When talk therapy is not enough

I’ve spent my share of time in talk therapy. And I learned some fabulous things from it. 

I made connections that really re-framed things about my patterns and relationships, and that knowledge has affected my life for the better.

But often, I’d get to a point where there was something missing. 

I’d talk about the same issues, recognize the same patterns, understand the trauma that initiated the pattern, but somehow, things wouldn’t change.

What I finally grew to understand is that I needed my body to be involved. 

Our trauma can be understood by the brain, but it must be processed and released through the body, because that’s where we store it.

You might think, “But Odelia! The brain is part of the body.”

And you’re be right!

Practices like EMDR work with the brain on a more physical level, rather than simply putting thoughts together. And when I say “body, the brain is part of it.

But that’s not the whole picture.

Here’s an example:

I had a friend who had a flinching response to being touched on the head.

Anyone who went to casually play with her hair, or brush a leaf off that had landed on her head was in for a violent response. She’d cut her own hair since she was a teenager and wouldn’t wear hats.

Why?

Because her father used to knock a magazine on the top of her head as a punishment.

She knew this was why she’d flinch. She’d spent years in therapy processing the trauma mentally. She’d come to a place of forgiveness and acceptance towards her father.

Yet, the physical response remained. Because it needed to be addressed through the body, eventually even touch, in order to actually clear her system.

Luckily, she found Somatic therapy and processed this trauma through her body.

I’m happy to report that she’s now the proud owner of an untriggered head…

If you have issues that are hanging around, even after talk therapy, Somatic Therapy might be a great next step for you.