Relieve levels of stress, anxiety, depression and tension with Somatic Psychotherapy
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.
D. H. Lawrence
The body-unconscious is where life bubbles up in us. It is how we know that we are alive…
Emotion
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Anger
- Sadness
- Depression
- Grief
- Fear
Physiological Distress
- Developmental Trauma
- Immobilisation or Freeze
- Dissociation
- Panic attacks
- Overwhelm
- Collapse
- Fawning
Affects
- Relationship issues
- Family dynamics
- Work problems
- Sexual or intimacy concerns
- Isolation and loneliness
- Low self-esteem
- Trust
Destructive Coping mechanisms
- Unhealthy behaviour patterns
- Compulsions
- Addictions
- Illness
- Anger outbursts
- Affairs or Betrayal
- Avoidance
How to Deal with Anxiety or Depression Through Somatic Psychotherapy
Recovery through getting in touch with your body's experience happens in approximately these four stages:
- The first is to become aware of and sense your body's experience.
- The second is naming and labelling your sensations and feelings.
- The third is bringing compassion and honour to your experience
- Lastly, we redirect your body's energy to something more positive or resourceful.
Healing through body psychotherapy
- 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
Mel
I found Shelley via her podcast on emotional eating, I listened to a couple of episodes and found her analysis and advice helpful and something I could relate to – so I looked her up and found that she did 121 sessions online. I was embarrassed to talk to anyone about how big this issue was in my life, but Shelley was so non-judgemental and kind, the sessions were always productive and genuinely useful. Shelley really understood how all-consuming this issue was for me and I’m so grateful for her advice and wisdom – I just wish I’d met her years ago! I’d recommend her to anyone who has a long-standing issue with emotional eating.
Ruari
Working with Shelley on my various issues, has been truly one of the most profound experiences of my life. It’s up there with my Mum first teaching me to write my name as a small child. My inner child will be forever grateful to you for helping me to connect with him, and to gain the understanding to use equally important tools as my mum’s earliest lesson, to enrich and expand my life.
Ali
I needed to process several years of traumatic experiences and I needed to regain some strength in myself… Your approach really helped me, I find you really warm and supportive and also really smart and insightful.
Karen
Thanks for helping me to make better friends with my body.
Angie
This Therapy has cut through the crap for me. Something happens in every session. What I’ve got from it is a sense of myself.
Annabel
I feel enlightened by the discovery that my inner sense can be my guide.
Abi
Shelley gave me the support I’d needed for a very, very long time. I also got a deeper insight into how I deal with things and how to do things differently. I learnt to appreciate my strengths and what I already do well…I learnt how to look after myself better…It helped me adapt to a very limited life (due to disability).
What does a body psychotherapist do?
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.
Try somatic psychotherapy here
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.
A brief word about touch in body centred psychotherapy
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.
