Is somatic work right for me?

Source: University of Maryland, Baltimore

I've nearly gotten ahead of myself with this blogging business, and haven't yet addressed some fundamentals — starting with: Is this kind of work right for me?

I struggle to answer that without automatically responding, "Yes!" And not because I'm a practitioner, but because I genuinely believe most people can benefit from having a dedicated space to explore what's going on inside them.

Of course, I'm a little biased. I'm American, and there's a stark cultural difference compared to Central Europe when it comes to seeking out mental health support. We've created television shows, movies, and PSAs with celebrities talking about it openly, and placed guidance counsellors and psychologists in schools and corporate offices. The United States is not exemplary in providing mental healthcare — especially if we get into the costs — but the act of seeking help is not looked down upon.

Sadly, I've had more than a handful of clients share the following (each more than once):

"[My Czech partner] has been suffering their whole life, but was always told that talking to someone would confirm they were insane."

"My [loved one] is very [fill-in Central/Eastern European], I could never talk about feelings."

"[People/Friends/My boss] here could never understand me if I told them about my [mental illness/feelings around hardship]."

These kinds of statements have weighed on me since I moved here, and were a large part of why I decided to offer a wider range of techniques, with more affordable rates and sliding scale options. Czechs are the 13th highest EU nation in suicide rates, as reported by the WHO in September 2018. By making mental health support more accessible — and by encouraging more people to try it — we could change lives and the society we live in.

Now to address the question: Is this kind of work right for me?

In short: Absolutely. It is for anyone, for any reason, at any time — as long as you are open to growth, to challenging yourself, and to working toward being the person you would like to be.

In length:

• Are you feeling sad, unmotivated, hopeless?

• Overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure who to turn to? At the end of your rope, or afraid you could be?

• Are you feeling apathetic toward things, people, and parts of life that once brought you joy?

• Are you feeling excessively worried about your life or someone else's?

• Are you unable to complete daily and routine tasks, such as working, cleaning, sleeping?

• Are you experiencing a life transition — a significant move to a new city, loss of a job, a break-up or divorce, or grief after losing a loved one?

• Are you navigating identity questions or adverse reactions from family, friends, and society related to race, gender, and/or sexuality?

• Are you struggling in relationships? Do you feel your communication and coping tools could be improved with professional support?

• Have you experienced emotional and/or physical trauma and/or abuse?

• Are you dealing with addiction or obsessive/compulsive behaviour?

• Are you living with a chronic illness or condition that leaves you feeling alienated?

• Do you have a child who is acting out excessively, behaving differently, or going through difficult life events, and you'd like to provide support?

If you've said "Yes" to at least one of these, then this kind of work would be right for you. And as I mentioned briefly, I think everyone could benefit from having more room to thrive in a space with support and without judgement.