Bodywork

“The skin is no more separated from the brain than the surface of a lake is separate from its depths: the two are different locations in a continuous medium. To touch the surface is to touch the depths.”
Deane Juhan

Touch is used across a variety of bodywork health professions. Just as cranio-osteopaths, chiropractors and massage therapists use touch, somatic movement therapists/specialists also use touch. In fact, the skilled use of touch is one of the defining features of somatic movement therapies. Qualified practitioners are trained in somatic touch and bodywork processes underpinned by experiential anatomy and physiology.

All bodywork is done fully clothed, and can be done either seated or lying down, whichever feels the most supportive to you. Touch helps my clients become more attuned to their bodily sensations. Many people are disconnected from their bodies, often due to trauma, stress, or habitual patterns of tension. By using touch, I can guide clients to notice and become aware of specific areas of tension, discomfort, or numbness, fostering a deeper connection and awareness of their own bodies.

Touch activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body’s rest-and-digest response. This activation can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety, and promote a state of deep relaxation. This relaxation is crucial for healing and recovery, as it allows the body to enter a state where it can repair and restore itself.

Somatic Experiencing® touch is incredibly useful when working with very deep shock states. Language is sometimes inadequate to access these states. In order for deep reorganization to take place, the tissue states and physical patterns associated with the shock states need to be addressed directly, and the most efficient way to do so is often through touch.

The focus here is on re-regulating the nervous system’s unconscious response to overwhelm which can manifest in conditions such as unresolved chronic pain, shock and anxiety, mood disturbances and difficulty relating to others. 

Somatic touch can help release the somatic (bodily) aspects of trauma. By providing a safe and supportive touch, I can help clients feel secure enough to explore and release traumatic memories and sensations stored in their bodies.

I use touch as a powerful tool to facilitate healing on multiple levels. It helps clients become more aware of their bodies, release physical and emotional tension, reduce stress, recover from trauma, and improve their overall sense of well-being.

Touch in somatic therapy is always applied with mindfulness, consent, and respect for my client’s comfort and boundaries, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for healing.