[musinglizzy]

I'm working on Googling this.... this is what a new T I've talked to works with. I'm currently in psychodynamic therapy, and CBT. What's different with SE? She said she uses touch in therapy, and for that reason doesn't do phone sessions (just some of the questions I asked her)....for those who have been with an SE therapist, what differences did you notice? I've seen a little difference in CBT vs psychodynamic, so will I notice a lot more difference with SE?

[rainbow8]

Originally Posted by musinglizzy

I'm working on Googling this.... this is what a new T I've talked to works with. I'm currently in psychodynamic therapy, and CBT. What's different with SE? She said she uses touch in therapy, and for that reason doesn't do phone sessions (just some of the questions I asked her)....for those who have been with an SE therapist, what differences did you notice? I've seen a little difference in CBT vs psychodynamic, so will I notice a lot more difference with SE?

Yes, SE is different from most other kinds of therapies except other body work. I doubt whether she uses it all the time, especially since she lists so many other types of therapies too.

As you know, my T took hand holding away but that was before she finished her SE training. Then she reinstated it, for support, as she kept telling me. It was to calm my nervous system. I think it worked because I am doing okay with not asking her to hold my hand for months now! I chose not to, but I can still ask her and she will comply.

So, touch can be used but doesn't have to be. There is less talking and more feeling with SE. Plus movement of your body. My T and I are working on sexual issues and she has had me push people away, but very slowly. SE is based on how animals in the wild release their trauma feelings. It's by moving and also words. I'm always asked where I feel something in my body. Each session T asks if she's sitting too close or too far from me. The feelings in your body in the room are important.

But we do regular talk therapy, and IFS as well. We used to EMDR. I guess it depends on what you're working on. I know SE is a gentler way to work through trauma, and also good for other issues. I'm anxious a lot, so we breathe and get grounded. Check in with your body, T says often.

At first I hated SE because I don't want to focus on my body but my T said it would help me. And it has!

[precaryous]

N/M lol......

[musinglizzy]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

Yes, SE is different from most other kinds of therapies except other body work. I doubt whether she uses it all the time, especially since she lists so many other types of therapies too.

As you know, my T took hand holding away but that was before she finished her SE training. Then she reinstated it, for support, as she kept telling me. It was to calm my nervous system. I think it worked because I am doing okay with not asking her to hold my hand for months now! I chose not to, but I can still ask her and she will comply.

So, touch can be used but doesn't have to be. There is less talking and more feeling with SE. Plus movement of your body. My T and I are working on sexual issues and she has had me push people away, but very slowly. SE is based on how animals in the wild release their trauma feelings. It's by moving and also words. I'm always asked where I feel something in my body. Each session T asks if she's sitting too close or too far from me. The feelings in your body in the room are important.

But we do regular talk therapy, and IFS as well. We used to EMDR. I guess it depends on what you're working on. I know SE is a gentler way to work through trauma, and also good for other issues. I'm anxious a lot, so we breathe and get grounded. Check in with your body, T says often.

At first I hated SE because I don't want to focus on my body but my T said it would help me. And it has!

Thanks...though what do you mean you are focusing on your body? I understand about "feeling" where you feel something within your body.... is that what you're talking about? I am physically disgusted by my body...and do have issues being touched in certain areas....I was getting better through reiki, but couldn't afford to keep going.

[naia]

I've seen a somatic therapist tho don't know if "somatic experiencing" is what it was called. S/he used touch, almost all touch, with some talk alongside. I never thought that I'd like it, but it was great. Kinda like magic. S/he just knew somehow where to put her/his hands, where in my body I was feeling things, and held her/his hands still & gently. I'd go into a traumatic experience while s/he guided me thru, sorta reliving it but with a better outcome. Then we'd go over what happened, how to do it on my own, & what we'd do the next time.

I wish that I could have stayed with it. I have a regular T so this was for something extra. In the end, I had to stop, but we did more in a shorter time without talking much.

[musinglizzy]

That's great to hear, naia. I'm sure we're not talking about a supporting hand on your shoulder or something like that. I really have issues with my lower back being touched. Say I tell this T that. Typically is that something they'd want to work on, or if I gave a "boundary" that I don't wish to be touched there, would that be ok? Are you talking like massage or reiki type (energy) touch or ???

[naia]

Not massage or body work. I do see someone who is a doctor & does more stuff like that. He is trained in Chinese medicine, but was correcting my spine, neck, face, and skull from a bad car wreck.

The somatic therapy is real psychotherapy. S/he is an MFT, does all the stuff like informed consent. S/he told me that s/he doesn't use touch with everyone, just with people who are OK with it. S/he goes over your history before doing anything, asks about things like where you can't be touched, what you want to work on. S/he is somatic; may be somatic experiencing? Sorta off the grid, trained by Bowen? Specializes in trauma, DV, and other body-oriented issues.

S/he was surprised that I allowed myself to be touched. I was not touched as a kid, except in a violating way so it was not traumatic to me even with a long trauma history. S/he would ask as we did things if s/he could move or touch in certain ways. I was always in control of what we did. Does that help?

[kecanoe]

I do SE with t3 and she rarely touches me, except when I can't feel the ground, and then she will put her foot against mine or on mine. But that is all the touching that she does. I think it would be fine to say that you don't want to be touched in a certain way/place.

[rainbow8]

I meant that I don't like talking about my body or paying attention to it. My T will never touch me if I don't like it, or where I don't like it. She tried pressing her hand on my arm, but it felt like she was pushing me, so we went back to just holding hands. I don't think it would be anything like massage. It's more for support. We don't touch other than holding hands if I ask for it, and our weekly hug when I leave.

She lent me a CD on SE and trauma, which had exercises to do on my own, with a partner, or even with a pet dog!

Are you going to see this T for a trial session? That would be the time to ask her how she uses SE, and to discuss your concerns. How she answers you will help you decide if she would be a good fit for you.