SOMATIC PSYCHOLOGY

Somatic psychology is a new therapy that is all inclusive of the body mind connection to the senses thus stimulating emotional content in the human capacity. A somatic therapist is trained to read and understand gestures, movements, body language and has a keen intuition, which helps in developing the cognitive restructuring. During a session I may witness the way you move and ask you to tell me what you’re feeling in a certain part of your body, to track energy movements and to release pockets of pressure and stored negativity or have you hit a pillow and scream or have you breathe consistently. Once you are trained to listen to your body your mind responds more consciously. The body in its own right is designed to process psychological and emotional information. Somatic psychology trains individuals to develop sharp intuitive skills so that the body voice is present in all that you do. This is a way of gaining control of your own life. The body is designed to heal from its own powers. I keep you more focused inward rather than on the external forces that sometimes are false.  Subconscious memories are repressed within the somatic body and can only connect to the conscious mind through sensory awareness attention. If the body holds onto trauma and old uncomfortable memories the personality takes a turn and can affect the behavior and mind differently than what its natural self is. Authentic behaviors are stored in the neurological and central nervous systems. Other areas that I look at are the ocular system, voice intonation, pains, posture, movement energy, and style of life. All of this helps me assess what is going on in your body history


REICHIAN ORGONE BREATH

Reichian therapy comes from Wilhelm Reich, M.D. a respected analyst who focused on character structure rather than on individual neurotic symptoms. He authored “The Function of Orgasm” which teaches that sexuality is the center around which revolves the whole of social life and inner life of the individual. He believed that taking the time in the lovemaking process and having extended long lasting orgasms reduced the body armor in the muscles and liberated the autonomic nervous system.  He believed that there was a link between human sexuality and neurosis as the foremost criterion for psycho-physical health. He discovered the “orgone” energy that permeated the atmosphere and all living matter. He believed that unreleased  psychosexual energy could produce actual physical blocks within muscles and organs and these act as “body armor”, preventing the release of the energy. An orgasm was a way to break the armor. These ideas developed into a general theory of the importance of a healthy sex life to overall well-being.  Reich discovered that emotional disorders were the cause of disturbed natural breathing patterns. Orgone energy breath therapy restores the natural pulsation and balances out the psycho-emotional being.  Alex Lowen, M.D. followed in the path of Reich and  developed  “bioenergetics” stress exercises to compliment the orgone energy breath. These exercises reduce blockage and connect the relationship of the breath to the feelings of the body.

 
MUSCULAR ARMORING

Muscular armor refers to chronic tension in the musculature which blocks the natural flow of feelings/emotions through the body. Reich found that direct work on the musculature along with breathing encouraged and allowed  individuals to experience the blocked emotions. If the cut-off of feelings occurs often enough the tension of the muscles, which holds back the feeling, will become chronic and this is muscular armoring. During a session an “emotional discharge” or “emotional release” is experienced; this is the energy flow that was blocked by the muscular tension. After a full discharge the body is relaxed and often expansive in its movement; the body’s natural pulsation has been restored.