The role of somatic therapy & massage in trauma and emotional release

Have you ever experienced a release of emotion during a massage treatment or holistic therapy of any kind?

This is actually remarkably common and it is not rare that the physical release of a stubborn area of tension in the body through massage can lead to the client releasing tears or laughter, or a change in breathing pattern or posture. It can be dramatic and can achieve things that talking therapies can't get to. This isn't to say that massage is always therapy, or that talking isn't useful, but there are times when the physical is an important aspect of recovery.

In his essential work 'The Body Keeps the Score', Bessel Van der Kolk talks about the embodied experience of trauma, and the messages that the body tries to share with the, sometimes reluctant, brain. Sometimes we are not able to process the emotions at the time of difficulty, stress or trauma and they are stored in the tissues of the body (often in the layers of the fascia) and can result in long term restrictions, aches and pains.

Several treatment modalities offer 'trauma release', but what seems to be common in all of these is the role of the therapist in creating a trusting and safe environment that enables the client to let go of the stored tension, emotion or trauma.

This is an area that I am incredibly interested in from a research perspective, so if this resonates with you, or you want to share a story or find out more, I would love to hear from you. Drop me a line at charlottelattin.wellbeing@gmail.com.

If you want to explore this further in a targeted massage treatment, why not book in for a fascial unwinding treatment - available to book at charlottelattin.com/book.