In the psychotherapy community, we have an ever-growing respect and appreciation for the body-mind connection and its role in therapeutic progress. We know the importance of obtaining specialized support and training in embodied therapy training and are excited to have recently opened the doors to a deeply supportive online training program with Susan Aposhyan, founder of Body-Mind Psychotherapy.
Here, Susan shares one of the very accessible techniques she uses herself when working with clients. If you´d like to dive deeper into this work, we invite to you click below to get access to her free online somatic training.
Video excerpt transcript:
Hello, my name is Susan Aposhyan, and if you’re looking for a way to deepen your work, enhance your connection to yourself, and attune more deeply to your clients and students, then this video is for you. What I’ve done with myself and what I teach others to do is to be as present, embodied, and connected as possible.
Many of us often try to think our way through issues, whether they’re our own or others, and while this can be helpful, it can also lead us to become stuck.
Right now, if I send my attention out into the environment, my focus is right here and going outward. However, I can bring my attention back, passing it through my head, throat, heart, chest, and my entire core into my entire body. By staying grounded and centered in my body, I can be more present for others. Research clearly shows that the more present we are, the more helpful we become to our environment. The challenge lies in understanding where the center of attention truly resides. If I’m present to you like this, I won’t be as helpful as when my attentional field is rooted in the core of my body. This allows my attention to gather in and be with me or extend out to be with you without uprooting itself. While I’ve been practicing this for 50 years, let’s see if we can provide you with a tool to help you practice and deepen your presence even further right now.
One of the initial tools to consider is simple awareness of your body sensations. Take a moment, close your eyes, and perhaps perform a body scan. Moving a little bit can help you feel and observe better. Moving helps us feel and look at things differently. Feel all the way through your core, inside and out, as deeply as you can, even into your gut. Let go of your breath; this is another tool to release tension and activity. We often think about releasing tension but don’t typically consider releasing activity. Many of us remain busy with various activities even when we’re attempting to pay attention to something, and there can be numerous residual activities happening in our bodies. You can observe me doing that now. Letting go of my breath is a way to release not only tension but also excess activity, bringing us back to a state of neutral presence, here and now.”
[Get Instant Access] The Embodied Therapist:Deepening Somatic Practices In Psychotherapy
JOIN a FREE Webinar Training with Susan Aposhyan, M.A., L.P.C
The Body Leads the Mind: Leveraging the Body-Brain Partnership for Clinical Success
In this free webinar, Susan will show you:
How the brain and body work together in a partnership so you can improve therapeutic outcomes.
How to access the body so you can open the door to more possibilities.
When mindfulness techniques can actually be counterproductive for healing.
Elevate your embodied presence with practical exercises for both personal and client use.
What is embodied therapy?
Embodied therapy is an approach in psychotherapy that places a strong emphasis on the mind-body connection and the integration of physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts into the therapeutic process. It recognizes that our bodies hold valuable information about our psychological well-being and that by engaging with and addressing bodily experiences, individuals can achieve a deeper understanding of their emotional and mental states.
Embodied therapy encompasses a variety of techniques and practices, often involving somatic experiences, movement, mindfulness, and breathwork. The primary goal is to help clients become more aware of their bodily sensations, release tension, process trauma, and ultimately promote holistic healing.
The Benefits of Embodied Practice in Psychotherapy
Embodiment enhances the therapeutic process significantly and can provide these benefits to the client and their progress:
- Holistic Healing: Embodied therapy allows psychotherapists to address both the physical and psychological aspects of their clients’ well-being, leading to more comprehensive healing.
- Improved Emotional Regulation: By incorporating bodily awareness techniques, therapists can help clients regulate their emotions effectively, reducing anxiety, stress, and other emotional challenges.
- Enhanced Self-Awareness: Clients gain a deeper understanding of their own physical and emotional responses, fostering greater self-awareness and insight into their issues.
- Trauma Resolution: Embodied therapy can be particularly effective in helping individuals process and heal from trauma, as it allows for the release of stored emotional energy in the body.
- Stress Reduction: Techniques like mindfulness and breathwork can help clients manage stress, leading to improved mental health and overall well-being.
- Better Therapeutic Alliance: Clients often feel more connected and supported by therapists who incorporate embodied practices, enhancing the therapeutic alliance and trust.
- Empowerment: Clients learn practical tools for self-care and emotional regulation, empowering them to take an active role in their healing process.
Incorporating embodied practices into psychotherapy can bring about transformative experiences for clients, promoting not only emotional and psychological well-being but also a deeper connection with their own bodies and emotions. It allows therapists to engage with their clients in a more holistic and compassionate manner, ultimately facilitating healing and personal growth.
Practicing Embodiment As a Therapist
Why it is important to use somatic embodiment practice during and outside of clinical sessions.
To practice embodiment during therapy sessions, therapists can adopt several strategies that align with the somatic and holistic approach championed by professionals like Susan Aposhyan. Firstly, therapists should cultivate their own embodiment practice as a foundation. This involves developing self-awareness of their own bodily sensations, emotions, and energies. By doing so, therapists can model this awareness for their clients.
Mindfulness and body-scan exercises can be employed to facilitate this awareness. Additionally, therapists can themselves use gentle movements and grounding exercises, among other things, to stay open, aware, and fully present to their clients.
The key importance of practicing embodiment during therapy sessions lies in its ability to deepen the therapeutic process. When therapists and clients connect somatically, it allows for a more profound exploration of emotions and experiences that may be difficult to access through words alone. This approach can lead to a holistic understanding of a client’s issues, considering both the physical and psychological dimensions.
By integrating the mind-body connection, therapists can empower clients to not only resolve immediate concerns but also develop valuable skills for long-term emotional well-being and personal growth. Ultimately, embodied therapy training deepens our skills to better foster a therapeutic environment where healing occurs at a profound level, promoting the overall well-being of clients.
