Why Train With Somata?
Psychotherapy training that brings together Transactional Analysis, embodied practice and contemporary understanding of trauma and the body.
At Somata, we want training to be academically rigorous while also being relational, experiential and deeply human. Our approach creates space for students to develop their theoretical understanding alongside their awareness of themselves, their relationships and the body.
An Embodied Approach to Transactional Analysis
At Somata, we offer students a distinctive approach to training by combining Transactional Analysis with a science-based understanding of trauma and the body.
We believe that healing and growth come through a mixture of cognitive understanding and embodied practice. We therefore put the body at the forefront of our training, inviting embodied exploration and here-and-now experiencing, while also equipping students with a range of somatic tools.
Clients can reach a stage in psychotherapy where they understand why they do the things they do, but that knowledge alone does not change how they feel. Cognitive understanding is crucial, but it is not always enough to help people heal, grow and change. This is where working with the body can become particularly powerful.
"If the memory of trauma is encoded in our senses, in muscle tension, and in anxiety, then the body must also be involved in the healing process"
Van De Kolk - Renowned Trauma Therapist
Small Psychotherapy Training Groups
We believe that smaller groups offer a deeper training experience, which is why we cap our training groups at 12 people.
Smaller groups allow more meaningful relationships to develop between students and tutors and can help people feel safer within the learning environment. We believe this supports students to lean into both the theoretical and experiential aspects of training more fully, creating a richer overall experience.
Personalised and Neurodiversity-Affirming Learning
Another advantage of keeping our groups small is that tutors can more easily respond to individual ways of learning.
Smaller groups enable tutors to respond to a wide range of learning needs, including neurodiversity. As a neurodiversity-affirming training school, ensuring that teaching is inclusive, accessible and responsive to each learner is a core priority.
Professional Psychotherapy Training to a High Standard
Somata is committed to providing rigorous professional training alongside the relational, embodied and experiential qualities that underpin our approach. We are in the process of applying to become a UKATA TA registered training institute. If this application is successful it will mean the following:
The training at Somata is Level 7 and meets UKCP requirements. This means that trainees who qualify through us will meet SCoPEd Column C, the highest level of accreditation. You will be able to advertise yourself as a psychotherapist, which puts you in good stead to start up a successful private practice, or securing jobs within the health sector.
Part-Time Psychotherapy Training That Fits Around Life
We recognise that psychotherapy training is a significant commitment and that many students are balancing their training with work, family and other responsibilities.
While many TA psychotherapy trainings run across a whole weekend, Somata's core training takes place on a Friday evening (5pm–9pm) and Saturday (9am–6pm). This structure is designed to make the training more accessible to people with family or weekend commitments, while retaining the depth and quality of the learning experience.
A Relaxed Environment for Experiential Learning
Our training weekends take place in a warm and cosy garden studio and private rooms at Laughton Lodge, depending on the year group. Both are situated in the East Sussex countryside, just five minutes from one another.
The locations offer a homely, non-pressured environment where students can engage with the relational and experiential nature of the training while developing to a high professional standard.
Is Somata the Right Training School for You?
Choosing where to train as a psychotherapist is an important decision. We encourage prospective students to explore our approach, understand the training pathway and get a sense of whether Somata feels like the right environment for them.
If you're new to Transactional Analysis, TA101 offers an introduction to the theory and approach. If you're ready to explore TA in greater depth, you can move on to our Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis.
For those considering professional qualification, explore our full Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy Training pathway.