What is Somatics?
To begin understanding the difference between Somatic Coaching and Somatic Therapy, we should first understand the concept of Somatics. Somatics is a field of study which acknowledges the connection between our experiences or history as a human being and the current physical conditions of our bodies. It suggests that our past experiences – from infancy, childhood up to the present – have molded us into what we are today. It also suggests the existence of the possibility that we can undergo specific experiences at the present to improve our physical well-being.
Coaching and therapy centered or based on the concepts of Somatics aim to help people achieve a general improvement of their physical well-being, an understanding of uncommon behaviors and development of strategies to address them, or other specific benefits unique to each person.
Common Understanding on Coaching and Therapy
Somatic Coaching and Somatic Therapy both originate in the concept of Somatics and both aim to improve the quality of life of people. However, within the industry, there are some popular ideas on the differences between coaching and therapy.
Past and Future
Somatic Coaches claim that their work is focused on increasing your awareness of the effects of what you think on your body and the other way around, and on practices centered on one part to positively affect the other. You can say that they work on the future of the person. On the other hand, therapists often associate their work with the past – they try to understand what experiences in the past are linked to the current physical condition or behavior of a person. From there they work on how to improve your current physical state through experiencing exercises based on previous personal history.
Condition and Illness
Somatic Coaching is said to aim to improve the general well-being of a person. People may not be satisfied on the current status of their body outside of the conventional hospital diagnosis of a healthy body and want to further elevate the status of their physical life and often seek the help of somatic coaches for guidance. Somatic Therapists are generally considered as professionals who help treat a condition or illness from a patient. This can either be behavioral, physical, or a combination of both. The most common conditions subjected to Somatic Therapy is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
Common Goals
However, these differences are all relative. It depends on who you ask. While some professionals want their works to be characterized specifically and distinguished from like functions, there are also those who incorporate all the functions and scopes of the popular differences of Somatic Coaching and Somatic Therapy into one service aimed to further the quality of life of people. They don’t mind how the industry calls their work – coaching or therapy – but they how they can help the people who seek their advice.
When seeking the help of a Somatic Coach or Somatic Therapist, it is best to openly discuss your concerns and your goals in this endeavor so that the professional can properly assess if his field of experience would match what you need.
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