Somatic Psychology
Body-oriented therapies focusing on the nervous system and trauma release.
History & Origins
Somatic psychology posits that the body holds the score of our past experiences. Pioneers like Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) observed how animals in the wild shake off trauma, while humans suppress it.
Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, revolutionized our understanding of the autonomic nervous system, highlighting the Vagus Nerve's role in safety and social connection.
Practices focus on 'bottom-up' processing—regulating the body to calm the mind—using techniques like pendulation, grounding, and breathwork.
Influence on Modern Mindfulness
Somatic psychology introduced the importance of the nervous system state (Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fawn) and gave us physical tools to hack anxiety instantly.