We at SOMA Envision our Wichita Community Thriving Beyond Trauma
Trauma effects both the mind and the body and changes the way we experience the world. Many pioneers in the field like Van Der Kolk and Peter Levine have studied trauma for the last 40 years. Based on their research, we know that trauma is stored in our bodies, not just our mind. Soma Therapy offers many facets in trauma treatment, and for good reason.
According to research done by the Trauma Center, one in five Americans were molested as children. In addition, one in four people living in the US had at least one alcoholic parent. At Soma Therapy, we believe trauma counseling treatment is paramount and we have numerous options for holistic healing.
How is Trauma defined?
It is important to note that when we are talking about trauma, we are not just talking about physical abuse. The subtle messages we absorbed as children real or perceived about our lovability, worthiness, goodness, and capability, also impact us tremendously. Trauma impacts us all in one way or another. However, it impacts some of us in more obvious ways that interfere with our ability to function in daily lives. Meanwhile, it impacts others in subtler ways that impede the health and success of our work life and relationships.
Holistic Therapy
Medication and talk therapy are the two most popular approaches to mental healthcare and can be very useful in trauma treatment. However, they have their limitations because they do not address the lower regions of the brain where trauma is stored. Similarly, they don’t bring a person out of their trauma and into reality. Reliance on medication treatment alone does not treat the roots of PTSD. Trauma treatment needs to be holistic (treating the whole person) and access the brain, mind, and physical body. At Soma Therapy, we aim to treat trauma at a holistic level by providing therapy, medication, somatic therapies, yoga, massage and nutritional interventions.
Trauma’s Physiological Effects on the Body
Cumulative and/or chronic stress can affect autoimmune and other physical diseases in adults. Several studies including the ACE study have directly shown how childhood trauma and adverse events are predictive of issues in adulthood. These issues include financial problems, disease and even earlier death. Some physical manifestations of trauma include back pain, headaches/migraines, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, joint pain, inflammation and gut issues.
Yoga & the Treatment of Trauma
Yoga has documented effects in restoring pre-trauma physiology. In addition, yoga helps people heal the automatic responses that trauma can encode in our bodies. Practicing yoga helps us express and manage our emotions. Yoga also helps us learn to be empowered in our bodies and feel like we are in control of it again.
Other Physical Trauma Treatment Options:
Other modalities Soma Recovery can help resource in our community include: EMDR, Massage, Mindfulness, Neurofeedback, and Somatic therapies. These also address the “body” parts of trauma.
If you or a loved one is struggling with any of these issues, please contact us today to get a compassionate and thorough intake session. Then we can connect you with the best services possible. Hope is just a phone call away! (316) 201-6047 or contact us here.
For More Information Please Check Out the Following Resources:
- Trauma Center: http://www.traumacenter.org/
- Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, The Body Keeps The Score, https://besselvanderkolk.net/index.html
- Peter Levine, https://traumahealing.org/about-us/
- Dr. Gabor Mate, In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts
ACE Study: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/index.html