Somatic Psychotherapy
This holistic model works with the whole person, body and mind, thinking, feeling, and sensing.
In-person Somatic Psychotherapy in Halifax, Membertou, and online anywhere in Nova Scotia. Sessions available in English and French.
What is Somatic Psychotherapy?
Somatic Psychotherapy examines your mind, body, spirit and emotions. Past traumas can become trapped in or expressed through your body, especially those experienced during your earliest childhood. Somatic psychotherapy is uniquely able to unlock and release traumas that came before you had words or even visual memories. It is also very helpful for gently releasing traumas or emotions that for one reason or another, you may have suppressed.
Somatic Psychotherapy (also known as Body Psychotherapy) is an approach that integrates current research in neuroscience, body awareness practices from both Eastern and Western cultures, and aspects of Gestalt, Psychodynamic, Relational, and Humanistic therapy traditions.
This holistic model works with the whole person, body and mind, thinking, feeling, and sensing. That means that, at times, the focus will be on your experience at the moment rather than content about a particular recent or past stressor.
Let’s start with a conversation.
Somatic Therapy | Halifax & Membertou, NS
How Somatic Psychotherapy
Can Help You
In addition to exploring thoughts and feelings, as in any therapy, a somatic psychotherapist might also help you explore gestures, bodily tension, and particular physical sensations through mindful awareness, movement, or touch. At times, the focus will be on paying attention to your experience at the moment rather than reflecting on past traumas or stressors. Often this guided compassionate awareness combined with other somatic practices will gently unlock and release long-held restrictions, pain or emotion.
With advances in neuroscience and understanding of how the body stores emotion, there has been an explosion of developments in approaches to somatic psychotherapy. While the approaches differ, they have in common a focus on understanding the relationship between physical sensations and experiences and psychological health. Some of the terms you may hear are names for these different approaches, and may include: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy; Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy (SIFS); Somatic Experiencing Therapy, among others.
Who is Somatic Psychotherapy for?
Somatic Therapy is a powerful technique when used alongside traditional talk therapy. It is beneficial when working with:
- anxiety
- depression
- Trauma (including very early childhood trauma as well as ancestral or cultural trauma)
- self-esteem
- grief
- relationship concerns
- emotional balance issues
Therapy | Membertou & Halifax, NS
Example of questions you might be asked during a session:
What are you noticing in your body?
Are you cut off from particular emotions?
How and where is this cutoff occurring in your body?
Are you overwhelmed by specific emotions?
Are there any places of tension or holding in your body that might be related to experiences you have had in the past or difficulties you are having in your life now?
When you're ready to start, we're ready to walk it with you.
East Coast Psychotherapy & Trauma Clinic
How To Get Started
Here's the first one:
Call
Speak with us to ask questions or to book your consult or session.
Membertou
Halifax
Message
Fill out the contact form, and we'll get back to you within 24-48 business hours to discuss the next steps.
Finding the right fit matters, so our intake team takes the time to understand what you’re looking for before matching you with a clinician. Complete this form to begin.
201 Churchill Drive, Suite 205, Membertou, NS B1S 2M9
Meet us for Somatic Psychotherapy in Membertou and across Cape Breton, with online therapy anywhere in Nova Scotia.
3845 Joseph Howe Dr., Suite 209, Halifax, NS B3L 4H9
Offering in-person Somatic Psychotherapy in Halifax, with online therapy anywhere in Nova Scotia.