Somatic Freedom

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a mental state and practice of being fully present and aware of the present moment without judgment. It involves paying conscious attention to one’s thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment, moment by moment. The practice of mindfulness encourages individuals to observe their experiences with an open and non-reactive attitude.

Mindfulness plays a profound role in our personal growth and enhances our well-being. It is a valuable tool for developing self-awareness and nurturing a deeper understanding of ourselves. In somatic psychotherapy, therapists guide their clients on a profound journey of self-exploration. They gently remind individuals that therapy is not just an ordinary conversation but an opportunity for transformation and breaking free from recurring patterns and narratives that no longer serve them.

Trauma and mindfulness

Traumatic events can have a profound impact on individuals, affecting not only their mental well-being but also their physical health. When such an event occurs, the brain often struggles to process and make sense of the overwhelming influx of information, leading to heightened arousal and distress.

The body’s natural response to trauma, known as the sympathetic charge, activates the fight, flight, freeze, or collapse mechanism. However, in cases of unresolved trauma, this charge remains trapped within the body, manifesting as tensions, physical symptoms, and an overactive nervous system.

These persistent effects of trauma can manifest in various ways, such as anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, and difficulty in forming or maintaining relationships.

Bringing mindfulness into the therapeutic process allows the client to look at the traumatic experience more spaciously and safely, allowing the brain to process every emotion, fear, reaction, adopted defence mechanisms, and core beliefs. The client can process, gain clarity and insights, and discharge the pent-up sympathetic energy so the nervous system can return to a restorative state.

Through mindfulness, we teach our clients that the control they lost can be regained by experiencing mindfulness.

Mindfulness in the therapist

Mindfulness plays a vital role in the therapeutic process, and it is essential for therapists to cultivate this practice. By embodying mindfulness, therapists can create a safe and conducive environment for their clients. Here are a few reasons why mindfulness is crucial for therapists:

1. Cultivating Calmness: When therapists exude a sense of calmness, it brings comfort and reassurance to their clients. It demonstrates that even amid intense emotions, one can still maintain a sense of control through mindfulness.
2. Encouraging Presence: Being fully present with clients is essential to effective therapy. Mindfulness allows therapists to focus their attention and actively listen to their clients, ensuring a meaningful and empathetic connection.
3. Facilitating Deep Empathy: Mindful therapists can enter a state of limbic resonance, establishing a profound empathic bond with their clients. This state of deep connection promotes co-regulation and allows therapists to attune themselves to their clients’ emotions and experiences more effectively.
4. Sensing Dysregulation: Through mindfulness, therapists become attuned to subtle cues of dysregulation in their clients. They are better equipped to recognise dissociation, hyperarousal, or hypoarousal signs, enabling them to respond appropriately and provide the necessary support.
5. Self-awareness: Practicing mindfulness enables therapists to be aware of their own reactions and responses during sessions. This self-awareness helps them understand how their own nervous system may be influencing the therapeutic dynamic, allowing for greater insight and adaptability in their approach.

By embracing mindfulness as a therapeutic skill, therapists can enhance their ability to support their clients and promote positive change.

Hakomi and mindfulness

Hakomi is a somatic and experiential psychotherapy approach that incorporates mindfulness as a fundamental component of its therapeutic process. Hakomi draws on various disciplines, including Buddhism, mindfulness, and body-centered therapies. The term “Hakomi” comes from the Hopi Indian word meaning “who are you in relation to these many realms?”

For 40 years, Hakomi has pioneered the psychodynamic use of mindfulness in the therapeutic process.

Instead of using mindfulness solely as an adjunct to therapy, a significant portion of each Hakomi session is conducted with the client in mindfulness.

This profoundly deepens the client’s ability to recognize and work with emotionally-charged psychological material.

If you are looking for a different approach to psychotherapy that is compassionate, non-violent and efficient. If you are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or seeking a deeper understanding of yourself and your emotions. Get in touch with me. I would be happy to support you.

Estelle Schmitt // Mindfulness based somatic psychotherapist/

somatic-freedom@protonmail.com