Body-Mind & Somatic Psychology

There is more to who we are than our mind and our words.

Has talk therapy been helpful in the past – but doesn’t seem to touch some of your deeper pain and concerns?  To address all of who we are – to move through our deep wounds and touch our deep resources, hopes, desires, meanings and purpose – we must move beyond just talking in therapy.

My approach to psychotherapy includes (when appropriate) the use of the body-mind and integrates practices from Bioenergetic Analysis and other body-mind psychotherapies, including Hakomi, somatic experiencing, sensorimotor therapy, and process work. I have many years of experience integrating body, mind, feeling and awareness into counseling and therapy – and I am a past Curriculum Director for the Florida Society for Bioenergetic Analysis.

Somatic approaches to therapy integrate insights and research from multiple disciplines, including attachment theory, trauma research, mindfulness research and practice, and neurobiology. 

Body-mind and somatic psychology bring valuable tools to therapy because they help us uncover and work with unconscious processes, predispositions, views and behaviors that may not be readily apparent when working with words alone. It is these unconscious processes and motivations that get us in trouble in life, work, and that limit our understanding and expressing our whole self. We are conscious and unconscious beings. We are bodies and minds. Somatic psychotherapy techniques can commonly help bring unconscious motivations into the light of awareness more quickly than can talk alone.

People who can benefit from somatic psychotherapy tools include those who are:

People pursue other kinds of counseling and therapy for these same concerns. One benefit of body psychotherapy is that it often provides a more direct route to both uncovering and addressing these and other kinds of emotional concerns.

Body-mind psychotherapy integrates our mind and reason with our body and feeling, and works with both the conscious and unconscious parts of ourselves – to help free us from old and limiting beliefs about ourselves and the world. You can also tap into resources and energy that have previously been inaccessible. Body psychotherapy can help you develop a felt sense of stability, resilience, and resourcefulness – along with increased energy, vitality, and pleasure in living.

If you are looking for ways to face your current struggles, as well as move beyond them to a more empowered and energetic sense of self, contact Dr. Martin to schedule an appointment.