Mental Health Care in Denver
Our goal is to give our patients the opportunity to explore a wide range of mental health based care. We currently offer a somatic technique and will be adding in-person integrative psychotherapy services at our location in the near future.
Somatic Approach to Healing
Dr. Courtney and Dr. Taylor have completed additional training in Somatic release technique. Although our doctors will not offer the full practice of this technique, they will be utilizing many of the tools and incorporating this into their adjustments.
Why Do We Incorporate Somatic Release Technique?
This type of therapeutic technique focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It is based on the idea that emotional and psychological experiences are deeply intertwined with physical sensations and that addressing the body’s responses can help in healing and personal growth.
Below are some ways this technique helps to regulate the nervous system:
- Body awareness: Encourages patients to become more aware of their bodily sensations, feelings, and emotions. This increased awareness helps individuals recognize patterns of tension, stress, or discomfort that may be related to unresolved emotional experiences. By becoming more attuned to their body’s responses, clients gain insights into their emotional states and learn to self-regulate.
- Mind-body connection: Acknowledges the interconnection between the mind and body. Emotions and thoughts can trigger physical responses, and vice versa. Somatic therapists help patients explore the relationship between their emotional state and the physical sensations they experience. Understanding these connections can lead to a more balanced and regulated nervous system.
- Regulating techniques: Incorporates various techniques that directly impact the nervous system’s regulation, such as breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, muscle relaxation, and grounding techniques. These methods are designed to calm the sympathetic nervous system (the body’s stress response) and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the body’s relaxation response).
- Trauma resolution: Effective for individuals who have experienced trauma. Traumatic experiences can become stored in the body as physical sensations, subluxations, or muscle tension. By gently revisiting and processing these experiences in a safe and supportive environment, somatic therapy can help release and integrate the trapped energy associated with trauma, leading to nervous system regulation.
- Polyvagal theory: Explains how the nervous system responds to stress and danger. Somatic work can help clients identify when they are in a state of fight-flight-freeze (sympathetic response) and teach them how to activate the social engagement system (parasympathetic response), which is essential for feelings of safety and connection.
- Body-based interventions: Incorporation of physical activities like dance, yoga, tai chi, chiropractic adjustments, or other expressive movements may help patients process emotions, release tension, and promote nervous system regulation.
These activities help engage the body’s natural self-regulatory mechanisms, which may improve emotional well-being and overall mental health.
Integrative Psychotherapy
Although psychotherapy with a mental health professional is not currently offered in house, we have many providers within the community that we are able to co-manage with in the meantime.
Take the First Step
Contact our team today to schedule your appointment. We look forward to meeting you soon!
