In this video, Phoenix L. Quetzal DeLeon, MA, AMFT, a somatic therapist at the Center for Mindful Psychotherapy, explains what somatic therapy is and demonstrates how it works differently from traditional talk therapy. Using a live example of working with anxiety, Phoenix shows how changing the state of the body can shift emotional experiences—offering clients more agency and choice in...[ read more ]
In this post, we share a video from associate therapist Phoenix L. Quetzal DeLeon demonstrating a simple yet powerful somatic practice for shoulder tension relief, and explore why our typical approach to relaxation often backfires. Plus we share some of the neuroscience behind why working with contrast, rather than against your body, creates lasting change. Why Trying to Force Relaxation...[ read more ]
It's 3 AM and you're lying in bed, mind spinning with tomorrow's presentation, next month's rent, and that conversation from last week that you can't stop replaying. Your body is tense, your breathing is shallow, and despite being exhausted, sleep feels impossible. You're caught in what feels like an endless anxiety loop. Your mind is jumping between past regrets and...[ read more ]
Your heart pounds as you join the crowd gathering to protect a neighbor from deportation. Your shoulders carry the weight of generations of struggle. Your breath quickens as sirens approach. Your feet know the rhythm of marching for justice, even if your mind feels overwhelmed by the complexity of the moment. Your body is not just present at the protest—it...[ read more ]
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