Somatic Experiencing: SIBAM

Somatic Experiencing is not as well known as some other therapies like EMDR or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or even Psychoanalysis but it is something that continues to amaze me with how versatile and effective it is. I want to tell you about just one piece of Somatic Experiencing, SIBAM.

SIBAM stands for Sensations, Images, Behavior, Affect and Meaning. These act as names for some of the basic channels of information we can draw on to understand life.

Sensations - these are the visceral experiences that you feel inside your body. You can feel them in your head, jaw, face, throat, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, back, stomach, hips, legs, feet, etc. They can feel like tightness, looseness, whoosing, knots, vibrations, tingling, activation, energy, etc. They can have various temperatures associated with them (hot, cold) and can feel good, bad, neutral or some kind of combo.

Imagery - these are the images in the mind’s eye that can include what feels like random abstract imagery all the way to distinct memories being recalled.

Behavior - these can be movements, impulses for movements, impulses for other types of motion

Affect - feelings and emotions

Meaning - thinking and narrative making, creating understanding and meaning

What’s really helpful about Somatic Experiencing is that it helps people learn to tune into these various channels and shift between them in order to best help their nervous system and their body recover from the sufferings of life in a way that feels organic and right. We are over cultivated to use thinking to deal with life but learning to privilege our other information channels really expands our world and our potential for recovery and growth. Perhaps you want to take some time today and just see if you can notice each channel in you?