Somatic Art Therapy: Unlocking Healing Through the Body

Somatic art therapy is a body-oriented approach which integrates somatic experiencing therapy and art therapy to help individuals connect to their bodily sensations and express themselves creatively. Somatic therapy employs felt sense to cultivate the mind-body connection, it incorporates breathwork and meditation to help release stress, tension, and trauma from the body and support mental healing. Art therapy uses visual art as a medium of expression, such as drawing, painting, and sculpting, to improve mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Somatic art therapy is a holistic modality that combines the benefits of somatic experiencing and creative expression.

In somatic art therapy sessions, we create a safe and non-judgmental space where individuals can mindfully become aware of their bodies and mind with curiosity. With kinaesthetic and tactile art materials, I invite individuals to follow the speed of their own bodies instead of their thoughts. By listening attentively to sensations, movement, breath, and posture, we allow bodily wisdom to arise. We then have a chance to release tension, regulate the nervous system, and restore balance. If you are wondering, no art experience is required for therapy, our main focus is the process of artmaking and exploring instead of the product itself.

Emotions Stored in Our Bodies

My practice stems from Peter Levine’s somatic experiencing therapy. He discovered that our bodies activate differently when we have different emotions. The graph below indicates the human body's presentation of emotions. Warm colours show regions that people report stimulated during the emotion; cool colours specify deactivated areas. You might find that when we are happy, our whole body has a higher stimulation, and when we are depressed, the body is under-stimulated, especially in the four limbs.

how emotions influence our body reactions.

Image courtesy of Lauri Nummenmaa, Enrico Glerean, Riitta Hari, and Jari Hietanen.

Our bodies serve as vessels that store and express our emotions. when we experience grief, anger, or fear, we may feel a heaviness in our heart, tension in our muscles, or a knot in our stomach. These physical manifestations reveal the presence of negative emotions within us. Our bodies remember and hold onto these emotional imprints which might develop into medical situations, such as chronic pain, gastric ulcer, and psychological disorders. It's important to acknowledge and release these stored emotions to achieve a greater sense of emotional balance and overall wellness.

Trauma and Brain

Trauma has a profound impact on the brain and the nervous system. When a person experiences a traumatic event, the emotional part of the brain becomes hyperactive and activates body’s fight, flight, or freeze response. Meanwhile, the cognitive brain is shut down to prepare for immediate survival. These trauma responses are adaptive in the short term but can become maladaptive when they persist long after the traumatic event. In cases of chronic trauma or when the trauma is overwhelming, the nervous system can become dysregulated and stuck in survival mode. Individuals might constantly have anxiety and difficulty relaxing or experience emotional numbing, dissociation, and depression.

Since the cognitive brain is shut down, individuals are unable to evaluate the environment/reality properly and often feel unsafe and develop negative beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t deserve to be loved”. It leads to difficulties in enjoying the present moment and establishing self-worth. These symptoms often negatively impact a person’s interpersonal relationships, work performance, and daily life functioning. Through somatic art therapy, we can gradually calm our nervous system down and build a sense of control and safety within us.

Four Trauma Responses. Image courtesy of valentaonline.com

How does trauma influence our self-esteem and boundary?

Our bodies have innated instincts and wisdom to sense danger and protect ourselves. However, through civilization and socialization, human brains tend to power through our bodily instincts to be socially appropriate and accepted. A lot of us learned to listen to our parents and powerful figures instead of the messages from inside.

"Was there a time you powered through the “No” voice from your body

and said “Yes” to people for validation or a sense of belonging?

How often have you felt regretful and frustrated not addressing your boundary with others?"

When individuals experience trauma, particularly in cases of abuse or neglect, it can deeply impact their self-worth and confidence. They may feel responsible for the traumatic event or believe they are fundamentally flawed. This negative self-perception often leads to low self-esteem, self-doubt, and a sense of inadequacy. Survivors of trauma may struggle to set limits or assert their needs due to fear, guilt, or a sense of powerlessness. They don’t feel safe trusting their bodily wisdom and might become excessively accommodating or find it difficult to trust others. It leads to difficulties in being themselves and sustaining a meaningful and healthy relationship. Healing from trauma involves rebuilding self-esteem by challenging negative beliefs and engaging in self-compassion and self-care. Somatic art therapy can help individuals explore boundaries, fostering a sense of safety and empowerment within themselves.

What do somatic art therapy sessions look like?

Somatic art therapy sessions may begin with grounding exercises to help participants become present in the moment and establish a sense of safety. I may guide individuals through somatic techniques such as breathwork, body scans, or gentle movement to cultivate body awareness. As artmaking begins, individuals are encouraged to express themselves freely through various art mediums, such as markers, crayons, acrylic, collaging, clay, etc. Based on individuals' needs and therapeutic goals, I may provide prompts or themes to explore, but the focus is on allowing the individual's intuition and emotions to guide the artistic expression. Throughout the session, I may facilitate reflections and discussions, encouraging individuals to explore their experiences, emotions, and insights that arise during the creative process.

Meanwhile, I would encourage individuals to stay curious and non-judgmental throughout the process. Just simply observing and exploring what’s happening in the body at the moment and the relationship of body-mind-self. When the urge to “fix” anything arises, I would gently remind individuals to slow down and have compassion towards the self. Instead of reacting to the urgency, I would encourage individuals to stay mindful and practice appreciation toward the body.