The Role of Somatic Therapy in Healing Trauma in San Francisco’s Diverse Community

How Somatic Therapy Supports Mental Health in San Francisco

As anyone who has made San Francisco their home knows, the city can be magical. A beautiful day with a view of the Golden Gate bridge is unlike any other. However, staying in this city comes with a hefty price tag. EVERYTHING feels amplified here. . .whether it is the ongoing optimization of productivity, the outrageous price of rent, or what feels like the eternal hustle that is needed to survive, stress can be an ongoing part of life in San Francisco. If you have a history of psychological trauma, stress from living in a high pressure environment can make things worse. That is why it is important to work on healing trauma and somatic therapy San Francisco can help with that.

Understanding trauma through a somatic lens: Somatic Therapy San Francisco

Somatic therapy works with the body’s physical responses to trauma—things like hypervigilance, nightmares, as well as headaches, muscle tension, changes in appetite, etc. Somatic therapy, specifically dance therapy, also works with the emotional aspects of trauma such as shame, guilt, anxiety, and depression. When someone undergoes trauma, it is not as simple as working through all the conscious aspects of the trauma that someone remembers: there are also implicit memories that involve the body via all five senses. Since somatic therapy works from a bottom up perspective and incorporates physical sensations, feelings, as well as any memories that may arise from movement, this modality is perfect for working with parts of the trauma that remain hidden in the body.

Multicultural aspects of healing with Somatic Therapy

Somatic therapy can be especially effective for individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Although Western therapy is often based off psychoanalysis, many cultures have taboos around talking to strangers about their personal problems. Additionally other cultures may embrace movement or dance and feel more comfortable using movement as a means to heal. If a person grew up dancing salsa, or some other dance from their heritage, movement and moving in a certain way feels more natural. Another option may be that a client more identifies more with physical symptoms than emotions and has ease with focusing on the body rather than talking about feelings. By changing what happens in the body, either physical sensations or movement, feelings and thoughts start to shift as well. For instance, if your body is tense and you typically are unable to make any movements that are large, it is unlikely that you are taking large risks in life.

If somatic therapy sounds like a good fit for you, keep reading to find out what essential questions you should ask when choosing a somatic therapist.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Somatic Therapist in San Francisco

 I understand how it might feel daunting to assess someone other than a talk therapist.  How do you know if this person is a good fit for you and can help you with what you wish to work on?  Here are some questions to ask a potential somatic therapist that will help you assess her/him/them. 

1)    What kind of somatic therapy do you practice?

The term somatic therapy can refer to a variety of therapies that use the body as a way to improve one’s mental health. It is important to know what training a somatic therapist has and what modality in particular they use so that you can assess whether that modality is right for you. Say a therapist uses dance therapy or somatic experiencing. I would recommend googling those terms to find out more information. There are a variety of somatic therapies out there—try to find the one you feel like resonates with you.

2)    What license do you have to practice therapy or counseling?

In addition to making sure the person you are working with has training in a particular somatic modality, it is important to make sure that the person you are looking to get therapy from is a licensed mental health professional.  You want to entrust your mental health care to qualified professionals that are licensed to practice in your state. 

3)    How do you approach therapy and what can I expect from somatic therapy with you?

This question gives you an idea as to how your therapist works and sets up clear expectations for therapy with that person.  You should have a greater sense of this therapist’s style and beliefs about therapy after asking this question.

4)     How much experience do you have treating people with the kind of symptoms I am describing or with my particular life experience?

Again, this question will speak to how qualified this particular therapist may be to help you.  If you have anxiety and the person you are speaking with specializes in something different, they might not be the person for you.  Also, if it is especially important that a therapist understand your cultural background, ethnicity, or any other aspect about you, make sure they have experience treating people similar to you OR come from that particular background themselves.

5) Do you provide therapy in person or online?

As online therapy continues to be be popular with both therapists and clients, it’s important to know what options are available to you. Perhaps you prefer an in person connection over connection via computer, or vice versa. Make sure to ask what each therapist offers to help guide your decision-making process.

I hope this blog helped you understand more about how somatic therapy San Francisco helps heal trauma. If you have any questions or need resources about somatic therapy modalities or help finding a somatic therapist, please email me at lisa@lisamanca.com