Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy in Bensheim

Welcome to my website!

In the following I would like to give you more information about my offer and therapeutic concept.

Somatic psychotherapy is an holistic approach assuming that body and psyche form a unit and influence each other. Therefore, besides the psyche, body perception plays an essential part in the therapy. Observing and perceiving the body serves as a direct way to explore and understand our inner world. Through body perception we gain important information about ourselves, much of which is often unconscious. Once we have more awareness of our unconscious patterns and beliefs, we gain more freedom in how we act, think and feel.

Developed in the mid 1970s Hakomi has pioneered somatic psychology for over 40 years. It offers an experiential, mindfulness-based and body-centered methodology that fosters psychological change and growth.

In addition to Hakomi specific techniques, the method incorporates the concept of nonviolence, elements from Gestalt therapy, the concept of the Inner Family System (IFS) and working with the inner child.

More information  about Hakomi in English language can be found on the international website of the Hakomi Institute. 

„Therapy is first about discovering. It`s about who you are and about what your deepest emotional attitudes are.

It`s not just about who you think you are. It´s not opinion. It`s not something you can know with the intellect.

It´s about who you are in the very heart of yourself. That´s the flavour of psychotherapy.

Discovering yourself, discovering your real attitudes toward the most important pieces of your life."

 - Ron Kurtz, Hakomi Founder                                                              

Guidance and coaching can be valuable for anyone who is striving for self-development and personal growth. Perhaps you would like to learn about the principle of inner mindfulness through various exercises. Integrating mindfulness in your life supports better self-regulation, resilience and clarity as to your needs, wishes and boundaries.

Since trauma is stored in the body and the nervous system, the involvement of the body is an essential part in trauma therapy. 

Resolving trauma always involves the need to reconnect with oneself, one's own body and other people - since this connection is often lost in trauma. This requires a safe therapeutic setting in which the first step is to support the client in strengthening his resources. A gentle approach is a prerequisite for processing and integrating what has been experienced. In this process it is not necessary to remember or to report in all detail what has happened.

Rather, the client is supported in orienting himself in the here and now and in consciously perceiving his body sensations. The conscious perception of one's own body is crucial to increase the ability of self-regulation. With time feelings can be felt in a safe, non-overwhelming way and thus be integrated. A careful "unloading" of the energy held in the body can occur. Reactions that might be frozen such as defense, flight and orienting reactions can be restored. Over time, the feeling of constriction and paralysis can increasingly change into a feeling of aliveness and connection.   

Types of trauma include shock trauma and developmental trauma/attachment trauma. Shock trauma (single incident trauma) is brought on by an acute situation such as a sudden loss, accidents, injuries or surgery. 

Developmental trauma (including attachment trauma) arises from exposure to chronic stress in early childhood that interferes with the natural developmental stages of human growth. Chronic stress in childhood might include: neglect, parents who themselves were depressed or highly stressed, emotional and physical abuse, separation from primary caregiver, chronic misattunement of caregivers to the child`s attachment signals, pre-perinatal trauma.

Common issues that arise in the therapy of developmental trauma are for example:

how to perceive and restore personal boundaries, getting to know one's own needs and wishes, feeling connected with oneself and others, adaptation/attachment and autonomy issues (closeness/distance) in relationships.