Embodiment: Why our Body is the Key to Healing

As a New York City Somatic Experiencing therapist, I get many calls from prospective clients expressing concerns regarding previous experiences in therapy where they either felt like nothing was changing or that things had shifted to a certain extent. However, they have reached a roadblock in their healing journey. After all, there is only so much self-awareness one can gain.

Does awareness create change if one's internal systems work at odds?

These systems can show up as triggers, such as intrusive thoughts, anxiety, a sense of urgency, feelings of hypervigilance, dysregulation, or dissociation. Even though one may know that logically they are okay, they can still experience a sense of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn coming online.

When clients report the limitations of talk therapy and how things are not changing, this can indicate that there is too much emphasis on the thinking mind and insufficient work being done with the body-- that is where transformation starts.

What is embodiment?

Embodiment is the mind-body connection. According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, embodied cognition is the understanding that the human body and its interaction with the physical environment affect the human mind. When embodied, we feel connected to our environment, thoughts, sensations, and energies around us; our experience does not simply stop in our head; it shows up in our felt sense.

Why is embodiment necessary for your healing?

Embodiment is essential for healing because to process and move through trauma and complicated emotions fully, the body must tolerate the distress and move the energy outwards (in somatic experiencing, this is called discharge).

Embodiment and somatic therapy are essential for those disconnected from their bodies but have a lot of self-awareness. These individuals know that what they are doing is not helpful; however, the body begins the automatic response cycle on its own. The nervous system is off to protect itself, which can cause reactive behaviors or unpleasant sensations, leading to further distress.

We can not simply think our way out of these physical responses but have to build internal resourcing for distress tolerance and release.

For example, people begin to feel anxiety and critical thoughts about themselves as they enter a social situation; thus, they choose to disengage and keep to themselves. Logically, they may understand that no one knows their anxiety and everyone is in their conversations and headspace. However, this person's body is still hyperactive to protect themselves from fear of embarrassment or rejection (intrusive thought + anxiety sensations in the body).

How does somatic experiencing therapy aid healing?

Somatic experience is a body-first approach; instead of using words to make meaning, release happens during an embodied practice with the therapist.

A somatic session helps you track your nervous system for when there is a spike and settling. For instance, when a client is telling a story, the somatic therapist may direct them to notice their body and current experience in the moment. They track those sensations as they continue their story, creating the mind-body connection and helping unlock embodiment to bring more awareness to the present.

Once that mind-body connection is achieved, the client can begin to work directly on releasing the stored trauma within their bodies; this is called "completing" the trauma response. This is done by slowing down and allowing the body to exercise its innate knowledge after creating a safe container within the therapeutic space and internal system. This allows one's nervous system to create more capacity to regulate and shift towards more adaptive responses, sensations, and meaning.

How can you practice embodiment outside of somatic experiencing therapy?

You can practice embodiment right now! As you read this article, how are you feeling in your body? Are your five senses online (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch)? If so, what are you noticing there? How's the temperature in your room? Are you here, or are you distracted?

Embodiment can be practiced daily by slowing down and noticing what's around you externally and what's going on inside, both feelings and sensations. You don't need to designate long periods to create that mind-body connection; start by asking yourself, "What am I noticing right now?"

Activities that can also help with embodiment can include:

Dancing

Stretching/Yoga

Walking

Visualization

Meditation

In conclusion

Embodiment can help us work through the parts of ourselves that are scary and messy, find self-compassion, and feel a sense of connection to ourselves and those around us. We can't go back and change the past, but reorganizing how we share our stories, the visceral experience in our telling, and extending love to ourselves is vital to more healthy behaviors and building resiliency and kindness within ourselves.

You are welcome to learn more about my approach to therapy and contact me for your embodied healing journey today.

Learn more about my approach to therapy and somatic experiencing.

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