Somatic mental health counselors integrate body awareness into counseling sessions and help clients become more aware of how emotions feel and manifest in their body. The verbal narrative of what has happened in our lives is only one part of the story and we can learn a lot about how those narratives impact us and what they really mean by exploring a deeper narrative, the narrative of the body.
The body is an expert in telling our unconscious stories.
So, what does somatic awareness look like?
Somatic awareness happens in the here and now. A somatic therapist might ask questions like, “What sensations are you feeling in your body? What do you notice about the quality of your breath right now? They might notice your tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures and postures and help you notice them as well. What gestures or postures don’t match up with the verbal narrative? Which ones do? We can learn what is true for each of us by observing these interactions in the moment.
Somatic awareness involves three types of perception
Interoception:
Awareness of our subjective physical experience, body sensations, breath
Proprioception:
Another kind of unconscious internal awareness: the relationship of our body to itself and the space around it. It involves balance, agility, and coordination. Proprioception allows us to control the force or effort of movement.
Exteroception:
Awareness of the space and people around us. All sensory data is interpreted differently from person to person depending on their sense of safety, experience, attachment style and a variety of other factors.
In somatic therapy, the client’s interpretation and response to the sensory world gives us information about their past and present experience.
If you’d like to try out a somatic awareness body scan exercise, this video from John Hopkins, is a great place to start!
Mindfulness and meditation have become all the rage in recent years, especially for those dealing with stress. Mindfulness is not a new practice, but many are using it in conjunction with therapy, medication, and exercise to help better their health.
For those who struggle with substance abuse, mindfulness techniques can be used to help aid in relapse prevention. Substance abuse is a complex issue that deals with strong addictive tendencies, so it is important to utilize mindfulness-based practices in connection with additional therapy. Mindfulness can help individuals stay sober and reduce withdrawal symptoms.
What Is Mindfulness?
The practice of mindfulness focuses on being completely present and aware of the moment. Mindfulness helps us to limit overreactions, focus on our body’s sensations, and stay in the present moment. The quality of mindfulness is something that we all possess, we just have to work to access it and use it properly.
The meditation practices that were rooted in Buddhist practices have become more widely used in psychology, everyday life, and medical situations. Using mindfulness and meditation has been shown to improve mood, focus, and addictions.
Impulsivity And Cravings
One of the biggest struggles during addiction is impulsive choices and craving substances. Mindfulness can help you control your impulsive choices and create non-reactive awareness. Meditation and mindfulness help reduce urges and will allow individuals to take control of their urges, work through them, and find different options to meet those needs.
Improving Psychological Well-Being
Finding more functional methods to help aid in your recovery will improve your psychological well-being as well as limit addictive behaviors. Practicing mindfulness and using the proper techniques will help reduce symptoms of mental illness which can contribute to addiction. Mental health issues often accompany substance abuse and can lead to individuals falling deeper into addiction.
Mindfulness helps teach individuals that their thoughts are just thoughts. Our thoughts are the force behind our feelings and actions which can contribute to impulses. We often confuse our thoughts with reality, making us spiral into unfounded beliefs. Mindfulness helps us to let go of harmful thoughts that work against us.
Mindfulness Techniques For Substance Abuse
Finding the right techniques for your specific needs will help you handle your substance abuse. There are many meditative techniques and mindfulness-based therapies that you can choose from. Here are some of the most common techniques that are used for patients dealing with substance abuse.
Mindful Breathing
While the basics of mindfulness focus on controlling your breathing, some techniques involve only focusing on your breathing. Working to control your breath can help reduce stress, ground you in the present, and focus on what your body is telling you.
Mindful breathing can help you through an impulsive episode or during a craving. Substance abuse tendencies can pop up at inconvenient times, so a breathing technique is helpful and inconspicuous.
Body Scan
This technique will have you mentally scan the body from head to toe and pay special attention to physical sensations. During a mental body scan, you should not judge your body’s sensations and recognize where you may be holding stress and tension. Body scans will help you connect with your body and recenter your nervous system.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
The MBSR technique was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn to be an 8-week program that teaches mindfulness basics. This process will help you reduce stress through multiple meditation techniques and improve your overall psychological well-being. Reducing stress is important for those who struggle with substance abuse as limiting addiction can result in withdrawal or enhanced depression.
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)
This technique was specifically designed to help with substance abuse. Combining multiple meditation and mindfulness techniques, MBRP will help you avoid relapse. Reducing stress, regulating emotions, connecting with your body, and improving your physical health through mindfulness are done in MBRP therapy.
Therapy From Red Willow Counseling And Recovery
Our therapists and counselors utilize a variety of techniques to help patients live a healthier life. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental illness, or grief, our team can help you feel more in control of your emotions and impulses. Working to harness mindfulness has helped individuals of all ages and struggles.
Red Willow encourages all our patients to focus on techniques that work for them while also attending therapy. We provide effective treatment through compassionate service and evidence-based therapy. Reach out to us at our Park City or Salt Lake City location to get started.
“Feelings are much like waves, we can’t stop them from coming but we can choose which ones to surf.”
– Jonatan Martensson
Provides
Individuals
Adolescents
Group Therapy
Specializations
Anxiety
LGBTQ+
Chronic Illness
Hormonal Transgender Treatment of Minors
Other Specialties
Issues
Borderline Personality (BPD)
Cancer
Chronic Pain
Coping Skills
Depression
Grief
Life Transitions
Open Relationships Non-Monogamy
Peer Relationships
Relationship Issues
School Issues
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
Sex-Positive, Kink Allied
Spirituality
Stress
Suicidal Ideation
Teen Violence
Transgender
Trauma and PTSD
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Women’s Issues
Certifications
M.Ed Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Utah
Master of Bioethics (MBe), Johns Hopkins University Berman Institute of Bioethics &
Bloomberg School of Public Health
BS Psychology, BS Human Development with an Emphasis in Child Life, University of Utah
About Cami Docchio
I believe that we are a culmination of all of our experiences, as well as the systems we exist in. Together, we will use this shared knowledge to identify and expand on each client’s unique views of the world, intersectional identities, and how they continue to shape our emotions and experiences. My goal in therapy is to empower clients with the information, tools, and support needed to build a life that aligns with their values and true inner self.
While I support clients of all identities and ages, I specialize in working with clients who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, might be experiencing life & faith transitions, or have been impacted by health conditions or disabilities both personally, professionally, or familial. I am certified by DOPL in the Hormonal Transgender Treatment of Minors. I also have over 10+ years of extensive experience working with children and adolescents. I have supported young adults through feelings of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and identity exploration. I hope to offer my clients a corner of the world that provides a space of connection, curiosity, and healing.
While some say therapy is a science or an art, I like to think of it as both – similar to cooking! You tell me what you like and we make it from scratch to fit your needs together. I integrate feminist multicultural theory as we discuss the systems that impact our lives and experiences. I most often utilize ACT, DBT, MBSR and IFS interventions.
My Masters in Bioethics has given me first hand knowledge of the systems which promote medical trauma and discrimination of access to healthcare. I use this knowledge in my practice to support patients and caregivers navigating this system, and advocate for the ethical treatment of all patients & identities.
In my free time, I enjoy petting dogs (often including my own two puppies), playing board games, adventuring in nature via bikes, skis or backpacks and overusing exclamation points!
