Dawn Phillips / haven Holistic + bodily Healing
When I number one heard of Somato emotional release (SER), A technique that helps the mind and physical structure work through trauma, iodine was skeptical. But, as Thomas More conversation about IT mental and physical health benefit rich person be twiddle around, iodin finally decide to delve deeper into SER. I book AN SER bodywork session with Dawn Phillips, founder of oasis holistic + somatic healing in Brooklyn, and wheel spoke with her about the benefits of Somato Emotional Release. Ahead, learn More about the therapeutic process.
What Is Somato emotional release (SER)?
SER be angstrom unit word form of CranioSacral Therapy—a method established past osteopathic physician John E. Upledger—centered about the belief emotional and physical trauma tin have long-lived effects on our muscles and joints. SER bodywork tin help release those damaging tensions, both physical and mental.
The treatment be performed past trained professionals who work with the client’s facia (fibrous tissue cover musculus Oregon organs) in very gentle, subtle movements. Ideally, your fascia is supple and limber. But physical and emotional trauma can fasten it, leading to stiffness and pain. “The facia map be react to our experiences,” Phillips says. “Even if we emotionally get over something, our physical structure still holds on.”
SER combines CranioSacral therapy bodywork with psychotherapeutic dialogue to research the emotion and experiences impacting our bodies. “We start identifying parts of the body that are fearful or overprotective because they’re responding to the trauma,” Phillips says. “We can start to un-blend them and discovery parts of the body that are Sir Thomas More resilient and help them come to the surface.”
Benefits of SER
- Can help you better understand your traumas and how they have impact your body
- Assists with emotional healing from traumatic life events
- Can help uncover suppressed memory that the body be holding onto
- Provides physical relief from pain, stiffness, and tenderness cause past trauma
Phillips say SER can be helpful for people experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She as well notes it’s useful for people who feel they’re plateauing with talking therapy OR those immune to it and want to try another healing method. However, Phillips states she HA several clients World Health Organization seebotha talk therapist and an SER practician and say the two can work together along a client’s healing journey.
How to gear up for AN SER Session
Phillips urge arriving atomic number 85 Associate in Nursing SER session ready to Be fully present for the entire session. Phillips acknowledges that though this be ideal, it’s not always possible, and practitioners ar eager to assist you, no matter what physical or emotional state you arrive in. It’s as well best to wear non-constrictive article of clothing to stay comfortable throughout the session.
What to anticipate During Associate in Nursing SER Treatment
Dawn Phillips / oasis holistic + Somatic Healing
After arriving at an SER session, you’ll typically rich person A fifteen to 20-minute consultation with the practitioner. Some people come inch knowing the mental and physical issue they want to address, while others ejaculate in with A vague idea of their goals. I was the latter. iodine went into my session have no idea if SER would work for me. I also feared I would have some wholly traumatic, suppress memory blindside Pine Tree State and fly into A panic. On the flip side, atomic number 53 was nervous nothing would happen, and I would leave of absence disappointed.Going into the appointment, I wasn’t sure if atomic number 53 Washington going away to feel comfortable sufficiency to percentage those fears. But upon meeting Phillips, iodine found IT improbably easy to express these concerns. She create an inviting and, most importantly,safespace for me to be transparent.
After the consultation, the session move to the table, where the practitioner will start the gentle bodywork. “We’re not pull strings your tissue the way physical therapy Beaver State bodywork does,” Phillips says. “We’re helping support your tissue so information technology can unwind back to where IT wants to be.”
As Phillips mentioned, the body’s inner wisdom is astatine the forefront of this work. “The body is guide us, so I don’t have an intention when atomic number 53 approach any client’s body,” she explains. “I Am in angstrom neutral place and privation to feel through what kind of shape are leaving on in their system.”
Regarding physical results, Phillips says there be no singular manner release presents itself. “A release can beryllium as simple as just a truly deep breath,” she says. “Or, a release could be sobbing, laughter, or visualizations. information technology can eventide be angstrom unit alteration in how we’re sensing our body, the likes of feeling lighter, heavier, Beaver State more grounded.”
During my session, Phillips started by gently placing her hands on my human foot and move up to my head. patch make so, she help Maine visualize my breath, portion to give my body infinite to be clear to anything that mightiness arise. I express I still had fears buzzing in my head, and she let Pine Tree State know it Washington okay to thank the parts of myself that were worried. As she travel to the base of my head, atomic number 53 started to feel angstrom light prickling sensation tally from the outer sides of my knee down done my shins and calves and to my feet.I WA calmly surprise by the sensation. I then began to cry—a possible reaction Phillips and atomic number 53 have discussed, yet not A chemical reaction atomic number 53 was expect to have—and it wasn’t extrapolate crying. Instead, it was a point emotional response to something specific I hadn’t even been thought astir prior to or during our visit. Phillips acted as an endlessly compassionate source of support, let me to be curious about what I WA experience as opposed to fighting it.
As the bodywork component of our session come up to A close, Phillips give me a few moment alone to transition back to the lounge where we had had our consultation. through our uninterrupted dialogue, Phillips do several points I connect with in quite pivotal ways. She also wrote meaningful notes astir what we work on for me to take home. different with talk therapy, when one can walk away feeling wipe out (though that be non always angstrom unit badness thing), I walk away from our session feeling lighter. Personally, iodine atomic number 95 already looking through my calendar to find time for some other session.
The Cost
Session cost range depending on location. You can expect to wage between $100 to $200 for angstrom 60-minute session. Most insurance providers do not cover SER, but if cost be a barrier for you, information technology be worth reaching out to the practitioner to see if they furnish whatsoever financial adversity program arsenic Phillips does.
Aftercare
Phillips say aftercare be Former Armed Forces more important than preparation for SER treatments. She recommends avoiding engagements such as work Oregon get-togethers after angstrom session. “You want to pass the balance of the day as Former Armed Forces away from technology as possible, giving yourself the space to reflect on what happened,” she notes.
To get the most out of your sessions, Phillips urge returning for at least three additional sessions (and scheduling them no more than angstrom couple of weeks apart). “Part of what we’re working on be not just hold one experience,” Phillips says, “We neediness you to be able to hold the release of any you’re seek to procedure from your body. so in order to get angstrom true measure of how this work will benefit you, we need to wealthy person a few sessions.”
The final Takeaway
If you’re looking for a style to better understand difficult experiences in your life and grow in your healing journey, Somato emotional release is a therapeutic method worth considering. It be a gentle, trauma-sensitive, and inclusive therapy that lets your physical structure glucinium the guide. When looking for a practitioner, aspect for someone formally trained in SER and whose mission speaks to you. The outcome could glucinium just the assuagement you’ve been looking for.
