What is Somatic Counselling?

I understand the concept of Somatic Counselling a little, however, can you say more about this style of work?

We all understand that our bodies are more than taxis for our brains and so it’s curious that traditional counselling doesn't take much interest in the body and explores the mind exclusively.  There are some fascinating and forceful experts in the field challenging this limited view and inviting therapists and clients alike to look further than their thoughts and behaviours for healing.  We are multi-faceted and so a multi-faceted approach to mental as well as physical health seems sensible to allow a fully-rounded healing pattern to emerge. After all, health means whole and that’s what many of us are looking for in our pathway to self-discovery and understanding.

Through Embark, I have approached therapy from the other side, from the bottom up as some would say, having worked in the field of the body for over 15 years through teaching yoga, movement, meditation and breath work. What I have come to understand is that people are drawn to health, they are magnets attempting to attach themselves to things that feel good, however powerful the cultural pull is against it.

I often wonder why we tolerate the traditional medical model that divides us up into easily manageable pieces that are rarely put together as a complete picture. We might go to the doctor for our medical needs, to a counsellor for our mental health needs and to a church or religious group for our spiritual needs.  When did parts of us all become auctioned off and why?  It’s a question begging to be asked and beginning to be answered by many forward-thinking practitioners in various fields from medicine, science, yoga, philosophy, and psychology.  I like to think of myself as part of this progressive movement, seeking wholeness for every individual and looking at the bigger picture to do so.

Can you explain the process to me? 

There’s a great book by Dr Gabor Mate called ‘The Myth of Normal’ where he argues that normal doesn’t exist.  That’s how most contemporary psychotherapists or counsellors view things. We are all individuals and however similar our experiences or life events might have been, our reactions, responses and subsequent behaviours might, or will, be very different.  So too will our pathway to discovering and understanding how the impressions we have absorbed over our lives have had their impact and moulded us into the person we are now.  

So, the process, when you come to me for therapy, will be approached from that starting point. That you are an individual, potentially struggling with or wishing to understand your various drivers. I’ll be there to support you as you shine a light into both your past as well as your present to see what’s going on for you and how you might be able to better manage your circumstances or thinking.  You might not immediately see much difference between my approach and that of another therapist. However, I’ll be there to point out what I notice in your body as much as in your words and to keep your physical experiences as valid as those you think or talk about.  That sick feeling in your belly, clammy palm, or tightness in your neck, in my mind, has something to say, a reason for being there.  Together in the therapy room, we act as detectives to uncover what messages might be there for us to read into and learn from.

I’ve been trained in a very progressive way through the unique Personal Consultancy model that considers a 360-degree view of every person.  Integrating many aspects of traditional counselling that investigate your past impressions and childhood events whilst maintaining a steady footing in the present to keep you aware of your bodily sensations and here-and-now experiences. The model then goes one step further to support you by looking into your future vision and aspirations. Brilliant techniques and methods from the coaching world can be brought in to help you envision how you can move forward with your life with purpose and meaning.

As any good therapist or life explorer, I’m always keen to learn more and so am excited to be enrolled on the Level 1 IFS Training to add this exciting new modality of therapy into my work. IFS offers a unique, powerful and healing perspective on our inner landscape, our Inner Family System. I’m curious about the role the ‘Self’ has to play in IFS and how this links to my background and foundation in yoga philosophy and spiritual understanding.

What can I expect from a session? / What type of Somatic Therapy will you practise?

As I have mentioned, the start of your therapy might feel the same as any other visit to a therapist.  We will both be comfortably seated and ready to talk and explore all dimensions of you.  You might come in with a very specific issue you want to better understand, a bereavement or other painful life event for example. Or you might want to shift a particular mood or prevailing experience you feel is affecting your life, such as anxiety or depression.  The difference is ‘how’ we explore these things whilst allowing your body to speak in its own way, through its own unique language, as well as your mind to convey its many parts and components.

We will investigate your emotions as well as your thoughts and dive into your gut intelligence, examining your instinctive urges and limitations. We will take a holistic view of you and together gain a more rounded perspective on what is going on for you and why.  During some sessions, talking might feel like the only sensible approach to set the scene and establish the facts. We might then move into some grounding techniques of breath and body scanning to root you into the present moment and support your deeper dive into the unconscious. We could explore some meditation techniques to steady your thoughts and shift your central nervous system, as well as brain waves, into a more peaceful and manageable pace. 

There might also be an occasional need or urge to stand up and move, to stretch, feel into or rest our bodies.  Finally, I enjoy adding some creative approaches to our work together to help you tap into your unconscious mind and explore your world through the different languages of expression.  My first career was in the arts, and I am often awed by the power of images over words, of a visual language to convey so much more than a linear sentence can ever achieve. I am trained in Sand Tray therapy and find the use of miniatures within the sand can lead to powerful insight, exploration and understanding.  Every stage will be discussed together and only incorporated into our sessions if and when you, as the client, feel totally on board and willing to explore with curiosity and courage.

What kind of problems does it help?

I can’t think of a problem this won’t help with. It’s a fully-rounded holistic approach that looks at you as a unique individual and explores how you have come to be the very person you are now.  It might conclude with the very empowering realisation that you are perfect just as you are and there is no need to change. You might discover something hidden about yourself that offers a powerful insight into your responses and reactions, or you might approach the work through the coaching lens, seeking a new way to be and a new future vision.     

The relationship between the client and therapist is of tantamount importance and discussing whether working together is benefitting you will be encouraged.  I would like to add that some more complex, chronic mental health conditions such as bipolar or schizophrenia are better handled through the expertise of a medically trained and experienced psychiatrist.

What are the benefits?

I am often heard saying these two words in my work as a teacher and therapist, ‘curiosity’ and ‘calibration’.  I feel these two powerful qualities have benefitted me greatly over my life and carried me through all the rollercoaster highs, lows, twists, and turns of human existence. 

I actively choose to be curious about myself: why am I thinking this, what made me do this, why am I happy/sad about this, what does this all mean?   I need to be curious about myself to know what is going on and only then can I make conscious choices about whatever I might decide to change.  Then I feel I have the ability to re-calibrate myself back to homeostasis, to balance where everything is more regulated, manageable and steady.

These qualities feel important to share and encourage in my clients.  To help you, as a client to be curious about yourself and not shy away from the challenging, difficult, or equally awesome and powerful parts of yourself.

My training and experience in both counselling and also coaching allow you to build strong foundations of understanding your past drivers, impressions and experiences that have shaped your present as well as start to build a new vision for your future with your values, goals and aims firmly in your sight.

I'm self-conscious and have never done anything like this before - will I feel comfortable?

It is the primary job of any therapist to help you feel comfortable. It’s only through safety that we can surrender and surrendering our thoughts, feelings and innermost expressions is an act of bravery and courage.   

I suggest you go slow, trust yourself and only take baby steps forward until you feel secure enough to take a deeper dive into the hidden depths of your inner landscape. None of us after all were born yesterday and it’s unhelpful, and even unsafe, to expect all our our protective defences to fall away instantly.  Trust yourself and your feelings, allow the work to unfold and only go at the pace that feels safe, held and manageable. 

Does it work alongside other therapies/medication?

You will be asked to complete an assessment form before any work is begun and this will include questions about your medical history.  Remember I, like most counsellors and psychotherapists, are not medically trained and so cannot, and certainly should not, offer any medical advice. Should your form reveal anything that might raise a question or concern you’ll be asked to have a conversation with your GP before starting therapy.

How many sessions will I need?

This will be an important part of our first conversation together. We might agree to contract for a certain set number of sessions, typically 12, meeting weekly.  Alternatively, we might discuss a period of a few months, a season, or a school term.  However, it is equally possible that we agree to start and see how the work develops. 

We will agree not to end too abruptly and will regularly review where we are at, the changes or benefits noticed and where we might want to go next.  

I charge £68 per hour, and we will meet for the full hour, 60 minutes.

OK, I’m interested, what next?

Do get in touch to arrange a FREE discovery call and we can see where your journey will take you! Email Lucy  

You can also find me on the BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists) Register, Number 400493. View Lucy on the BACP website or on the Counselling Directory

Final word…

I’m excited to be offering Somatic Counselling in Tunbridge Wells through Embark and look forward to hearing from you.  The future is bright….