Clinical Somatics- Anyone ever hear about this?

[Pompal 09.]

I was sort of messing around on the internet, seeing if I could find something about the possibility of there ever being a masters or doctoral program in soft tissue work (something other than osteopathy, chiropractic or physical therapy). Anyway, I came across this article - Somatic Systems, Inc. Begins Accreditation Process for Masters and Doctoral Degrees

I clicked the link at the bottom for the company, Clinical Somatics, and I was wondering if anyone ever heard of them or knew about it? It seems to be mainly concentrated on the east coast (between New York and Mass.).

patrick

 

[Evil Laurie :)]

Looks like it comes from Hanna Somatics, which is very cool... http://somatics.org/training

I attended an intro talk on it with a teacher from NHI. If I remember correctly it's based on the idea that the brain has an unconscious program for how to hold the body's chronic patterns, and that by guiding the client through movement in certain ways that bring those patterns into consciousness, the brain can rewrite the unconscious program to be more appropriate. There is a large self-care portion of daily exercises.

I still use some of what I learned on myself... haven't used any on my clients... as a sidebar, I can't imagine spending enough time on it to get a degree, but that's just me.

 

[common sence]

Well, the field of somatics is broad and deep, drawing from sources as diverse as exercise science, neurophysiology, and psychology. My favorite forms of exercise are developed around a core that has much in common with somatics, and I've seen remarkable results with a vast array of medical conditions.

It has taken me years of study and practice to reach the point I am at now, using movement training to help clients overcome perceived limitations and improve their health. I can easily see how a program of 2+ years is possible. Assuming such a program didn't require enrollees to have health-related undergraduate degrees, the basic sciences underlying the methods would require at least a year of serious study. Equally important, enrollees should be required to practice the methods themselves during the entire duration of their studies. This would ensure that they develop sufficient appreciation for the process and how different approaches work for them.

I am interested in seeing how their accreditation process proceeds, and what the final program structure looks like.

 

[hvn_fun2]

Well, the field of somatics is broad and deep, drawing from sources as diverse as exercise science, neurophysiology, and psychology. My favorite forms of exercise are developed around a core that has much in common with somatics, and I've seen remarkable results with a vast array of medical conditions.

It has taken me years of study and practice to reach the point I am at now, using movement training to help clients overcome perceived limitations and improve their health. I can easily see how a program of 2+ years is possible. Assuming such a program didn't require enrollees to have health-related undergraduate degrees, the basic sciences underlying the methods would require at least a year of serious study. Equally important, enrollees should be required to practice the methods themselves during the entire duration of their studies. This would ensure that they develop sufficient appreciation for the process and how different approaches work for them.

I am interested in seeing how their accreditation process proceeds, and what the final program structure looks like.

I am interested in seeing how it works out as well. I would love to email them and see how far they have progressed with it. It looks like they are trying to find investors to go forward.

I would think it would be like any other masters or doctorate program (2-3 post bachalors for a masters and/or 2-3 years post masters for a doctorate). I wouldn't mind seeing something like that at all.

patrick

 

[decentg]

My biggest concern with this is the inherent danger of potentially designing a degree program around a specific treatment modality. The program's long-term viability will depend on its ability to prepare students to work in a broad spectrum of potential environments, using a variety of different approaches.

Hanna Somatics offers a lot, but the fundamental principles and science that explain how the methods work are not unique, nor are they exclusive. Just as the terms "cranio-sacral therapy", "myofascial release", "positional release", etc. connote an overall approach to bodywork, there are many subcategories and specific modality brand names within each one. Somatics is no different, and I hope that a degree program would recognize this and give some reasonable representation of multiple approaches as part of the educational process.

 

[May Contain Nuts]

My biggest concern with this is the inherent danger of potentially designing a degree program around a specific treatment modality. The program's long-term viability will depend on its ability to prepare students to work in a broad spectrum of potential environments, using a variety of different approaches.

Hanna Somatics offers a lot, but the fundamental principles and science that explain how the methods work are not unique, nor are they exclusive. Just as the terms "cranio-sacral therapy", "myofascial release", "positional release", etc. connote an overall approach to bodywork, there are many subcategories and specific modality brand names within each one. Somatics is no different, and I hope that a degree program would recognize this and give some reasonable representation of multiple approaches as part of the educational process.

I agree. good point.

patrick

 

[aqua_diente]

Clinical Somatics- Anyone ever hear about this?

I had signed up for this training and then didn't go due to family health issues. Thomas Hanna's widow, Eleanor Criswell Hanna, directs the same training program out in California (somaticsed.com). Somatics Systems is now calling what they do "Prime Somatics" in case you run across that.