Introduction:
In the intersection of counselling, mindfulness and somatic therapy lies Hakomi, a Mindfulness-Based Somatic Psychotherapy. This approach transcends mere symptom management. As a therapy for anxiety, it delves into the core causes of anxiety to foster lasting changes that open the door to a more vibrant and fulfilling life. By combining the principles of mindfulness and somatic therapy, this method embraces the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, empowering individuals to self-regulate, find balance, and cultivate resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Finding coping strategies:
Mindfulness-Based Somatic Psychotherapy offers a profound connection with bodily sensations and emotions, nurturing a heightened sense of self-awareness. By fostering this awareness, individuals can recognise the early signs of anxiety and learn to manage it. Through deepening the connection with bodily sensations, it becomes possible to identify triggers and patterns associated with anxiety, paving the way for the development of effective coping strategies and the cultivation of resilience over time. You can also learn strategies such as grounding in your body. This can help you to self-regulate and to learn to settle the anxiety. More coping strategies are listed here.
Getting to the roots of Anxiety:
One of the core benefits of Mindfulness-Based Somatic Psychotherapy is its transformative impact on our relationship with anxiety. Rather than viewing anxiety as an adversary to be conquered, this approach invites us to approach it with compassion, recognising it as a signal from our body that warrants attention. By cultivating a compassionate perspective, we can respond to anxiety with curiosity and understanding. We can find out what it is about… perhaps it is rooted in a childhood experience. Perhaps the fight flight system is overactive. We won’t use strategies to fight or “just stop” the anxiety. Instead we can find out what your individual needs are to get to the root of this issue and resolve the unconscious material driving the anxiety. This leads to a deeper and lasting change.
Conclusion:
Mindfulness-Based Somatic Psychotherapy offers a transformative pathway for finding calm amidst the storm of anxiety. We will work with coping skills. But more lasting change will come when you can develop a deeper understanding of your emotions, patterns, and triggers. Through self-awareness and compassionate exploration, you can navigate your anxiety with more resilience, embodying a life of presence and fulfilment. Together we can find out what you need in order to get to the roots of the anxiety, and to rewire it in your nervous system. To end up with a baseline which is much calmer and more resilient.
Ajay Hawkes
