Have you heard of Somatics? Yeah, neither! So, we contacted Somatic Experience Practitioner Ali Kates to find out what it is and how it can help with chronic pain.
Name: Ali Kates
Pronouns: She/Her
Day job: Trauma Recovery Coach/ Somatic Experience Practitioner
Location: Sonoma County, California
Tell us about your work and the thinking behind Somatics.
As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach & Somatic Experience Practitioner, I believe that trauma lives in the body. Essentially, the body remembers everything even if your mind forgets, and when trauma is stored in the body for too long, it can manifest in disease, autoimmune, gut dysbiosis, skin issues, fatigue, weight gain, and more. Learning the tools to move it out of your body is the key to working through this.
What led you on this journey?
In May 2019, three weeks before my wedding, I was diagnosed with late-stage chronic Lyme. I was spinning. Sitting in the IV room for nine months, I saw people from many walks of life come through the door. I listened to what was plaguing each person, and my recurring thought was people need to develop strategies to transform their lives. From my own battle, my private coaching practice was born.
What happens to the nervous system in times of trauma or pain?
Your nervous system helps you regulate your emotions, responses, and hormones during stress and relaxation. [From a Somatic perspective] Trauma can accumulate in the body when it is not discharged… it can [then] manifest as illness.
What is nervous system regulation?
Nervous system regulation is about how your body reacts, adjusts, and responds to internal and external stimuli. Most people talk about nervous system regulation like you’re supposed to be calm all the time, but that is not the case. It is about how you can handle different situations and whether your body feels safe enough to complete the below cycle.
What techniques do you recommend for calming the body?
Try bringing awareness to what is happening around you. So, when upset, triggered, or stressed, try this: 1) Name 3 things you can see, 2) Name 3 things you can feel and 3) Name 3 things you can hear. This helps your body to orient to what's around you and helps calm that fight/flight response.
You suffer from endo. What’s your advice for other sufferers?
Healing is never linear. Whether you are healing from surgery, illness, or anything else, it takes time. Trust the process and let yourself take the space to heal, even if it takes longer than you think it will. And take the full-time off that your doctor recommends to fully heal!
Finally, we’d love you to share your top life advice!
Your past does not have to define your present or future; seek support today because when you keep putting things off until tomorrow, tomorrow never comes.
You can read more from Ali via her website or follow her on Instagram.
