Mental health is just as important as physical health in achieving a holistic sense of well-being.

 

The World Health Organisation emphasises the integral role of mental health in overall health, stating that there is no health without mental health.

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Working in mental health necessitates an understanding that intervention requires a holistic approach. Although compartmentalising helps make complex systems more comprehensible, a person's well-being comprises various compartments such as school, work, church, sport, etc.; there is an unavoidable interconnectedness.

 

Likewise, as we are connected to the external environment, we are also connected within ourselves. Physiologically, we are connected through our fascia; neuronally, through our nervous system (central and peripheral); and generationally, through our biology (genetics, epigenetics, etc.).

 

Emerging is a picture of complex interconnectedness, with each of us being an expression of our external and internal connections.

 

A holistic approach to well-being means viewing the person within their complex and connected system. An embodied psychologist acknowledges both the experiences that arise from interconnectedness and one's perceptions of those experiences.

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Rarely do we receive the intelligence of our body. It seems more common to tell it what we want, like, 'I have to push through' or 'I can't stop now' (what do you tell your body to do?). What sensations do you notice in your body? Tiredness, hunger, excitement, sorrow, joy, pain, annoyance, hurt. How automatic do your sensations seem?

 

The intelligence our body holds stems from the nervous system, and not all of it is under conscious control or awareness. So, it makes sense that, both consciously and unconsciously, our body has all the information we need. Listening to it keeps you connected to yourself.

 

Embodied awareness begins with accepting that there is more going on than what is in conscious awareness and that you have a body with somatic intelligence.

 

Next is noticing.

 

Consider a spider's web, glistening with dew. If one of the strands is tugged, ripples are sent throughout the entire web. The body is a cascade of experiences and impulses; therefore, holistic intervention is crucial. Embodiment honours one's unique cascades and impulses, inviting curiosity. It involves receiving without judgment, intellectualising, pressure to perform, or any other barriers.

 

This integrative approach leads to greater self-awareness and self-acceptance, allowing access to deeper levels of healing, fostering resilience, and facilitating lasting change.

 

We are all connected, but it is the nature of that connection that empowers people to navigate their emotional landscapes more effectively, leading to greater self-awareness and overall well-being.

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Such a therapeutic approach considers not only the cognitive and emotional aspects of psychological well-being but also the vital connection between the mind and body.

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By integrating cognitive and experiential modalities, we engage our central and peripheral nervous systems giving rise to an integration of explicitly and implicitly stored intelligence - those unprocessed bodily sensations.