Written by: Autumn Walsh (She/Her) MSW, LSW, CCTS
If there’s one thing that seems to attract people like bees to honey in the world of psychology, it’s the newest trend in “healing” – somatic therapy. A quick search on social media will render a veritable feast of therapists promising to guide you to self-discovery with just a few simple exercises. You know the ones: the therapist stands, strikes a pose, takes a deep breath, and voila! Instant healing, right? Well, let’s put on our best sarcastic tone and dive deeper, shall we?
First things first, folks. Somatic therapy is not just a few Instagram-worthy moves that you can scroll past while sipping your green smoothie. It’s a profound practice that requires comprehensive training and should ideally be delivered by professionals who know what they’re doing. But, you know, let’s just showcase a couple of “exercises” on TikTok instead. Who needs ethics in therapy anyway?
The Dangers of Oversimplification
Swipe left, and you’ll find videos where a therapist shows how to ground yourself, maybe while pretending to be a flower basking in the sun (yes, I’m serious). Meanwhile, in the real world, somatic therapy encompasses a much more intricate dance between the mind and body, allowing you to reconnect with feelings you might have buried under layers of societal expectations, chilling like a forgotten snack at the back of the fridge.
In all seriousness, while those TikTok exercises might offer a temporary sense of relief and help regulate the nervous system (and yes, a little grounding can go a long way), they barely scratch the surface of what a truly profound somatic therapy session entails. In essence, somatic therapy is like peeling an onion, except instead of tears, you’re creating breakthroughs.
Somatic therapy is rooted in the understanding that our bodies hold onto emotions. As Porges (2011) notes in his work on the Polyvagal Theory, our bodies can react to trauma and stress in ways that keep us stuck in cycles of fear or anxiety. Simply wiggling your fingers isn’t going to uproot that longstanding tension.
Grounding: The Basics
Let’s take grounding, for example. A random personal coach might tell you to feel your feet on the floor, take a few deep breaths, and poof! You’re grounded. But what are you really grounding yourself to? Scientifically, grounding refers to reconnecting with the earth’s energy. This has been shown to stabilize your electrical system, improving your overall well-being (Chevalier, 2012).
Now, let’s imagine you’re in a proper somatic therapy session. A trained therapist would engage with you profoundly, exploring not just the physiological aspects of grounding but also the psychological connections. You would discuss what it means to truly be present, connecting intellectual understanding with bodily awareness. The experience isn’t just about feeling your feet; it’s about understanding your emotional landscape – why you might feel unsteady and where that feeling stems from. You might even do some somatic movement to physically express those feelings in a safe environment.
The In-Depth Exploration
Somatic therapy isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach, either. Each person’s experience is unique and often requires tailored methods to truly heal. It involves techniques such as breath work, movement, and voice,
a mélange of tools which, when wielded by skilled hands, can truly guide someone back to a wholesome relationship with their body. Compare this to the ever-increasing plethora of how-to videos online that can turn grounding into a mere exercise in futility.
Now, we bear witness to what happens when therapists take a backseat and let the internet teach them. An example that screams for attention is the way grounding is presented as an instantaneous fix online, which could make you believe that spiritual and emotional wellness is just a millennial hack away. In the world of intricate somatic therapy, however, grounding isn’t just a technique; it’s an ongoing practice that often involves peeling away at layers of trauma and learning to trust one’s body again, which is admittedly a longer and more uncomfortable process.
Ethical Concerns in the Field
And let me say, for every “somatic therapist” out there posting their delightful little moves while sporting a trendy outfit, there’s a legitimate, well-trained professional shaking their head. Ethically speaking, providing snippets of therapy without a proper understanding of the complexities can lead to more harm than good. It requires extensive training to navigate the bodily narratives and emotional memories we all carry (Levine, 2010).
While those adorable grounding exercises you can find online may offer quick, feel-good sensations, real somatic therapy is about so much more than a drink-in-hand, floating-with-the-flowers experience. It involves a deep, synchronized exploration of the mind-body connection—a responsible excavation of emotional roots that can’t be done flippantly in front of a camera.
So next time you come across a video promising to ground you faster than you can say “healing,” maybe consider looking beyond the quick fixes and finding a true somatic therapist. Your body—and mind—will thank you for it.
Make an appointment with one of our therapists in Pittsburgh, PA, by emailing info@elementspgh.com or calling 412-587-6020.
The information contained in this blog does not replace professional treatment or diagnosis and is for educational purposes only.
References
Chevalier, G. (2012). Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?
Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachments, Communication, and Self-Regulation.
