a sensation of heaviness? Is there a choking sensation in the throat? And on and on.

My regular T kept talking about the 'felt sense'. Our bodies apparently have a lot of information to share with us if we could just learn to listen. My T has always instructed me to pay attention to how my body feels when I'm in an emotional place.

I began with the somatic T in order to more quickly learn how to do this. For me it is very very difficult but I have noticed how incredibly powerful this method is.

This method is called "Focusing" and there are a couple of books that explain how to do it. You do not need a therapist to learn. You can practice it yourself.

The method was discovered by Eugene T. Gendlin, Ph.D and is book is called "Focusing". http://www.focusing.org/

Another very good book is "The Power of Focusing: A Practical Guide to Emotional Self-Healing" by Ann Weiser Cornell

The whole idea is to get beyond and beneath all of our analytical thinking and go to the core of our difficulties. Our bodies have clues that lead us there.

I was highly skeptical but since I've tried it, it is absolutely incredible. I just need to be able to be more proficient at it. And I also default into my analytical mind much too easy.

I've also read the book, "Molecules of Emotion" by Candace B. Pert, PhD and her research demonstrates that our emotions get stored in our bodies. So, contrary to what I would have called 'common sense', paying attention to the body to understand our emotions really is a way to emotional healing.

[Asiablue]

that is really interesting actually. I will look at those links, thank you.