Traumatic experiences leave their imprints on every aspect of your being – mental, emotional, and physical. Yet, traditional therapy methods for treating the effects of trauma generally start with (and are often limited to) cognitive and emotional therapy. In recent times, the interconnectedness of mind and body has encouraged new approaches to the old problem of unresolved trauma. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is one of them. Rather than beginning with the mind, we begin with the body and its connections with the mental and emotional wounds you have experienced. This does not eliminate the need for emotional and cognitive therapy, rather it is added to these important therapies.
Who Might Benefit from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?
Women who seek out Sensorimotor Psychotherapy may or may not have been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Many have tried cognitive therapy to gain healing from past trauma but found it either ineffective or a painful emotional process. Because Sensorimotor Psychotherapy taps into traumatic memories through the physical symptoms as well as the cognitive and emotional, many women find adding this therapy approach less stressful and more complete in its healing. Women who choose this therapy method may have:
issues related to sexual arousal
psychosomatic pain
disassociated physical or emotional responses
unexplained symptoms of anxiety
panic attacks
How Does Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Work?
This therapy begins by learning to listen closely to your body. We start with the physical because that is the most foundational understanding of every human being. The first understanding of the world for infants is the physical.
Our physical experiences tell us what is safe versus what is dangerous, what brings comfort versus discomfort. It is the simplest, most basic type of understanding we have. It is the source of our automatic reflexes like catching yourself when you are falling, shutting your eyes when a projectile is heading toward you. All of our other more complex forms of understanding and response are built on and proceed out from the physical.
Since trauma effects mind, emotions and body, it can be difficult to untangle the messages we are receiving from these three areas. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy will help you to distinguish the physical from the emotional and cognitive aspects of an experience. As your physical self-awareness grows, you will be guided into healing exercises that begin at the physical level and integrate with the cognitive and emotional levels of therapy.
The goal is a more complete and thorough healing of the wounds and current effects of trauma.
You may have additional questions about this therapy or others I offer. I would be happy to discuss your needs with you in a free consultation. Please contact me.