Somatic Therapy and Holistic Mental Health: A 5-Point Model for Care
Mental health care is in a crisis, and many are seeking a new approach that views each person holistically. Conventional, medicalized treatments have often fallen short, offering only short-term solutions to crises or managing symptoms to help individuals function in their daily lives.
At New Pathways, we are developing a service delivery model that treats the whole person within the context of mental health care through an integrative approach. Many clients come to us after years of conventional treatments, such as psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or medication management. They come seeking somatic therapy, which can mean different things to different people. Therefore, it is crucial to clarify what somatic therapy entails and how it fits into a holistic model of care.
A holistic approach to mental health care integrates various therapeutic modalities under the principle that connection to the body is fundamental to healing. By starting with the physical body, everything else falls into place. Our society's disconnection from the physical body means that many people need to begin with the basic skills of being present and comfortable in their bodies. Although it may seem simple, this process requires commitment and effort, especially for those who have learned to disconnect from their bodies as a form of protection from early childhood trauma.
It is essential to understand that somatic psychotherapy is not merely about discussing the physical body. We are composed of five interconnected bodies: physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual. Imbalances or disconnections between these domains can lead to dis-ease. Somatic therapy helps us reconnect with these foundational aspects of awareness, facilitating transformation across different layers of our being. This is the model of care we use at New Pathways Therapy Centre, whether clients are seeking talk therapy, EMDR, neurofeedback, mindfulness-based therapy, or psychedelic psychotherapy.
To illustrate the holistic approach, envision the five bodies as the points of a five-pointed star. This shape has been a sacred symbol in many traditions, including Michelangelo’s anatomical drawings, representing the idea that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. This model demonstrates how an integrative relationship among the five bodies emerges holistically, following the map of the five-pointed star.
The 5 Bodies in Mental Health
Physical Body: Therapy begins with connecting to the body through mindfulness practices, which can be incorporated into meditation, yoga, or everyday activities. We learn to be comfortable in our bodies and commit to self-care practices such as a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and regular exercise.
Emotional Body: Emotions are experienced in the body, and it is often when emotions become overwhelming that individuals seek mental health support. In therapy, we encourage individuals to face difficult emotions as they are felt in the body, helping them lose their intensity. This process is challenging as people may experience emotions as either overwhelming or insufficient. Somatic therapy guides individuals in safely and therapeutically shifting and releasing difficult emotions.
Mental Body: Thoughts are not random but form learned patterns that can become maladaptive loops, especially in conditions like anxiety and depression. These patterns are also reflected in the physical and emotional bodies. By addressing and releasing physical and emotional tensions, we can more easily identify and challenge maladaptive thought patterns, fostering new, adaptive ways of thinking.
Social Body: Humans are naturally inclined to form healthy connections with others. Mental health distress often stems from broken relationships with others and the natural world. As individuals improve their physical well-being, they become better able to assess and improve their relationships. This may involve ending relationships that no longer serve them and seeking out supportive community, friends, and meaningful work.
Spiritual Body: The notion that we are spiritual beings having a human experience suggests that once mental health care extends beyond symptom management, we can explore larger questions of meaning and purpose. Spiritual well-being varies for each person but is considered an essential aspect of holistic mental health care.
Compassion Ties It All Together
The core of this holistic model is compassion—for oneself and others. Compassion is not a separate body but the glue that integrates all these domains in somatic psychotherapy. A crucial aspect of therapy is the feeling of connection with the therapist and being held in unconditional positive regard, creating a safe space for personal growth and self-compassion.
At New Pathways, we are excited to contribute to this paradigm shift in mental health care. We aim to support the community in moving beyond anti-stigma approaches towards a more compassionate society that fosters human growth and potential through this holistic model of care.
