After studying therapies for many years, I have found that body centred psychotherapy is the best way to help people with emotions like stress, anxiety and depression.

Body psychotherapy (also known in the USA as Somatic Psychotherapy) is a type of counselling that considers both the mind and the body as one. It helps the individual to reduce their emotional distress by addressing physiological tensions and experiences.

All of your experiences start in your body. If stress or discomfort is ignored, it can become overwhelming or affect parts of your life disproportionately.

In our body psychotherapy sessions in Bristol, we focus on your experiences and ways to express yourself. We might talk things through or use other methods like movement, body exercises, touch or art to help you move towards recovery and healing.

This type of somatic therapy can help people who struggle with traditional talking therapy or counselling in Bristol.

Recovery through getting in touch with your body's experience happens in approximately these four stages:

1.  The first is to become aware of and sense your body's experience.
2. The second is naming and labelling your sensations and feelings.
3. The third is bringing compassion and honour to your experience
4. Lastly, we redirect your body's energy to something more positive or resourceful.

• Research has found that the mind is present in the whole body. Information is stored in every cell, and each cell can talk to other cells.
• We can learn new ways to feel less anxious or happier through recent discoveries about the brain in Neuroscience.
• In Somatic Therapy, we work on changing our hidden beliefs by focusing on our bodies. We examine and change strong beliefs like "I am not important" or "No one cares about me," with gentleness, understanding and compassion.
  

Listen to my podcast on healing anxiety, depression, compulsion, and relationship problems through embodiment therapy here: how body psychotherapy works

One of the ways I use somatic psychotherapy evolves from 'Sensory Awareness'. Like Somatic Experiencing and other approaches to body psychotherapy, I direct you to focus on the sensations, images and emotions that come from your body.

This is about understanding how you feel, what you've been through, and the physical sensations you experience. It helps you know yourself better, address your concerns, and acknowledge your strengths.

Paying close attention can make you feel a shift, and more relaxed.  You move on, simply by paying attention.

The body shows that it is strong and capable. We focus on this and explore further. In body psychotherapy, we tap into your body's ability to heal itself.

Notice now, for example, whether your senses are telling you something about this service.

Notice the computer screen, the letters, the words.

Feel your feet on the floor and your back being supported by the chair.

Take time to notice any effect these have on you.

Be aware of the words you have been reading and the ideas that you have read about.

Gently invite yourself to take a moment to look inside.

Are you experiencing any sensations?

If you stay with a sensation for a moment, what is it telling you about this work or yourself?

You may wish to close your eyes for a few moments.

There may be more for you to explore here.

Pay attention to whether your body wants to proceed.

Not everybody has access to these sensations and feelings straight away. Don't worry if this is you, or if you feel panic or freeze. We can work gently with this too.

Click here for a guided embodiment exercise

People often naturally assume that body oriented therapy involves touching the client.

This is not necessarily true. As with other psychotherapeutic approaches, the use of touch is very sensitively handled, and will only be used in the most ethical of circumstances, with trust and assured permission.

Although touch, as well as noise and movement, may also be important in the healing process. Many people have been severely deprived of loving touch. But it will only be used very carefully here. Despite being a trained massage therapist, your psychotherapy sessions with me are extremely unlikely to involve massage or physical manipulation.

Shelley Treacher BACP Accred is trained in working with trauma with body centred psychotherapy and works to a strict ethical framework.