Somatic Therapy Melbourne Specialist. Experience Something Different.
Somatic Therapy such as Focusing Oriented Therapy, IFS or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy in Australia is reshaping the therapy world. As a Somatic Therapist, I will work with you through depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship struggles, using this modality. Somatic Therapy is truly a profound and integrative way in working with challenges.
If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy, or looking for something which takes a more holistic approach, my somatic therapy practice may be of interest. I really love this approach, as it offers a complete different way in working with my clients.
While I still incorporate traditional “talk” therapy, the integration of somatic therapy offers an incredible paradigm shift in working and understanding and working through emotions.
Somatic Therapy – A glimpse into: Somatic Therapy, Focusing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and IFS
Somatic therapy is a type of holistic therapy which focuses on a process known as introperception. It’s a fancy word, but in short, it’s the process of navigating and having an awareness to nuanced sensations that are within the body.
How is that helpful? Normally, we think our way out of problems. And while the mind is an amazing tool, it has its shortcomings.
When emotions get in the way, our mind tends to spiral us down even more into our thoughts.
Somatic therapy, uses the wisdom of the body to help understand what is painful. Essentially, the story we tell ourselves, is predominantly influenced by the state of our nervous system, through a process call neuroception. By learning to navigate, relate, and explore to emotions that are in the body, we can experience what is known as a “felt shift”.
Somatic Therapy, releases trauma from the body that is “trapped”. The sensation when the body returns to back to its resting place can be very liberating. The end result, is a therapy that get’s to the core problem much faster. This allows for changes occur at the neurobiological level.
This combined with traditional talk therapy also creates change at the cognitive and behavioural levels as well.
What to expect in
Melbourne ‘s
Somatic Therapy
- An approach which is non-judgmental manner to help you connect with your own body
- A collaborative approach in a safe environment to explore difficult traumas and emotions
- An acceptance of your life’s experience, which will help you find the steps to make your own lasting changes
- You will have a greater awareness of the emotions you hold within
- A better understanding of your physical reactions to your emotions
- Significant reduction in stress and anxiety
- You will gain improved resilience
Services I offer:
I am a
I can help with a variety of issues, including trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, and grief. My practice has many different focuses, such as trauma,LGBT counselling, marriage counselling, and relationship counselling.
How do I conduct therapy sessions?
I offer a few options: in-person therapy at my
Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes long, and deeper work may require sessions that 80 minutes.
I offer a free 20-minute initial consultation. Book your first appointment now with a somatic counsellor in
Somatic Experiential Therapy, Focusing Oriented Psychotherapy and Sensorimotor psychotherapy
The somatic therapy movement, has its roots with Eugene Gendlin, who developed a style of therapy called Focusing Oriented Therapy.
Throughout somatic therapy, I will encourage you to increase your emotional and sensory awareness. You will develop greater awareness of the tension you have been holding in your body since the trauma occurred. The somatic experienital approach holds that traumatic experiences can cause a dysfunction of the nervous system, which prevents the sufferer from fully processing the trauma.
As a somatic therapist in
Focusing Oriented Therapy – A Somatic Experience
Focusing Oriented Therapy (FOT) is a key healing technique that I use as a somatic therapist in my practice with clients in FOT has similarities to other somtic therapies such as IFS, or parts work, focusing on releasing trauma held within the body.
It is a person-centered therapy based on the belief that people already possess the answers they need to solve their problems.
The FOT therapy that I use is grounded in what is called focusing theory, which focuses on the on the internal experience.
Somatic Therapy & The Felt Sense
A central concept of Focusing, an FOT concept, is the felt sense. Connecting with the felt sense during FOT can be an important guide to your emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
As a somatic therapist I will help you to develop awareness of your body’s felt sense.
This is done by directing attention towards an internal landscape that dips below the conscious mind.
With the use of focusing techniques, I will guide you through a somatic experiential process.
This process can assist in creating a visceral felt shift as the nervous system restores and returns back home.
The body has its own innate wisdom. It knows what it needs.
I will work with you to assist you in acknowledging and affirming both the knowledge and emotions that your body possesses, which will benefit you in your emotional journey.
Embracing Wholeness through Somatic Therapy
In the bustling city of Melbourne, a unique and transformative approach to psychotherapy has been gaining recognition and reshaping the landscape of mental health care. Somatic therapy, is deeply rooted in the principles of parts work or inner child therapy, has emerged as a powerful modality that delves into the intricacies of the human mind and body to foster healing and self-discovery.
Understanding Somatic Therapy
Somatic Therapy is a therapeutic model that goes beyond traditional psychotherapy approaches by conceptualizing the mind as a complex system composed of different parts. These parts, akin to distinct personalities or subpersonalities, play unique roles in shaping an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The primary goal of somatic therapy is to help individuals explore and harmonize these internal parts, ultimately promoting a sense of wholeness and balance.
Central to the Somatic Therapy framework is the belief that every person possesses a core, inherently healthy and compassionate self. This self is the source of wisdom, clarity, and harmony, but it often becomes obscured by the protective mechanisms and coping strategies of various parts. The therapeutic journey in somatic therapy involves uncovering and understanding these parts, facilitating a dialogue among them, and reintegrating them under the guidance of the core self.
Somatic Therapy and the Body-Mind Connection
Somatic therapy, emphasizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body. In my therapy practice in Melbourne, the incorporation of somatic therapy techniques is particularly relevant. Somatic therapy recognises that trauma and emotional experiences are not solely stored in the mind but are also imprinted in the body. Through mindful attention to bodily sensations, movement, and breath, individuals can access and process these stored emotions, facilitating a holistic and lasting healing process.
The unique synergy between in somatic therapy allows individuals to explore and integrate their internal parts not only through verbal expression but also through non-verbal cues and physical sensations. This integrated approach acknowledges that emotions and memories are not confined to cognitive realms but are embodied experiences that demand recognition and release.
Parts Work: Navigating the Internal Landscape
The core concept of parts work revolves around identifying and understanding the various internal parts that contribute to an individual’s psychological makeup. These parts often emerge as protective mechanisms developed in response to past traumas, challenges, or unmet needs. By recognizing and engaging with these parts, individuals can dismantle the barriers that hinder personal growth and self-compassion.
It feels like sometimes there’s more than four seasons in on day in Melbourne. It can be past paced. Yet it can also be very isolating. Mixing these two can make it hard to really see what lays beneath the surace. Somatic Therapy, is indeed very relevant in Melbourne. It provides a non-pathologizing lens through which these experiences can be explored. Through the process of parts work, clients can develop a deep sense of curiosity and compassion toward their internal selves, fostering a space for self-discovery and healing.
The therapist, often referred to as a guide or companion in the somatic therapy framework, collaborates with the client to navigate the internal landscape. Together, they work to identify and understand the roles and motivations of different parts, gradually building a harmonious relationship among them. This collaborative exploration allows clients to develop a more nuanced understanding of their own psyche, empowering them to make conscious choices aligned with their core values and aspirations.
Advantages of Somatic Therapy over Traditional Approaches
1. Holistic Healing:
Somatic therapy offers a holistic approach to healing by recognizing and addressing the interconnectedness of mind and body. Traditional therapeutic modalities often focus predominantly on cognitive processes, potentially overlooking the somatic manifestations of emotional experiences. Somatic Therapy, with its emphasis on parts work and somatic awareness, ensures a more comprehensive and enduring healing process.
2. Empowerment through Self-Compassion:
The non-pathologizing nature of IFS fosters self-compassion and self-acceptance. By viewing internal parts as adaptive responses to life circumstances, individuals are less likely to judge or stigmatize themselves. In the multicultural city of Melbourne, where diversity is celebrated, Somatic Therapy provides a framework that respects and honors the uniqueness of each person’s internal world.
3. Integration of Traumatic Experiences:
Somatic therapy facilitates the integration of traumatic experiences stored in the body. Traditional talk therapies may struggle to address the visceral impact of trauma, whereas somatic approaches provide a pathway for individuals to release and process these emotions physically. This integration allows for a more complete and transformative healing journey.
4. Enhanced Self-Awareness:
The dynamic interplay between verbal and non-verbal communication in IFS fosters a heightened sense of self-awareness. Clients in Melbourne, a city known for its cultural vibrancy, benefit from a therapeutic approach that accommodates various ways of expressing and understanding oneself. The combination of parts work and somatic therapy enhances the depth and richness of self-exploration.
5. Long-Term Resilience:
By addressing the root causes of challenges through parts work and somatic therapy, Somatic Therapy equips individuals with long-term resilience. Instead of merely managing symptoms, clients in Melbourne can develop a profound understanding of their internal dynamics, enabling them to navigate life’s complexities with greater self-assurance and adaptability.
Conclusion: Transformative Possibilities in Melbourne and Beyond
In the heart of Melbourne, Somatic Therapy offers a transformative approach to healing. By embracing the principles of parts work and inner child world, somatic therapy opens doors to profound self-discovery, compassion, and resilience.
Somatic Therapy, with its innovative integration of parts work and somatic therapy, stands at the forefront of this evolution, providing a roadmap for individuals to navigate their internal landscapes and rediscover the harmony within. In a world where the mind and body dance in synchrony, somatic therapy offers a journey towards wholeness and self-compassion.
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