Bring your body into Therapy

“The body speaks what the mind suppresses.” Author Unknown

Our bodies are a well of information that is sometimes neglected in therapy. We often notice – and sometimes ignore – pains, discomfort or unusual feelings in our body. These sometimes have a purely physical explanation, while other sensations in our body might be linked to unexpressed emotion, or even suppressed memories. Have you ever had a good talk, or a good cry and your body felt lighter and less tense? Do you notice that you sit, walk, or fidget differently when you are stressed, tired, nervous or overwhelmed?

In recent years there has been a growing appreciation among therapists, particularly trauma therapists, of the value of paying attention to client’s and therapist’s bodies in the therapeutic process. Leading therapists including Babette Rothschild, Bessel Van Der Kolk, and Gabor Matte have written about the role of our bodies in “Experiencing trauma, Suppressing trauma, and Processing trauma”.

Trauma is not always dramatic. Trauma can be any experience that overwhelms our ability to cope in the moment. It can be a singular experience – such as being attacked by an animal – or something that happens over time – like chronic financial stress. Trauma can affect our bodies in a multitude of ways: impaired sleep, pain, discomfort, tension, holding one’s body differently as well as changing our relationship to our body.

In my training in Dance Movement Psychotherapy, I was taught to incorporate my own and my client’s body throughout the therapeutic process. Sometimes this is subtle. A dance movement therapy session can look just like a talk therapy session, with the therapist paying more attention to the client’s posture and gestures. If client’s feel more comfortable to include movement in the session I invite them into a gentle warm-up. We work on increasing somatic awareness by paying attention to what the client feels in their body and any impulses to move in a certain way. We can explore different topics such as experiences the client has been through or significant relationships in their lives. We also explore their relationship to their body.

How do you feel towards your body?

How does your body feel when you remember joyful days?

How does your body feel when you remember difficult days?

How does your body feel when you think about your favourite people?

We can explore all of this and more in dance movement therapy. Please take care of your body.