Addiction and Substance Abuse: Healing Through Body-Based Therapy
Addiction is an extreme disconnection from self. It does not start in the mind, it starts in the body. When trauma, stress and emotional discomfort gets lodged in the physical self, the substance seems like giving the only relief. However, recovery is not just about willpower or understanding intellectually. Recovery will require listening to what the body has been trying to say to us the whole time. Body Based Therapy opens up a new option. Rather than evaluating addiction simply as a psychological or behavioral concern, somatic methods honor the potential of healing all parts of the organism; the nervous system, body, heart and mind working together. At Embodywise, we believe that real change will happen when we rediscover the inherent wisdom that sits in our body. This article will review how somatic methods and body-centered practices work with the root cause of addiction to help people experiment beyond abstinence for a fullness of self. Understanding Addiction: More Than a Brain Problem Addiction is frequently characterized as a brain condition or disorder. While neurobiology is an important aspect of the addiction process, this perspective misses a critical point: addiction is a whole-body process that arises through our history of our relationship with ourselves, our environment, and our ability to self-regulate our physiology. Most people who experience addiction have developed this deadly habit. They have experienced trauma, chronic stress, or enormous emotional pain. When the internal states become unbearable, drugs provide a temporary solution to stressful feelings. Alcohol calms anxiety. Opioids take away pain. Stimulants provide energy when depression is overwhelming. They work, for a moment, to regulate what appears to be unregulated. The problem is what is happening below the surface. Repeated use of drugs, particularly illicit and strong substances, deregulate the body’s ability to regulate itself. The nervous system becomes dysregulated. The person becomes part of a cycle of needing to use a drug to feel normal. This is important because the person has lost touch with their own body’s wisdom about what it really requires. This is the importance of using body-based therapy. Rather than fight, somatic therapies can work with the person directly in their body. The Nervous System and Addiction: A Critical Connection Your nervous system is the body’s stress response system: it operates in two primary states: the sympathetic nervous system (the system that activates fight-or-flight responses) and the parasympathetic nervous system (the brake that maintains a state of rest, recovery, and healing). In the state of addiction, the system becomes stuck. Trauma, chronic stress, or perceived trauma, whether experienced briefly or in multiple ways, shifts the nervous system into a state of hyperarousal – the body remains in a fight or flight state, perceiving threat and danger despite looking safe. Along the way, dysregulated and stuck become painful. Substances offer an immediate (dis)comfort and physiologically and chemically shift the nervous system in a calmer state – even if it is temporary. When someone enters recovery, there is the challenge of the nervous system learning to self-regulate again. Withdrawal is not merely about physical withdrawal – it is about the nervous system learning to function or flourish without any chemical components. This is why many people relapse during early recovery; they can’t tolerate the internal discomfort. Body-based therapy is a direct intervention for nervous system dysregulation. Somatic practices train people to notice tension held in the body, awareness of stress triggers, and a systematic retraining of the nervous system back to a baseline of calm. This is not relaxing the body in a forced way. It’s the body relearning through experience that safety is possible. How Trauma Fuels Addiction Studies have shown an overwhelming connection between trauma and addiction. Individuals subjected to abuse, loss, violence, or other overwhelming events are considerably more likely to develop substance use disorders later in life. Trauma doesn’t just impact the mind. It gets stored in the body. When something overwhelming happens, the body’s natural response is activated: either fight, flight, or freeze. In the typical recovery process, the nervous system is able to complete these responses and return itself to a baseline. When trauma is too overwhelming or repeated, the responses become incomplete. The nervous system becomes stuck in activation. Years after the person may not even consciously recall the trauma, but the body recalls it. For example, a sound similar to the one encountered during the trauma triggers an automatic stress response. Physically feeling something similar will trigger profound anxiety. The body is attempting to protect itself from a threat that no longer exists. Substances can act as a means to quiet these bodily responses. However, the primary dysregulation is still present. True healing requires returning to the point of where trauma is held: the body. Somatic therapy provides a safe container to work directly with trauma through the nervous system. By working slowly with the sensations in the body and nonverbal movements, breath, and body positioning, the individual can finish the responses their body did not finish when the trauma occurred; the nervous system can learn, “Oh, I’m safe now!” The activation can be resolved. Body-Based Therapy: Core Principles 1. The Body Holds Wisdom Conventional addiction treatment typically addresses the mind: identifying triggers, challenging thoughts, and learning coping skills. These are valuable, but they ignore the body’s own intelligence. Body-based therapy is based on a different premise: the body is not a problem to be managed through will alone. The body is a source of inherent wisdom. Symptoms such as cravings, anxiety, or numbness are not arbitrary. They are signals that relay information about what the person needs. By engaging in somatic practice, the individual learns to listen to the signals in their body, rather than reacting by instantly reaching for a substance to relieve the discomfort. They pause and ask: What is my body saying? What does this anxiety mean? What would be beneficial to my nervous system in this moment? The transition from fighting the body to listening to the body is transformational. 2.
The Embodied Path to Healing: Best Practices for Trauma Transformation
In a time characterized by fragmentation and chaos, our collective urge to come home to ourselves has never seemed urgent. As humans doing the work of healers, therapists, coaches, and other practitioners, we witness the fragmentation all the time with our clients, and we can feel it ourselves. This rising notion of embodiment as an important aspect of trauma healing is not a passing craze in the field of clinical work, but rather, a deep return to an ancient truth: the body knows, the body tells the story, the body knows the way back to wholeness. If you, as a practitioner, have a sense that healing goes deeper than talk alone, than this article is for you. It is an invitation to engage with the foundational practices that help us all, both our clients and ourselves, to orient out of the confusing echoes of trauma and into the grounded, resilient being of the body. What is Embodied Trauma Healing? The essence of embodied trauma healing involves recognizing the body as the primary source of wisdom and the repository of our lived experience. It transcends intellectual understanding, the “story” of what happened, to go directly to the physiological imprint of trauma in the nervous system, tissues, and somatic memory. Rather than attempting to think our way out of trauma, we begin to learn to feel our way through it. This work is based on a number of foundational pillars: Foundational Practices: The Practitioner’s Craft Facilitating someone through the landscape of trauma is more than just a series of techniques; it is a craft that must be cultivated deeply. Here are the necessary practices that ground effective, embodied trauma work. 1. Cultivating Unshakeable Safety Safety is established physically (not just on a verbal, cognitive level), before any processing takes place. This is the basis of all trauma work. It is establishing a therapeutic experience in which the client’s nervous system can start to let go of its hypervigilance, and we have to be mindful of relational cues and tone of voice and space, but most importantly, that the client has a true experience of agency and choice in every moment. 2. The Art of Pacing and Titration If trauma is too much. Healing has to be slow and gentle. Titration is the practice of briefly checking in with a difficult feeling or memory and then promptly moving your attention back to a place of resource or safety in the body (this is called pendulation). In essence, it is like sipping a glass of water instead of chugging it. The process gradually increases the nervous system’s ability – the window of tolerance – to be with unpleasant experiences without tipping over into overwhelm. 3. Mindful Relational Presence & Co-Regulation Human beings are wired for connection. Healing occurs in relationship, not in isolation. As practitioners, the ability to stay in the present, grounded, and attuned to our client is a therapeutic tool. Within this relational space there is a co-regulation process where our own regulated nervous system acts like a biological map of safety for our clients dysregulated system. This is a non-verbal and powerful way of communicating “you are not alone in this. We are here with you.” 4. The Regulated Therapist: Your Nervous System as Your Primary Tool We are only able to take our clients as far as we have been willing to go ourselves. The most important aspect of somatic trauma therapy is the practitioner’s own embodied presence. When our nervous system is activated or distracted or in shutdown, we cannot provide a field of safety for someone else. This is why the practitioner’s self-regulation and self-care is non-negotiable. We have an ethical responsibility to regulate our inner world so we can independently show up as a clear, stable, and compassionate resource. One of our students captured this beautifully in her work: “I used to come to sessions with strategies. Now I come with my regulated breath. I found that when I was really inhabiting my body, my clients’ systems would settle before we even spoke. The real work was in the silence between us.” Practical Tools for Your Somatic Toolkit While the foundation is presence, specific techniques can help clients connect with their somatic intelligence. Simple Grounding Practice: Anchoring in the Present When a client feels activated or dissociated, a simple grounding practice can be a lifeline. Methods like Hakomi and Internal Family Systems (IFS) provide sophisticated conceptual frameworks, oriented towards inside-out exploration, that integrate mindfulness, somatic awareness, and a deep honoring of the client’s inner wisdom. The Confluence of Science and Soul This bodily, or embodied, perspective is not novel; it’s a fusion of contemporary science and traditional wisdom. New insights from modern neuroscience e.g. Polyvagal Theory, provide us a pathway to understanding the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and have begun to explain why these bodily practices are so powerful. Science is providing us evidence of what contemplative traditions have known for thousands of years- that the mind, body and spirit are inseparable. As one of our Embodywise faculty members often states, “We are using modern cutting edge science to better understand the language of the soul, a language that does not use words, but sensations, breathing patterns or postural changes.” Beyond the Session: Community and Ethical Practice This work can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly taxing. Practicing ethically and from a trauma-informed perspective means committing to continual learning in the context of a community of practice, where being vulnerable, sharing struggles, and conducting our own healing is supported. It also requires a commitment to creating equitable, inclusive spaces. We must remember how systemic trauma — racism, poverty, and other types of oppression — resides in the bodies of the people and communities we work with, and what may reside in our own bodies. That is what makes ongoing professional development in a conscious community a necessity of sustainable and ethical practice and not simply a luxury. We hope you will consider engaging
Embody Your Growth: Essential Somatic Practices for a Thriving Life and Practice
As healers, coaches, and guides, we devote ourselves to the practice of holding space for others. We study frameworks, learn techniques, and deepen our compassion. But have you ever left a long day of sessions, feeling empty, wondering where your center went? Have you ever felt that the wisdom you share with others is a well that you cannot draw from for yourself? This experience can be a gentle call home an invitation to come back into being versus merely knowing the principles of well-being. This is the essence of somatic practice: a way to grow personally and professionally that is based on what you can not deny is true based on your bodily experience. It is the portal to creating a life and practice that is sustainable, impactful, and deeply fulfilling. Why Somatic Practices Are the Foundation of Growth Somatic practices are simply intentional actions that engage sensation, movement, and breath to reach the innate wisdom of the body. In a culture that values intellect and being productive, these practices become a subversive means of returning to ourselves. As somatic practices continue to gain traction within healing professions, they are based on addressing the origin of our resilience, the state of our nervous system. Through a regulated, present, and aware state of our own somatic landscape we experience: Core Somatic Practices for Your Daily Life & Professional Toolkit You don’t have to sit rehearsing somatic awareness for hours. It simply means incorporating small, conscious minutes of embodiment into the course of your day. Here are some practices to get you started. 1. The 30-Second Arrival: Grounding and Centering Prior to a session, after a hard conversation, or any time you are feeling unsettled, this simple practice can return you to your center. How to do it: Take a moment to pause wherever you are. Notice the weight of your feet connecting with the floor. Notice the stability and groundedness of the ground under your feet. Take one slow, conscious breath in, feeling the air enter your body, and take one slow, conscious breath out, feeling the air leave your body. Feel the support of the chair or the space all around you. That is all. Why this practice works: When you bring awareness to your sensory nerve endings in your body, you literally send a signal to your autonomic nervous system that you are safe and supported in the moment. It literally short-circuits the anxious cycle in your head. 2. Breath as an Anchor: Simple Nervous System Regulation Your breath is the easiest tool available for changing your physiological state. How to do it: Lightly place one hand on your belly. As you breathe, the belly should soften and broaden like a balloon on the inhale. As you breathe out, try to make the exhale slightly longer than the inhale, feeling the belly lower slightly. A count of four on an inhale and six on an exhale works nicely. Repeat this five to ten times. Why this practice works: Lengthening the exhale stimulates the vagus nerve, the primary nerve of the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous system, which is a biological brake pedal that slows down all systems to help establish an experience of calmness. 3. The Body Scan: Cultivating Somatic Awareness This involves learning to become fluent in the specific language of your own body. How to do it: Close your eyes and turn your awareness inward for just a minute or two. Without judging, simply scan your awareness through your body. What do you find? Warmth in your hands? Tension in your shoulders? A sense of openness in your chest? Don’t change anything, just be gentle, curious and notice. Why this practice works: The body scan develops the neural pathways for interoception, the ability to sense the state of your body. This skill is the basis for emotional intelligence and self-regulation. 4. Mindful Movement: Unlocking Stored Tension Our bodies contain our stories, our stresses, and our joys. Slow, gentle movement can be utilized to help process and release whatever is stored there. How to do it: Select a song, play it, and allow yourself to move your body however it calls you to for a couple of minutes. It could simply be a gentle stretch, slow sway, or a strong shake. You must give up what it “should” look like and simply follow your inner impulse. Why this practice works: Movement helps complete the stress cycle and release energy that has become stuck in the body’s tissues. You will reconnect to that place of aliveness, agency, and perhaps playfulness. Your Embodiment is Your Greatest Professional Asset When you engage in your somatic practice, your professional presence shifts. Your ability to empathize expands in that you can sense the echo of clients’ somatic experiences in your own body, whether it be anxiety, grief, joy, or anything else. In our community, a therapist recounted a challenging experience. She was working with a client who was cognitively working through a past trauma, yet was emotionally disengaged with the experience. As the therapist listened to the client, she began to feel a tightness in her own chest. Rather than pushing that sensation down, she sponsored her own experience and took a self-regulating breath. In this moment of self-tuning, the client paused, took in a deep breath, and for the first time, tears started to roll down his cheeks. Her grounded presence provided unspoken permission for him to feel. This is the wonder of co-regulation. The nervous system becomes a tuning fork to help our clients find their own note of safety and coherence. The Meeting of Science and Soul This work exists at that beautiful overlap between modern science and ancient wisdom. Neuroscience on neuroception and the polyvagal system verifies that which yogis and mystics have been doing for years and centuries; that is, the state of our bodies drives the quality of our thought and emotion. When we pay attention to our physiology so simply, we are quite literally
Integrating Somatic Coaching in Daily Life & Work
By Manuela Mischke-Reeds For psychotherapists, coaches, somatic practitioners, and healing arts professionals, the real magic of somatic coaching happens not only in our training rooms but in the unfolding moments of everyday life. After 25 years of guiding individuals across cultures from Berlin to Buenos Aires to Bali, I’ve learned that embodied wisdom thrives when we weave somatic practice into our routines, professional presence, and shared communities. From Mind to Body: Bridging the Gap At the beginning of my career, I thought that learning techniques would change the lives of clients. However, the awareness of the procedures of a body scan or polyvagal regulation exercise was not enough until it became a habit. Authentic somatic integration respects the wisdom of the body, the wisdom that we are all born possessing, and is manifested whenever we take time to listen to what our tissues are telling us. Today, I am going to assist you in crossing that bridge between intellectual knowledge and living somatic coaching as the basis of everyday life and purposeful work. What Is Somatic Coaching Integration? Essentially, somatic integration means bringing embodied presence into every moment. It is not merely a series of exercises or clinical practice; it is the way we perceive ourselves, our clients, and our communities. Integration happens when presence demonstrates itself in every action, every decision, or every conversation, whether facilitating a client session or preparing your morning coffee. Daily Life Integration Here are five simple, effective practices for weaving somatic awareness into your day: Morning Body Check-In Instead of opening your email or scrolling through your social feeds, take two minutes to be still. Close your eyes and notice if you can scan your body from your feet to your crown. Pay attention to where you’re feeling energy, tension, or openness. Ask, “What does my body need today?” This kind of inquiry often reveals what your body is asking for such as movement, rest, warmth, or fresh air. Mindful Transitions Recharge your energy by taking three conscious breathing breaks between tasks. Whether you’re walking from your home office to your kitchen, ending a client session, or waiting for the coffee to brew; practice three conscious breaths. Allow your inhale to expand your ribs, and soften your shoulders on your exhale. These significant moments bring you back into your body and release tension before it builds up and overwhelms you. Nervous System Regulation Breaks Place mild reminders in your daily life to invite your system to reset every 60 to 90 minutes. You can also try the 4-4-4 breath method; inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts. Observe how your heart rate resets, and your clarity returns. These types of micro-practices develop resilience against chronic stress thresholds over time. Grounding Check During Movement While you are walking, whether it is around your block or down the hall at work, notice when each foot meets the earth. Pay attention to the movement of your weight into your feet and balance adjustments. Grounding through your feet can soothe your nervous system and help you feel connected to the present moment. Evening Reflective Pause Prior to facing your pillow and closing your eyes, place a hand on your belly and breathe into any remnants of tension. Thank your body for its work today, and trust that your body continues to guide you, even in moments of discomfort. Engaging in this ritual helps to cultivate gratitude, and also begins to facilitate restorative rest. A Personal Story Recently, a coworker who is recovering from burnout has explained to me how the practice of “mindful transition” transformed her afternoons. She transitioned from leaving dinner in the evenings feeling depleted from the many sessions.” Now, by purposefully pausing for intentional breaths from “back to back” sessions, my coworker reports feeling “present again” with her family. Professional Integration In a coaching and therapeutic context, somatic integration increases presence, deepens co-regulation and enhances leadership capacity. Cross-Cultural and Collective Considerations Somatic practice It is greatly influenced by the culture. A stark consciousness of the body can be a sacred aspect of the community, and be openly used in some cultural aspects. The awareness of the body, being blatant, is a moment of vulnerability in other cultures. To respect the entire spectrum of being is to adjust language and practice to context, which may involve focusing on grounded bowing in an East Asian context or expressive movement in a Latin American context. Additionally, as we all process our individual somatic patterns, we contribute to collective healing. Somatic practice makes available life energy stored in tissues, releasing trauma at the body, mind, and societal level, to create ripples of felt safety and connection. And this can extend well beyond the self. The ISITTA and Hakomi Perspective My training with ISITTA (International Somatic Interaction and Trauma Therapy Association) and the Hakomi Method taught me that experiential, “soma-up” learning, driven by sensation, is the foundation of lasting change. In Hakomi, we learn to enter the unconscious beliefs via the body, while ISITTA accentuates safety, resource activation, and adaptive regulation-integration begins when these principles are infused into technique and presence. Practical Steps and Invitation Immediate Practice: This week, pick one daily habit, maybe it’s your morning check-in, or you want to try a five-minute evening reflection. Commit to practicing this habit every day for a full week and observe how your experience of stress, presence, and decision-making changes. Join Our Community: Embodywise is providing consistent programs, live workshops, and peer circles to support your embodied journey! Regardless of whether you are just starting with somatics or an advanced practitioner, we invite you to join our community designed to honor your awareness, through compassion. Conclusion: The Ripple Effect of Embodied Living Incorporating somatic coaching into work and life shifts more than individual wellness; it radiates compassion, presence, and resilience to other families, teams, and communities. As you deepen your practice of embodiment, you not only restore your own natural wisdom, but also become a
Emotional Regulation: Skills, Strategies & Therapy Techniques
Emotions play a significant role in our daily lives, influencing our thoughts, decisions, and behaviors. However, when emotions become overwhelming, they can lead to stress, anxiety, or impulsive actions. This is where emotional regulation comes into play. But what is emotional regulation?
10 Mindfulness Exercises for Adults to Boost Focus
In today’s fast-paced world, distractions are everywhere, making it difficult to maintain focus and clarity. Mindfulness exercises for adults help cultivate awareness, improve concentration, and enhance overall well-being. Whether you’re looking for quick mindfulness activities for adults to fit into a busy schedule of fun mindfulness activities for adults to enjoy, this guide covers 10 effective practices to boost focus.
Mindfulness & Guided Meditation for Anxiety: Reduce Stress and Find Calm
In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, anxiety has become a common struggle. Whether it stems from work pressure, personal challenges, or the constant buzz of digital life, many of us find ourselves overwhelmed with worry and stress. While medication and therapy can be effective, natural and holistic approaches like mindfulness and guided meditation for anxiety have gained significant popularity due to their proven benefits.
Understanding Cognitive Distortions: Types, Examples & How to Overcome
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m a failure,” or “Nothing ever goes right for me”? These negative thought patterns are known as cognitive distortions—irrational and exaggerated ways of thinking that can significantly impact our emotions, behavior, and mental well-being.
What is Gratitude Explained? How to Practice & Cultivate Mindfulness
In our busy lives, we often focus on what we lack rather than appreciating what we have. However, practicing gratitude can transform the way we experience life, making us happier, healthier, and more mindful. But what is gratitude exactly, and why does it matter?
Finding the Right Continuum Movement Therapy Training Program for Your Goals
Continuum movement therapy is a transformative practice that combines movement, breathwork, and awareness to promote healing, emotional balance, and physical well-being. Whether you’re looking to deepen your personal practice, enhance your career as a movement therapist, or integrate body-centered techniques into your existing work, finding the right Continuum movement therapy training program is essential for achieving your goals. In this blog, we’ll explore key factors to consider when selecting a movement therapy certification program, and how you can align it with your personal and professional aspirations.