Therapy That Honors The Wisdom Of The Body
My therapeutic practice is grounded in the relationship and creating a sense of stability so that you feel safe to be who you are. In sessions, we seek to understand your nervous system, learn therapeutic skills to bring the nervous system back into balance and examine how the body communicates in extreme and subtle ways as it relates to trauma, anxiety, and mood dysregulation.
I bring an extensive knowledge of body and energy healing modalities into therapy, including meditation, breathwork, Reiki, somatic therapy techniques, as well as the principles and practices of yoga. Each of these resources can aid in healing the nervous system. What’s more, integrating these practices into a mental health setting provides you with a unique opportunity to understand and address the root of your challenges by way of the body, mind, and heart.
How I Incorporate Somatic Therapy
Anxiety and depression may present themselves when you experience or perceive heightened states of trauma and stress. Symptoms may include an inability to relax, hypervigilance, digestive problems, emotional flooding, chronic pain, sleep issues, exhaustion, disconnection, chronic fatigue, low motivation, and disorientation. This may push you out of balance which can lead to unhealthy ways of coping and poor decision-making, driving you further into imbalance.
The body is always moving toward healing and knows exactly what it needs to feel a sense of safety and peace. When you are balanced, you feel alert, relaxed, friendly, and at ease. However, past trauma, emotional dysregulation, stress, and anxiety can make it challenging to access these states. Feelings of safety are compromised or you may become completely disconnected from your body as a whole. My role is to help reacquaint you with the wisdom your body holds by slowing down the mind and becoming present through various somatic practices. Guiding you into a space of calm, I will help you hear your body speak.
The beauty of somatic therapy is that it helps us attune to areas within the body where stress and trauma become stuck. As we attune to the body, we can access stuck emotions and feelings and restore balance by applying skills learned in session. The goal of somatic therapy is to heal the nervous system so that you can regulate your own experience. The result feels like inner peace, joy, and the freedom to be who you are.
What Sessions Look Like
With somatic therapy, healing is supported by achieving balance within the nervous system. By focusing on regulation, you develop the capacity to heal yourself from unhealthy patterns and coping skills that keep you stuck in a state of dysregulation. You learn the necessary tools to master negative self-talk and how to trust your body’s innate intelligence. Before embarking on trauma work, we first ensure the therapeutic relationship is established and that you feel safe and prepared to share your experiences with me. Somatic tools are introduced early on as a foundation for you as we move through sessions and work on deeper issues. Therapy will be collaborative—we will work together to heal your nervous system.
I like to view the therapy room as a container where we can safely navigate your experiences. My job as a therapist is to help you understand your dysregulation, where it manifests in the mind, body, and heart, and help you bring your nervous system back into harmony by practicing somatic skills in sessions. Eventually, your nervous system will learn a new patterning and be able to regulate on its own. This mind-body connection is a vital component of self-discovery that will help you continue to regulate your nervous system independently once therapy is over. Some examples of tools and techniques you will learn to support regulating the nervous system outside of the office include:
- Mindfulness-based practices
- Lifestyle changes
- Yoga
- Meditation practices
- Breathwork
- Somatic therapy skills
- Movement-based techniques
The goal of somatic therapy is to align your nervous system to wellness so that you feel healthy in your body, happy across all areas in your life, and free to be exactly who you came into this world to be.
Learn More About My Counseling Services
Somatic therapy offers you the freedom to be who you are without the effects of trauma, anxiety, or other mental health issues weighing them down.
If you would like to find out more about somatic therapy, you can schedule a free 20-minute consultation to make sure we are a good fit. Please visit our contact page or call (720) 798-4064. Although I see most clients in person, I also offer telehealth as well as evening appointments.
Meghan Hennessy is a somatic therapist practicing in Denver, CO. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from Ohio State University, Meghan went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago. She has worked as a social worker since 2010, specializing in behavioral health assessments, therapy, and using somatic-based practices to heal the human spirit.