In recent years, the concepts of somatic healing also known as somatic practice or somatic coaching and the field of somatic therapy have gained traction as effective methods for achieving holistic well-being. Both practices (modalities) are grounded in the belief that our bodies hold wisdom and that tapping into this wisdom can lead to profound personal growth and healing. However, despite their similarities, somatic practice or somatic coaching and somatic therapy serve different purposes and utilize distinct approaches. In short, they are two very separate fields, as different as life coaching and psychotherapy.

What is Somatic Practice?

Somatic practice also known as somatic coaching is a form of personal development that integrates body awareness, somatic techniques, embodiment and movement as the central point within a coaching process. Unlike traditional coaching, which primarily focuses on achieving life goals, somatic practice recognizes the body as a critical component of the coaching journey towards achieving healing., wellbeing, balanced life and ultimately happiness. The Integrative Somatic Practitioner Certification Course https://iwacoaching.com/somatic-practitioner-certification/ trains and equips graduates to help their clients more effectively deal with life in an embodied and grounded way while assisting with stress, anxiety, lack of balance, depression and trauma. This type of somatic practice utilizes effective tools and techniques that empower individuals to increase their capacity for stressors, process and release stuck stress and trauma and become more aware /self-aware and attuned within themselves. This practice supports clients to self-regulate their nervous system, stay grounded, achieve an even better understanding of their internal landscape (embodiment) and re-wire the neural pathways (behavior patterns) that have developed as a result of current and past stuck emotions, trauma and chronic stress.

Key Aspects of Somatic Practice:

  1. Body Awareness: Somatic practice encourages clients to become more aware of their bodily sensations, posture, and movement patterns, including where and how they store stress and emotions. This heightened awareness helps individuals understand how their physical state influences their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
  2. Embodied Practices: Techniques such as breathing exercises, mindful movement, and body-centered visualization are used to help clients reconnect with their bodies and access their inner wisdom.
  3. Goal-Oriented: Somatic practice is typically future-focused and goal-oriented in the ways that somatic care plans and daily somatic practice help the client to achieve sustainable positive change. Practitioners work with clients to identify and achieve somatic goals, using the body as a tool for insight and transformation.
  4. Empowerment: By fostering a deeper connection with their bodies, clients are empowered to make more informed and authentic choices in their lives.

What is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy, on the other hand, is a form of psychotherapy (talk-therapy) that also integrates body awareness but places a stronger emphasis on healing trauma and addressing psychological issues through the traditional mental health modality of psychotherapy. This therapeutic approach is grounded in the understanding that trauma and emotional distress are often stored in the body.

Key Aspects of Somatic Therapy:

  1. Trauma-Informed: Somatic therapy is particularly effective for individuals who have experienced trauma. It helps clients release stored trauma and heal emotional wounds by working through bodily sensations and movements. It is important to note that somatic practice and somatic coaching also does the same.
  2. Mind-Body Integration: Therapists use techniques such as somatic experiencing, body-focused dialogue, and touch to help clients process and integrate traumatic experiences alongside of psychotherapy. The goal is to create a harmonious connection between the mind and body.
  3. Emotional Healing: Somatic therapy aims to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions by addressing the root causes stored within the body. Again, often with somatic practice and somatic coaching client’s experience these same positive outcomes.
  4. Therapeutic Relationship: The relationship between the therapist and client is crucial in somatic therapy. The therapist provides a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore and heal their embodied experiences.

Somatic practice and somatic coaching as well as somatic therapy offer unique pathways to harness the wisdom of the body for personal growth and healing. Somatic practitioners and somatic coaches experience hugely rewarding careers and are in high demand currently around the world. Since somatic practice and somatic coaching is an unregulated industry, those who are certified can legally practice anywhere in the world, both virtually via video sessions or by offering in-person sessions.