Things to Consider When Choosing A Somatic Therapy For You: Advice from Somatic Therapy San Francisco
So you have decided you need a different kind of therapy. Maybe you tried talk therapy or maybe you need something that incorporates the body more. For whatever reason, in order to improve your mental health, you have decided to pursue a somatic therapy as a means of healing. But what does somatic therapy even mean? And how do you find someone who is a mental health professional AND incorporates the body? Below is some information to help you clarify what exactly you are looking for and how to find it from somatic therapist San Francisco.
Things To Consider When Choosing What Somatic Therapy Is Best For You
1) Somatic therapy is a general term that many people use to describe a variety of therapies. Therapies such as somatic experiencing, dance therapy, yoga therapy, and many others could be defined as somatic therapies so it is important to explore what types of somatic therapy might suit you best. You can read about each of the methods and perhaps ask others who have explored particular somatic therapy methods about their experiences.
2) Not all people who are somatic therapists are licensed mental health professionals. Why is this important, you ask? Licensed mental health professionals go through specific training and are held to specific ethical standards. If your mental health is what you are seeking to improve, it may be wise to entrust your care to professionals that have a governing body and rules and regulations they must follow. For example, the rules of confidentiality as defined by each particular state are something that licensed therapists must follow and each profession (therapist, social worker, licensed creative arts therapist) must adhere to specific codes of ethics.
3) Different types of somatic therapists may have certification processes and different trainings. When considering what somatic therapy you would like to try, it may be good to do some research about how the therapist is educated and if they have a certification process. For instance a dance therapist needs to obtain a master’s degree and do two years worth of supervised clinical work before they can be certified. Other disciplines may require less or more and it is important to know the training a practitioner has, especially when dealing with something as essential as mental health. Also, if you have a specific condition that you wish to address, it is good to know what experience that somatic therapist has working with that condition or symptom.
4) As with all therapists, how you get along with the therapist (the rapport) is the more important than the specific modality. After making sure the somatic therapist is a qualified mental health professional, how you feel when talking to this person (or moving with them or in front of them) is a huge indicator of how successful your therapy with that therapist will be. You are bringing your most vulnerable thoughts and feelings to another person and you should feel comfortable. Feel free to ask any questions you may have: therapists are used to individuals being curious.
5) Most therapists will schedule a free 15 minute initial consultation and it is a great idea to take advantage of that. The initial consultation is a place where you can ask any questions you may have about what type somatic therapy they offer. If, after speaking with your potential therapist, you don’t feel a connection or don’t align with how they work there is no obligation to continue. You can even schedule initial consultations with a couple of therapists to see how you like each of them. Questions such as “what kind of somatic therapy do you practice? What is the process and how successful is it for treating what I am working on?” are good to ask upfront.
Hopefully this blog gives you an idea of how to search for a somatic therapist. If you run into any issues or have questions about somatic therapy San Francisco, please feel free to contact me at lisa@lisamanca.com and I would be happy to help you find the right somatic therapy (and therapist) for you!