The Essential Element of Therapy
In my graduate fieldwork I set out to learn how something like surfing, for example, can become a modality of supporting one’s inner healing (a.k.a. therapy). Though my research showed me that surfing has the potential to be therapeutic, there are several factors that need to be present in order to qualify as therapy. I have seen the ocean transform the mental states of veterans tremendously for the better and I have also seen it serve as a potentially traumatic event for children who didn’t choose to be there. Though there are many considerations when characterizing an activity a therapy, what I witnessed revealed to me the primary defining factor: A safe space.
We are exploring parts of ourselves that we can’t see on our own, that are too big or deep to walk with on our own, or even something that we already know but requires accountability. All of the parts of ourselves that we work with in a therapy setting can only be seen when we are in a humbled state of clarity and honesty with ourselves. Any form of therapy asks of us to be vulnerable in the form or deep authenticity.
Being vulnerable takes us to the places of transformation; therefore, safety is paramount in any modality calling itself a therapy. If you are unable to relax, to allow the parasympathetic nervous system to “rest and digest”, to just feel safe, there is not much capacity for anything but survival/defense mode. When basic needs are met, the layers of self-protection can start to unfurl. When we feel a sense of safety and comfort, we become more likely to soften with vulnerability.
If you have visited our office for a session, perhaps you have felt that sense of safety and comfort as you step through the threshold. This is the foundation of our philosophy and it’s intentional for this reason. By creating a sense of calm and comfort, you are already closer to a state of surrender before the session even begins. Safety is in the sounds, smells, colors, lighting, temperature and perhaps most importantly, your therapist.
As a facilitator/therapist who works in both office and outdoor environments, I have been a witness to how much of the effectiveness of the session depends on the facilitator. I believe that it is paramount for those who teach, guide, or lead in any form to be aware of this fragile impact. Cultivating a safe space starts with the facilitator as a part of the environment so the more they have practiced their own embodied safety, they better they can hold space for others.
A therapist’s style and ability to hold space is derived from their personal lived experience, professional experience in their field and education. Holding space takes practice of constantly checking in with themselves and the other through conscious and unconscious queues of words, gestures and internal somatic signals. How one reacts requires a reaction from the other. This ongoing loop is the art of therapy.
In somatic therapy, we are learning to cultivate a safe space within our own bodies. We work with therapists on our personal expedition towards wholeness, however this journey is our own. I encourage you to be courageous enough to explore what works for you. Try different things or other facilitators until you find it. Practice listening to the inner knowledge that is your compass directing you to what is best for you.
We all have the ability to embody safety and somatic based therapy is your support to learn how to inhabit your body. There are a vast number of resources and modalities to try at Saltwater and beyond. We are here to support you and to help direct you on your voyage to yourself.
-
gp
