A Holistic Approach: Somatic Therapy for ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that can significantly impair daily functioning. While conventional treatments often focus on medication management and behavioral interventions, somatic therapy offers a holistic approach that addresses the mind-body connection, recognizing the interplay between neurobiology, emotions, and embodied experiences. In this article, we explore how somatic therapists view and treat ADHD, integrating embodied practices, movement, and mindfulness to support individuals in managing symptoms and enhancing well-being.

Understanding Somatic Therapy

Somatic therapy, rooted in somatic psychology principles, emphasizes the body's role in shaping emotions, behaviors, and overall psychological well-being. It views the body as a repository of sensory experiences, emotional memories, and unconscious patterns, with symptoms and distress often manifested through bodily sensations, movements, and postures. Somatic therapists work collaboratively with clients to explore how their embodied experiences contribute to their mental health challenges and facilitate healing and transformation.

Viewing ADHD through a Somatic Lens

Somatic therapists approach ADHD from a holistic perspective, recognizing that symptoms arise from a complex interplay of genetic, neurobiological, environmental, and psychosocial factors. Rather than pathologizing symptoms, somatic therapy seeks to understand the underlying neurobiological dysregulation and address the embodied manifestations of ADHD. Here are some key principles that inform how somatic therapists view ADHD:

1)     Embodied Awareness: Somatic therapists emphasize the importance of embodied awareness, encouraging individuals with ADHD to develop greater attunement to their bodily sensations, emotions, and physiological responses. Through mindfulness practices, breathwork, and body-centered techniques, clients learn to cultivate present-moment awareness and regulate their arousal levels, reducing impulsivity and enhancing self-regulation.

2)    Sensory Integration: Many individuals with ADHD experience sensory processing difficulties, including hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory stimuli. Somatic therapists help clients explore their sensory preferences, triggers, and thresholds, supporting them in developing strategies for regulating sensory input and managing sensory overload. Techniques such as grounding exercises, sensory integration activities, and body-based interventions promote sensory-motor integration and alleviate symptoms of hyperactivity and distractibility.

3)    Regulation of the Nervous System: The autonomic nervous system (ANS), which governs involuntary bodily functions, plays a crucial role in regulating arousal levels and emotional responses. Dysregulation of the ANS is common in individuals with ADHD, contributing to difficulties in self-regulation and emotional stability. Somatic therapists employ techniques informed by polyvagal theory, such as breathwork, progressive relaxation, and movement-based interventions, to support the regulation of the ANS and promote a balanced nervous system state.

4)    Movement and Body Awareness: Somatic therapy recognizes the importance of movement and body awareness in promoting self-regulation and emotional well-being. Movement-based interventions, such as dance/movement therapy, yoga, tai chi, and expressive arts, offer individuals with ADHD opportunities to explore and release pent-up energy, enhance body awareness, and cultivate embodied presence. Through rhythmic movement and expressive practices, clients can access inner resources, regulate their emotions, and improve attentional focus.

5)    Trauma-Informed Care: Many individuals with ADHD have experienced adverse childhood experiences or trauma, which can exacerbate symptoms and contribute to dysregulation of the nervous system. Somatic therapists approach ADHD from a trauma-informed perspective, recognizing the impact of past trauma on neurodevelopment and psychological functioning. By creating safe and supportive therapeutic environments, somatic therapists help clients process traumatic memories, regulate emotional responses, and cultivate resilience and self-compassion.

Treating ADHD with Somatic Therapy Somatic therapy offers a range of therapeutic modalities and interventions that can be tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of individuals with ADHD. Treatment may include:

• Mindfulness and breathwork practices to enhance self-awareness and regulation of arousal levels.

• Somatic Experiencing (Somatic Therapy) techniques to explore and process embodied experiences related to ADHD symptoms.

• Movement-based interventions, such as yoga, dance/movement therapy, or martial arts to promote body awareness, self-expression, and emotional regulation.

• Expressive arts modalities, such as visual arts, music, or drama therapy to facilitate creative expression and integrate emotions and experiences.

• Trauma-informed somatic approaches, such as Somatic Experiencing or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to address underlying trauma and support nervous system regulation.

Somatic therapy offers a holistic and integrative approach to understanding and treating ADHD, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit in promoting well-being. By addressing the embodied manifestations of ADHD and supporting clients in developing greater self-awareness, regulation, and resilience, somatic therapists empower individuals to cultivate a deeper sense of connection and wholeness in their lives.

References:

• Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. W.W. Norton & Company.

• Porges, S. W. (2017). The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe. W. W. Norton & Company.

• Rothschild, B. (2010). The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment. W.W. Norton & Company.

• van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books.

• Payne, P. (2005). Dance Movement Therapy: Theory and Practice. Routledge.