Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles, California
According to Dictionary.com, the word “somatic” is defined as of or relating to the body, especially as distinguished from the soul, mind, psyche, or the environment. In the field of psychology, somatic means a feeling. The study of somatic therapy focuses on the mind-body connection. It specifically targets the relationship between our body structures and how it affects our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Montare Behavioral Health offers somatic therapy in Los Angeles, California to help treat each of these aspects of ones being.
The mind-body connection phenomenon proves that when a person experiences stressors, the causes, development, and outcomes of physical and mental illness such as anxiety and depression are determined by the integration of biological, environmental, and social factors. These affect the following:
- Your decision-making, behavior, and ability to manage feelings
- Self-awareness and self-esteem
- Your overall psychological well-being
- Relationships with others at work and home
- Ability to learn and develop positive coping skills
Someone’s overall health can be affected by good and bad stress due to life events. These life events often include marriage/divorce, breakups, promotion/lay-off, being in rush hour traffic, meeting deadlines, having unrealistic expectations, and interpersonal relationships.
What is Somatic Therapy?
When a person’s body responds to stress or experiences, it takes a serious toll on all aspects of their life. Somatic therapy in Los Angeles, CA is used to facilitate the resolution of both trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) responses. As a form of psychotherapy and intervention, this method aims to engage body awareness. In addition, it addresses the connections between the brain, the mind, and behavior. Also, known as body psychotherapy or body-oriented psychotherapy, somatic psychotherapy is a modality highly focused on the mind-body connection and is the largest branch of its kind.
Essential to the therapeutic process, believers in somatic psychology see the mind and body as one entity. It is said, that the right environment and social interactions result in a positive experience, and most importantly, will help a person heal and grow faster. When this process is conducted correctly, the mind-body connection becomes stronger and regulated as time goes on.
How Does Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles, California Work?
Past traumatic experiences and other psychological issues can harm a person’s autonomic nervous system. Therefore, for individuals who experience emotional and psychological problems, it is common that they also suffer from physical concerns such as sexual dysfunction, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, or muscular tension in parts of the body such as the neck, shoulders, head, and stomach. As the main goal of our Los Angeles somatic therapy is to find the connection between a person’s body and mind, therapists believe a person’s inner feelings impact their physical health. Therefore, they use techniques such as mind-body exercises to help release built-up anger and trauma.
What To Expect During Somatic Therapy?
Traditional forms of psychotherapy or talk therapy can usually address various mental and emotional health issues. However, therapists who specialize in somatic therapy believe they can help people address their deeper emotional problems quicker, and get to the root of the issue by paying close attention to communication through someone’s body language, as opposed to just talking.
During somatic therapy sessions here in Los Angeles, people will be encouraged to reflect on their patterns of behavior and identify what emotions, experiences, or concerns may have impacted their decisions. By utilizing certain therapeutic techniques, individuals have successfully been able to release the pent-up tension and stress that has wreaked havoc on their bodies. These methods of somatic therapy include:
- Physical/Grounding Exercises
- Dance/Movement
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Massage
- Voice Work
To help those who are suffering better manage their symptoms, and identify triggers, our mental health specialists at Montare Behavioral Health, most importantly, teach people how to become more aware of their bodies and the sensations they feel.
The Benefits of Our Los Angeles Somatic Therapy at Montare Behavioral Health
There are many benefits of somatic psychotherapy. Everyone has unique needs. Therefore, our team at Montare creates customized treatment plans to assist people on their journey of recovery. We help people effectively reach their goals to have access to the quality life and health that they deserve. People undergo somatic therapy as a part of their Los Angeles based treatment regimen to specifically achieve the following:
- Help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Improve regulation of emotions
- Address relationship concerns
- Improve self-expression and communication skills
At Montare, our team also utilizes somatic psychotherapy to help our patients improve their self-esteem and self-awareness. As a result, this leads to an improved sense of self, increased awareness and exploration of the body. It also helps reduce stress levels, and improve connection/relationship with others.
Who are the Best Candidates for Our Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles, CA?
The use of body-oriented counseling is an essential part of an integrated treatment approach, specifically treating people with trauma. Somatic therapy not only treats PTSD but can help address a wide range of mental health issues, such as Borderline Personality Disorder, also known as BPD. As mentioned before, this also includes physical and emotional concerns. The best candidates for our Los Angeles based somatic therapy are people who have mental health conditions that need to be treated with more conventional approaches that will provide holistic healing, meaning treat the whole person, not just their symptoms (mind, body, spirit).
Begin Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles, California Today
With the help of a licensed therapist, a person can better manage the trauma and physical tension in their body. This helps each person experience better mental health and improved quality of life. To learn more about our Los Angeles somatic therapy and if you or a loved one is suffering from mental health problems, contact us today! We look forward to helping you get your life back on track.
