Reclaiming Healing Through Mind-Body Approaches at the Aguirre Center
- Dr. Sophia Aguirre, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
Updated: May 21
At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, we understand that trauma isn't merely a psychological experience. It is deeply rooted in the body. For marginalized communities, this trauma often arises from systemic oppression, discrimination, generational wounds, and cultural displacement. Because of this, traditional talk therapy is often not enough for true healing. Here, mind-body approaches come into play, offering holistic methods to process trauma while honoring the body’s wisdom.
Why Are Mind-Body Approaches Important?
For many BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and marginalized individuals, trauma is not just one event—it is a continuous experience. This trauma manifests in ways such as chronic stress, hypervigilance, dissociation, and various somatic symptoms. These can include headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and muscle tension. Traditional Western therapeutic models typically focus on cognitive processing. However, healing must encompass how trauma is embedded in the body. Mind-body therapies strive to reintegrate both mind and body, enabling clients to regain agency over their nervous system and reconnect with their true selves in affirming ways.
Exploring Somatic Approaches to Trauma Healing
Somatic Experiencing
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing helps clients process trauma by focusing on bodily sensations instead of recounting distressing memories. This method can be especially beneficial for marginalized clients who may have learned to suppress emotions or disconnect from their bodies due to societal expectations or stigma.
How It Helps:
Regulates the nervous system effectively.
Allows for the safe release of stored trauma.
Promotes awareness of bodily sensations without overwhelming clients.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy combines somatic awareness with attachment theory and mindfulness. This therapy aids clients in understanding how past trauma impacts their movement, posture, and nervous system responses.
Why It’s Beneficial for Marginalized Clients:
Promotes healing from intergenerational trauma.
Addresses the body’s reactions to microaggressions and continual stress.
Enhances boundary-setting through embodied awareness.
Enhanced EMDR with Somatic Awareness
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a renowned trauma therapy. However, when combined with somatic awareness, it can be significantly more effective for clients who feel disconnected from their bodies. By noticing their bodily sensations while processing traumatic memories, clients can integrate their experiences more comprehensively.
Especially Helpful For:
Survivors of gender-based or racial trauma.
Clients struggling with complex PTSD due to systemic oppression.
Individuals experiencing dissociation or feeling “stuck” in their healing journey.
Other Mind-Body Approaches to Trauma Recovery
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
Practicing yoga within a trauma-sensitive framework helps individuals foster a more profound connection to their bodies without the pressure to conform to mainstream fitness culture. This is particularly powerful for BIPOC, queer, trans, disabled, and larger bodies often excluded from traditional wellness spaces.
Benefits of Yoga:
Cultivates a sense of safety within one’s body.
Encourages self-compassion and acceptance.
Strengthens body autonomy and agency.
Breathwork Techniques
Breathwork, particularly from Indigenous and Eastern traditions, offers accessible tools for regulating the nervous system. For those who have internalized stress from oppression, reconnecting with the breath can be a transformative act of reclamation—bringing peace and presence back into their lives.
Breath Practices for Healing:
4-7-8 Breathing: Useful for calming the nervous system.
Box Breathing: A grounding technique during distress.
Lion’s Breath: Helps in releasing suppressed emotions.
Nature-Based Healing and Ancestral Practices
Healing in nature and reconnecting with ancestral practices can be profoundly restorative for individuals whose cultural traditions have been oppressed or erased. Whether through gardening, ceremonial practices, drumming, or herbal medicine, embracing these traditions fosters resilience and collective healing.
How This Assists Marginalized Clients:
Affirming cultural identity and ancestral wisdom.
Mitigating stress through connection with nature.
Promoting community-focused healing over individualistic approaches.
Honoring the Body as a Site of Liberation
For marginalized individuals, healing transcends merely overcoming trauma. It is about reclaiming the body as a space for joy, resistance, and liberation. Mind-body approaches empower clients to tune into their bodies, trust their instincts, and develop a healing journey aligning with their cultural and personal identities.
At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, we are dedicated to trauma recovery that is anti-oppressive, culturally affirming, and body-liberating. Our team includes several therapists who specialize in somatic approaches to therapy. If you or someone you know is in search of holistic healing that honors lived experiences, we encourage you to explore somatic therapies with us.
You deserve a healing journey that sees you fully—mind, body, and spirit.
Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy
Providing culturally-affirming, anti-oppressive, and inclusive counseling and therapy in Atlanta, Georgia, and beyond.