My name is Sophie Gengler and I am a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northwestern University. From my experiences living in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, studying non-dual shaiva tantra in Indonesia, practicing a silent 10 day Vipassana sitting, and teaching yoga, I have devoted myself to the exploration of the relationship between mind and body. Through my own endeavors and studies, I have witnessed firsthand how powerful the mind/body connection is. My journey has shaped my approach to mental health counseling and I intend to share the impact of somatic therapy, embodiment practices, and mindfulness training in my counseling practice.
Somatic based practices place emphasis on the body’s sensations. When we become aware of and attuned to our body’s natural impulses, we are able to connect deeper to our intuition and reactions. Modern research has shown that the body holds memories of trauma, stress, and emotional pain. These memories can exist within the fascial layers of our body, and when we move and engage in somatic practices, the body
experiences both physical release and emotional release. When we attune ourselves to these physical and emotional reactions, we can better understand our authentic layers of self. Practices such as yoga and breathwork allow space for healing and embodiment through organic, somatic movement.
Mindfulness based meditation is a form of somatic therapy that emphasizes awareness of the present moment. When engaging with the present moment through practices such as anapana meditation or vipassana visualization scans, we return to our bodily awareness which opens the doors for gentle acceptance of emotions. One of the benefits of counseling is deepened self-awareness. These kinds of embodied practices can return an individual to their body, emotions, intuition, breath, community, and ultimately to their authentic self.
The wisdoms of the body lead us directly to heightened awareness of our emotional and psychological states. We harbor an innate intelligence that can bring all aspects of yourself– mind, body, emotion, spirit–into harmony. My intention in my practice is to help people become so attuned to their body that every experience of emotion and interaction with the world is met with awareness and joy. I hope to
empower people to feel livened and enveloped by their own somatic engagement. When we become fully attuned to our emotions and fully connected to the world around us, we can experience the depths of vibrancy. Every moment becomes an opportunity to connect, authentically express, and to collaborate in the dance of healing.
Written by Sophie Gengler, Mental Health Graduate Student
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