SomatoEmotional Release® is a way of working with the body-mind to help release or transform emotional issues and/or memories within the body tissues.
Often when we have physical symptoms there are emotional components and some physical symptoms may not fully release and heal until the emotional component is taken care of too. This may be the case in chronic illness as well as in less obvious, sub-clinical patterns, such as poor immunity, lack of energy, lack of confidence or anxiety, for example.
In considering how best to assist this link between physical tissue and emotional and mental aspects, Dr John Upledger (originator of CranioSacral Therapy) gradually developed a process into what he called SomatoEmotional Release® (SER®).
Most healthcare approaches separate mind and body – you can have either physical therapy or psychotherapy. What SER® provides is a framework and toolkit for working with the body tissues (‘somata’) at the same time as with the emotions, to work towards a ‘release’ of any retained trauma. This can occur in a myriad of ways and is frequently gentle and creative, as we listen to and learn from both mind and body and move at the pace of the client.
Often clients describe images, memories or anything else that they may be aware of. Sometimes combined with the tissue work of CST particular aspects of Jungian, Gestalt and Psychosynthesis therapies, facilitate the process. This allows any emotional and physical components, from any type of trauma held within the body tissues, to be transformed or released.
SER® facilitates personal growth, helps us move from illness, unresolved issues and lack of potential, towards health and fulfilment, and is an ingenious tool for sorting out our lives and redesigning our futures.
