Mark Groves avatar

Dexa/Mark Groves

Learn more
Published Aug 25, 2020

#105: Coming Home to Your Body with Tami Amanda

Embodiment Coach Tami Amanda joins Mark Groves to delve into the transformative journey of somatic therapy, exploring how self-discovery and body-based healing can reclaim identity and foster personal growth, while also addressing the challenges of authenticity and self-perception in the digital age.
Episode Highlights
The Mark Groves Podcast logo

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Questions from this episode

Episode Highlights

  • Somatic Therapy

    Somatic therapy, as explained by , is a body-based approach that emphasizes feeling and moving emotional energy through the body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, it focuses on embodying concepts and addressing physiological responses like the shame spiral, which can manifest as dizziness or sweating 1. shares his personal experience of feeling disassociated during triggers, highlighting the need for techniques like deep breathing to calm the body 1. Tami emphasizes that somatic therapy helps individuals learn to embody their way out of overwhelming responses, rather than trying to think their way out 2.

    I cannot think my way sometimes out of really big responses. And so learning how to embody my way out of them is what I refer to.

    ---

       

    Success Stories

    Tami shares a powerful success story from her career, where she helped implement a non-verbal, somatic-based trauma therapy program for immigrant and refugee children. This program, initially introduced in an international school, has now been adopted across over 30 schools in St. Louis City and County 2. The program's success lies in its ability to help children heal without verbal communication, using activities like rolling and self-soothing to regulate their bodies 2. Tami's experience demonstrates the transformative potential of somatic therapy in addressing trauma, especially for those who may not be able to articulate their experiences verbally 1.

    I watched kids heal without speaking to them ever. Without them ever telling me their story, without them ever reliving that in words.

    ---

       

    Beyond Talk Therapy

    Tami discusses the limitations of traditional talk therapy, noting that it often fails to address the body's role in healing trauma. She shares her personal experience with EMDR therapy, which left her feeling stuck and unable to access deeper healing 3. The lack of self-disclosure and the rigid boundaries in therapy can hinder progress, especially for those with severe trauma 4. Tami advocates for a more holistic approach that empowers individuals to become their own healers by integrating somatic practices 3.

    I know my whole story. I know what happened to me. But why am I still in this abusive partnership?

    ---

Related Episodes