We are uninvited settlers occupying the stolen, territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Qayqayt, and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) peoples. Our relationship with these lands dictates our commitment to understanding the ongoing impacts of colonization and decolonizing our practices in and out of the counselling room.
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You know the saying “mind over matter”? Turns out that’s not usually the best way forward.
Even with solid research and ancient knowing demonstrating how so very important it is to look at mind-body connection in emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and general wellness, it’s so easy to default to shaming yourself for not being able to “get over it” or “let it go” when you “logically understand” something.
Don’t worry - you’re not alone. After all, we’re living the legacy of believing that logic should be valued over emotion, that the mind should be valued over the body. (So many systemic connotations leading to this, but we’ll save it for the newsletter).
“The body is the first geography for the stories we tell.”
Your experiences, particularly traumatic ones, are not just stored in your mind but also in your body.
When we welcome and center the body as an integral source of information and healing, you can experience a change that directly addresses the subconscious, stuck emotions in your body to access your full capacity for emotional processing. In other words, engaging in bodywork from a mind-body connection perspective helps you build skills for nervous system regulation. This can look like naming autonomous sensations, adjusting our body postures, and consciously shifting the way emotions are held in our bodies.
The result? You befriend your nervous system! Your emotions become less taxing, scary, and debilitating, you start to understand yourself on a deeper level, and you have way more information to move your life forward with intentionality, discovering new ways of responding to stress and emotional triggers.
You are not just your mind. Your therapy should address more than your mind too.
In a typical somatic or sensorimotor psychotherapy session in Vancouver, you can expect a combination of verbal dialogue and body-focused exercises. Your therapist may guide you through mindfulness practices to increase awareness of physical sensations. They might also incorporate movement exercises or ask you to pay attention to your posture and breathing. The therapist may encourage you to explore how emotions manifest in your body and help you develop strategies to regulate your nervous system. Throughout the session, you'll be encouraged to stay present with your bodily experiences while processing emotions and memories.
As with all therapies, there are potential impacts to be aware of. General considerations specific to somatic therapy include temporary discomfort as you process difficult experiences with increased bodily awareness. Your therapist will support and guide you through this process of reconnecting with and grounding your body sensations.
All our practitioners have specialized training in and incorporate somatic-based approaches to our work. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to book a free consult with one of our therapists!
No worries! As with every new skill it takes time to build. Your therapist will help walk you through the process and guide you every step of the way.
The number of sessions varies depending on individual goals and needs, but many clients start to notice more global changes after a few sessions. Generally, you can also witness the difference it makes, in the moment, the first time you engage in the process!
While beneficial for many, it's essential to discuss your specific situation with a therapist so they can adapt their approach to your specific needs.
Not really, as long as it’s comfortable and doesn’t significantly restrict your movement, you’re good to go!
There’s no right answer or right way to build a mind-body connection, let yourself free associate! As you practice this form of emotional processing, you start to build a stronger relationship with your body to support you in your unique process for nervous system regulation.
