The stigma around her mental health it still exists, but fortunately many steps forward have been made and it appears that, albeit slowly, prejudices are gradually fading. More and more people are turning to psychotherapyin order to face the emotional distress that they experience. Many times, however, they realize that this is not enough.

Recently, another form of healing that includes the body has come to the fore. Also known as Internal Family Systems (IFS), this technique involves attuning the body’s senses, with the goal of uncovering—and ultimately healing—old sources of pain. “It focuses on the connection between mind and body“, she explains to The Good Trade Calandra Balfour, a wellness professional, specializing in physical trauma. “It involves work with the body, with the ultimate goal of dealing with mental trauma. The purpose of physical therapy is to help people release emotional and physical trauma stored in the body».

“Physical therapy, or body-based therapy, is a group of methods that examine the mind-body connection and use both psychotherapy and physical therapies to address trauma holistically.“, analyzes o Luke Sniewskiwellness expert, physical therapist and author of Somawise.

How is physical therapy practiced?

Your body is the only tool you really need in this healing. Those who have experienced difficult experiences, which have undermined their mental health, probably carry wounds, even if invisible, on the body as well. However, in the modern world, most of us have become disconnected from our bodies, so we cannot discern these imprints. So bodywork offers a guide to reconnect with it. “Helps us recognize and tap into our body’s wisdom to heal our wounds” says Sniewski.

A physical therapy session is similar to the process of hypnosis. The therapist will ask you to follow a sensation in your body and have a mental “conversation” with that part of yourself. In each session, you will connect with different parts of yourself that carry trauma and through this you will heal them, giving yourself the message that it is now safe. The process is gentle and gradual, encouraging inner curiosity and self-compassion. Of course, there are many ways in which the body can be incorporated into treatment to improve mental health, although the general principles remain the same.

“In physical therapy, each person can become more aware of their physical sensations and how they relate to their emotional statesays Balfour. “By focusing on these sensations, the person can identify and release any emotional or physical trauma that is affecting their mental health».

How can physical therapy help you?

Dr. Sniewski explains: “With psychotherapy, it’s like turning on a light in a dark room. However, this does not necessarily mean that the work is finished. As soon as you turn on the light, you see that there is a big mess that you have to clean up. Physical therapy is just that: Clearing up the mess».

Patience is a necessary ingredient throughout this process because the journey to reconnect with ourselves is often long and difficult. “We have the opportunity to release deep emotions and traumas, which may be difficult to deal with solely through psychotherapy. Thus, we increase our self-awareness and better understand our emotional experiences, improve our ability to manage stress and regulate our emotions, and ultimately feel more connected to our body and mind.says Balfour.

The body can thus complete the cycle of trauma, releasing old pain that no longer has anything to offer.

If you try physical therapy on your own, try to focus on the sensations of your body. “Most important is the degree of connection with our body during treatment“, emphasizes Dr. Sniewski. “The more connected we are, the greater the benefits we experience».