Somatic Skills Training for Kids (and adults!) with Neurodiverse Abilities
Somatic CBT Skills Training
What is Neurosomatix?
Neurosomatix is a somatic CBT skills training course for kids (and adults!) with neurodiverse abilities.
Neurosomatix is
- Humanistic
- Skills-Based
- Evidence-Based
- Strengths-Based
Neuro = The Neurological System
Soma/Somatic = The Body
CBT = Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Skills = Abilities "acquired through training and practice" * (APA Dictionary of Psychology)
What is Somatic CBT?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), at its core, is all about recognizing the relationships between our thoughts (cognitions), feelings, and behaviors.
Somatic CBT skills are body-focused abilities acquired through training that help us manage our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors all happen in the body or through the body.
Your body is your gateway to the outside world!
What are neurodiverse abilities?
The terms "neurodiverse" or "neurodivergent" in common language typically refer to people who have neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But because Neurosomatix takes a humanistic, strengths-based approach, we won't spend much time discussing diagnoses or disorders here. Instead, we will focus on learning and practicing specific somatic CBT skills. We will focus on abilities rather than deficits.
No two brains are alike, and no two bodies are alike. From a very broad perspective, we are all neurodiverse because we all have varying levels of abilities for different types of tasks.
Another way of thinking about neurodiversity is how it shows up in cognitive test results. People with "neurodiverse" abilities often have wider gaps between their cognitive abilities and deficits, in contrast to those with more "neurotypical" test results. Certain cognitive deficits make it harder for some people be aware of their body and their feelings in the present moment.
However, the goal of Neurosomatix is not to treat any specific deficit, disease, or disorder. The goal of this course is to teach simple CBT skills related to somatic awareness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal interaction.
What are the goals of somatic CBT skills training?
The primary goals of Neurosomatix are:
- Become more aware of your body – and your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Learn easy skills that will help you manage your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Become more comfortable in your own body.
- Have fun!
What is involved in the Neurosomatix course?
The Neurosomatix online course consists of four video classes, each about 20 minutes in length, designed to be completed once a week over the course of four weeks. Skills learned and practiced early in the course will set the stage for more advanced skills that come later. You can always watch the videos over again, and you can complete the course at your own pace.
Neurosomatix Online Course - Individual Classes
- Introduction to Somatic CBT Skills - This class introduces basic somatic CBT skills related to body awareness, breathing, posture, and mindfulness. This class also builds motivation for practicing somatic skills by explaining why they are important.
- Somatic Emotion Regulation - This class focuses on becoming more aware of the body by learning to recognize feelings, including emotions and cues in the body. This class also introduces emotion regulation skills such as relaxation, grounding, and somatic regulation.
- Somatic Hygiene - This class introduces the concept of somatic hygiene -- taking care of your body by practicing easy somatic skills as routines. Skills include an easy morning movement routine that's like a "wake up" for the body, as well as a "wind-down" nighttime routine focused on sleep hygiene.
- Somatic Interpersonal Skills - This class is all about the role of the body in social interaction, and it includes skills related to eye contact, posture, listening, connecting, empathizing, masking vs. acting, and setting healthy boundaries through communication.
Who teaches the Neurosomatix classes?
Neurosomatix was developed by Dr. M. Scott Smith, Psy.D. -- also known as "Dr. Scott." Dr. Scott is a licensed clinical psychologist who practices in the state of Georgia, USA, just outside the city of Atlanta. Dr. Scott teaches all online classes in the Neurosomatix course.
Dr. Scott earned his master's degree in Humanistic Psychology at the University of West Georgia. He earned a second master's degree in Health Psychology at Mercer University, and he completed his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree in Clinical Psychology at Mercer University. He completed a clinical practicum training program at the Wellstar Kennestone Cancer Center (Wellstar Psychological Services in Atlanta, Georgia), and he completed his pre-doctoral clinical internship at Auburn University's Student Counseling and Psychological Services. Dr. Scott practices cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and his clinical practice at Counseling & Psychology Services in LaGrange, Georgia, includes psychotherapy, psychological assessment and evaluation, and clinical supervision of students and trainees. After completing his doctorate, Dr. Scott earned a certificate in Somatic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at The Embody Lab.
"I've been working with kids and adults with neurodiverse abilities in various clinical settings for many years, and I've noticed that many people with neurodiverse abilities struggle with issues related to somatic awareness. I created this course to teach simple skills that can be practiced on a routine basis with the goals of becoming more aware of your body, being more comfortable in your body, and having a better quality of life." - Dr. Scott
Who can benefit from Neurosomatix?
The Neurosomatix course was designed to teach basic somatic CBT skills in a way that is accessible to nearly everyone. Although the presentation of content is geared toward kids ages 8 and up, people of all ages can benefit from learning and practicing somatic CBT skills related to body awareness, emotion regulation, somatic hygiene, and interpersonal (social) interaction. These are the same basic CBT skills that Dr. Scott teaches to his psychotherapy patients of all ages. Nearly everyone can benefit from learning and practicing these basic skills!
Disclaimer
The Neurosomatix course content and all other content presented on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition, and it is not a replacement for medical or psychological healthcare.
The Neurosomatix course includes skills related to deep breathing, posture, relaxation, basic body movements such as squatting, and simple yoga-inspired poses and stretches. Please check with your medical doctor before beginning any new movement routine.