The Language of Touch – An Overview of Somatic Approach to Trauma Recovery

If you seek relief from mental or physical anguish, you don’t have to go far: a basic human sense – touch – is at the core of ever more popular somatic approach to trauma recovery.

Somatic approach to trauma recovery – the basics

During their lifetime, a person can expect to live through a series of unfortunate events. In times of uncertainty such as ours, adverse circumstances are common and often have a negative effect on our bodies and minds, causing different levels of trauma.

Trauma is a mental condition caused by severe shock accompanied by harmful, usually long-lasting effects and feelings and states such as anxiety, tension, stress, depression, anger, frustration, addiction, anguish, agony, loss, grief, etc.

Apart from our minds, our bodies usually take a tight grip on traumatic past events as well, which is visible in distorted body posture, body language and facial expressions; chronic physical pain; digestive, respiratory and other medical issues; hormonal imbalances; sexual and immune system dysfunctions; trouble sleeping, etc.

Thus, an effective way to heal trauma is through our greatest vessels – both our bodies and minds. The Greek word “soma”, meaning living body, indicates that the somatic approach is based on healing through the body. However, since body and mind are two inseparable parts of every living human being, the somatic approach holistically deals with past traumas through both psychotherapy and physical therapy.

What does it include?

One of the methods that somatic therapists use is titration, which guides the patient through traumatic memories with the help of natural and subtle physical stimuli which may or may not cause physical symptoms of trauma.

The other, pendulated method leads the patient between the states of homeostasis and instability, in which the patient releases the tension and discharges the stress stored by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) through physical symptoms such as nausea, twitching and jerking, skin flushing, etc.

The physical aspect of the somatic approach to trauma recovery means includes practising deep breathing techniques, relaxation exercises, and meditation. Some of the concrete physical activities that include the three factors mentioned are dance (e.g. ballet or modern dance), yoga, pilates, aikido, tai chi, stretching exercises, other kinds of physical exercise and movement, voice work, massage, and healing touch.

Somatic approach to trauma recovery through the power of touch

All living beings, including animals (remember Harlow’s empirical study of primates!), place tremendous value on physical contact and touch. Some of the activities that greatly use the power of touch in somatic approach to trauma recovery are somatic massage, rolfing, the Alexander Technique, and healing touch.

Somatic massage

Somatic massage therapy treats all of the soft bodily tissues: muscles, connective tissues and organs. The act of therapeutically touching and massaging areas affected by traumatic pain has a healing effect and triggers an emotional response.

Rolfing

Rolfing is another holistic somatic method that manipulates muscles and fascia in order to return the nervous system into the state of homeostasis. It involves treatment of the whole body, not just the aching parts, and the goal is to improve body posture and structure, eliminate chronic lingering pain and stiffness, and reveal hidden painful body parts and emotions.

The Alexander Technique

These painless bodywork sessions correct body posture and improve balance and bodily awareness. Patients learn how to recognise when they’re slumping or moving awkwardly. The therapist touches the patient’s neck, shoulders and other relevant areas to discover and eliminate tension.

Healing touch

Healing touch is a somatic therapy that uses gentle, intentional hand techniques to re-balance the patient’s body and mind and to channel their energy field that flows through their body. During the sessions, the healer places their hands slightly above (off-body touch) or on the body of the fully-clothed patient who lies on a massage table or sits in a chair. The healer then scans the body for energy flow and eventually reduces the levels of posttraumatic stress.

Conclusion

The goal of the somatic approach to trauma recovery is to return the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to the state of homeostasis after a period of instability due to past traumas. Using the language and power of touch through various massaging and healing techniques can greatly benefit the patients and reduce the posttraumatic effects on the body and mind.