Therapeutic Somatic Coaching – The Missing Piece In Healing Trauma
- Jun 20, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 13, 2024
Written by Tana J Cohen, Somatic Coach & Embodied
Tana J Cohen, a Trauma Informed Somatic Coach & Embodied Mindfulness Mentor, specialises in uplifting Compassionate Leaders & Changemakers. Facing early sibling bereavement, bullying, and neurodivergence, she overcame severe anxiety, panic attacks, C-PTSD, and burn-out.
You may have noticed a new buzzword circulating in the wellness community: "somatic." With so many practitioners and therapeutic modalities available today, it can be overwhelming to understand what each one offers and why it might be the right fit for you. Let's be real—chronic stress and anxiety can be debilitating, making it essential to find a practice that helps you feel truly okay in life.
As a Therapeutic Somatic Coach who's been around the healing block myself, I'd love to share why this type of support has made myself and my clients feel like we've struck gold. Yes, I’m a client myself, and the gratitude I have for my Somatic Coach goes beyond words. So, what makes somatic coaching so effective?
What is somatic healing?
In the realm of wellness, the term "somatic" is gaining traction, but what does it really mean? Traditionally, the mind and body were considered separate entities. However, somatic healing is a modality that integrates the body and mind, recognising that your thoughts are reflections of your feelings and vice versa. While they impact one another, the signals from your body take longer to reach your conceptual mind. This is why the gentleness and spaciousness of a somatic coaching endeavour are so supportive; you are given the time to truly sense what is happening within you, as a somatic being.
Rather than simply talking about the past, healing occurs by noticing your somatic experience as you discuss the topic at hand. The body is where experiences are stored, and addressing these physical sensations can lead to profound shifts. This approach ensures that positive changes stick, as it involves more than just a mental breakthrough. You feel a physical shift from the neck down as well. It transcends mindset hacks or endlessly revisiting the past, which often leaves you more exhausted and less able to find resolution.
Somatic experiencing for trauma healing
Somatic Experiencing, created by Peter Levine, is a holistic and highly effective approach to treating trauma and other stress disorders. Unlike traditional talk therapies, Somatic Experiencing focuses on what is arising within you in the here and now. By tuning into present bodily sensations rather than solely discussing past events, this modality allows for a deeper, more immediate processing of trauma. Developed in the late 1970s, Somatic Experiencing was conceptualised as an alternative to other trauma-focused therapies.
Deb Dana, author of 'Anchored', explains that trauma occurs when an overwhelming experience involves too much happening too quickly, when essential support or resources are inadequate, or when a distressing event persists for an extended period. This perspective aligns with the Polyvagal Theory, which emphasises how our nervous system responds to such events. When the nervous system is overwhelmed beyond its capacity to cope, it struggles to return to a state of safety and balance, leading to stored trauma in the body. This stored trauma often manifests as a physiological response, contributing to chronic stress, anxiety, and other health issues.
Somatic healing in the context of Somatic Coaching helps you discover what genuinely energises and lights you up. It’s not about forcing yourself to be happy but about gently fanning the embers when a sense of safety, joy, and clarity naturally emerge. It's a space where all of you is welcome, and everything you are experiencing is not just valid, but a representation of the ways your body and mind are designed to protect and support you, even when it least feels like it.
Somatic coaching vs somatic therapy
In the realm of somatic healing, it's essential to differentiate between somatic coaching and somatic therapy. Somatic therapy focuses on resolving past traumas that hinder your ability to envision a new future. It deals directly with the pain and memories stored in the body, aiming to release these burdens to move forward. On the other hand, somatic coaching is about inhabiting your body in a way that supports your new future. It helps you feel more present, grounded, and capable in your body, cultivating a new embodied experience, and enabling you to feel greater ease in your everyday life.
The effectiveness of trauma and anxiety repair in my online practice comes from supporting you to find resolution, resilience, and peace in a way that feels right for you. There are layers of safety that continue to emerge as you're supported to heal the inner turmoil and enjoy the shoulder-dropping relief that comes with resourcing the nervous system and directing your inner compass to what feels okay, or better yet, really good.
Somatic exercises for trauma
Practising somatic exercises shifts the focus from thoughts and emotions to physical sensations. Unlike talk therapy or exposure therapy, these body-focused practices aim to develop a strong body/mind connection and enhance emotional regulation. Think of the central nervous system as the motherboard of a computer; maintaining its health is crucial for overall function. Somatic exercises guide you towards a state of safety and regulation, steering you away from anxiety and survival mode. As you practise, you’ll find that obstacles disperse, anxiety loosens its grip, and new layers of inner calm, confidence, and clarity begin to emerge.
Somatic trauma healing toolbox
Complex trauma and Chronic Stress makes navigating daily life challenging. However, by embracing somatic practices, you can find stability, clarity, and a deeper connection to yourself. The goal is to honour your journey and move towards a state of wholeness and inner peace, which is why I've created a Somatic Self-Therapy Toolbox so you can experience simple, engaging and restorative healing practices in you own time. By integrating these tools, you can build a lifelong resource for managing stress and anxiety.
Remember, healing is not about being perfect; it's about recognising and nurturing the strength and resilience within you and pulling on the right support to effectively calm the chaos, soften the struggle and reclaim the ease that is inherent to who you truly are.
Tana J Cohen, Somatic Coach & Embodied
Tana J Cohen, a Trauma Informed Somatic Coach & Embodied Mindfulness Mentor, specialises in uplifting Compassionate Leaders & Changemakers. Facing early sibling bereavement, bullying, and neurodivergence, she overcame severe anxiety, panic attacks, C-PTSD, and burn-out. Utilising her experiences, she dedicated her career to aiding others in healing and self-discovery. Tana's approach in Trauma-Informed Somatic Coaching has guided many to deeper serenity and self-awareness. Her extensive training in mental health and wellbeing underpins her successful client transformations. Dedicated to nurturing growth and healing, Tana enables clients to achieve a seamless balance of wellbeing and inner strength.
