Human beings are complex, they are ruled by both body and mind and yet has free will, is able to think and take action and has personal agency. Throughout history, the study of the human psyche has fascinated scientists and there is still more to know about human motivation, emotion, cognition, mental health, personality and all those aspects that makes us human. Psychology as a field is as diverse as the different facets of our humanity, each field of specialization explores and builds knowledge that will help us come to a better understanding of who we are as a fully functioning person. With the different challenges and changes that have occurred throughout evolution, man have been able to survive and thrive, although the same challenges have caused problems and issues on human functioning and quality of life. The quest for greater knowledge to come to a better understanding of human behavior is never ending. At present one of an emerging field in this quest is somatic psychology.
What is Somatic Psychology?
Somatic psychology is a specialized field of study under the clinical psychology field which aims to understand how the mind and body is intricately connected, and that to understand and bring awareness to the embodied experiences of the individual is to bring psychotherapeutic healing to those who have personal issues and problems. From the Greek word “soma”, somatic psychology focuses on the body such as muscle tension, physical illness and diseases to provide an understanding of anxiety, depression, stress and interpersonal issues. The goal of somatic psychology is to bring awareness to our beliefs that the mind and body are two distinct entities, instead, mind-and body affects and is affected by the other. Whatever anxiety or problems a person has, even if he or she is good at keeping it within oneself will ultimately manifest itself in our physical body. A terrible headache might be the body’s reaction to overthinking or unexpressed emotions.
What is Somatic Psychotherapy?
Somatic psychotherapy is a set of therapeutic techniques and strategies that are used to allow the patient to express whatever he or she is going through the body interface. It can be in the form of dance/movement therapy, core evolution, sensorimotor psychotherapy, integrative body psychotherapy and bioenergetics to name a few. It is believed that as individuals come to cope and live with their problems and issues, it becomes embedded into how they move, their muscle tone, breath and gestures. Therefore, the therapeutic techniques allow the patients to experience and recognize how their bodies have come to adapt to their mental health and by this awareness, they will become healed from such mental anguish. The journey towards understanding the mind and body interface is also a personal one but the therapy can be done in groups, each person providing the support for others much in the same way that group therapy works. But, as the patient comes into terms with their body and movement, they also learn better ways of resolving their interpersonal issues.
Where to Study Somatic Psychology?
As an emerging field, there are really a small number of higher education institutions that offer a degree program in somatic psychology. At present, it is offered as a masteral and doctoral degrees in leading universities across the country. It also can be a specialization under the clinical psychology masters and degree programs. The programs however require that one should have prior training and degrees in psychology at the very least a bachelor’s degree. Since somatic psychology is a subfield and the intricacies of its theory and principles and techniques require that the student are able to comprehend and apply such content to actual practice. An interested student who does not have the needed educational background might not be able to translate theory into practice. Moreover, helping professionals who already have a degree in psychology may also be interested in studying somatic psychology as it will enrich their techniques and strategies.
Why Study Somatic Psychology?
Somatic psychology is an exciting new field in psychology, and it offers more than just the building of knowledge and understanding. It has been found to be an effective means of bringing about healing and wellness to those who have tried so many techniques before but have not been able to resolve their issues. At present, there are a few practitioners who have this specialization, and as the field becomes increasingly relevant, there will be more patients who will seek this therapy, as demand increases, you will surely be one of the few to cater their preferences. Moreover, it is an integrative model and the applications are limitless and research opportunities are plenty.
Certifications in Psychology
If you decide to pursue further studies in somatic psychology, you need to make sure that the institution offering it have the necessary certifications. It would be such a waste of effort and money if you finish a degree program and then not be able to use it because it was not certified by professional and state bodies. You also need to check the curriculum and the courses that you need to take to complete the program. It is important that these courses follow more than the minimum educational standards for the specific program and that it is being taught by certified and competent professors. One important factor is the clinical practicum of the program, it should provide the student with the opportunity to really immerse oneself into the therapeutic process and be able to gain the skills needed to practice the profession in a clinical setting. You can actually ask the department about the details of the practicum to help you decide on this matter.
Lastly…
Having a master’s degree in somatic psychology from a reputable and established psychology department with the most competent professors and challenging real-world applications is one of the best thing you could do for your career as a helping professional or a clinician. However, the most important thing is to be have that compassion and willingness to be a better person so you could provide the best care to your patients.