Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (ISTP)™
Welcome
Integrative Somatic Studies Institute Inc.
Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
We believe that true healing comes when we work in tandem with both body and mind. Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (ISTP)™ is a Body-Centered Soul-Based Psychotherapy for healing body-stored trauma. This approach focuses on enhancing the body’s own capacity to heal by freeing the body, breath, and energy flow through the practice of self-awareness and self-compassion.
Formerly know as Mindfulness-Based Somatic Therapy (MBST), Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (ISTP)™ is informed by research and developed by Body Psychotherapist Ratha Chek, from an intuitive knowing of the need to weave various healing modalities to fully support individuals in therapy; body, mind, and soul. Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (ISTP™) integrates innovations in Yoga, Mindfulness, Breathwork, Movement, Bodywork, Sound, Resilience Enhancement, Ceremony, Body-oriented Processing/Integration, and neuroscience designed to enhance the body’s own capacity to heal and reclaim HOPE. Centering on this organic process to healing, individuals are gently guided to release body-stored trauma, experience self-efficacy, gain greater emotional resilience to interact with life circumstances with clarity, openness, and HEART.
INTEGRATIVE SOMATIC THERAPY PRACTICE INTUITIVELY INTEGRATES THE FOLLOWING HEALING MODALITIES:
Mindfulness
Restorative Yoga & Movements
Breathwork
Bodywork
Resilience Enhancement
Somatic Processing
Ceremony
Sound
Integrative Somatic Studies Institute Offers
Certificate Training
Certificate Training
Learn MoreIndividual Therapy
Individual Therapy
Learn MoreHealing Circles
Healing Circles
Learn MoreWomen's Retreat
Women's Retreat
Learn MoreInternships & Consultation
Internships & Consultation
Learn MoreRatha Chek, MC, CYT, RCC, Registered Clinical Counsellor
Training Director | Developer Of ISTP ™
I am the Training Director of Integrative Somatic Studies Institute, Creator of ISTP™ and founder of Body Mind Soul Healing Centre. I bring over 25 years of psychotherapy and insight in the healing of trauma into my training, clinical supervision, and mentorship. Along with a formal education in Master of Counselling Psychology, my background includes training in Therapeutic Yoga, Breathwork, and Bodywork practices. My education and training have informed my experience of working from the body’s knowing not just the mind’s.
During my earlier years of practice, I have come to understand that my interventions have centered on the mind thus, reinforcing a further disconnection from the body for many of my clients. I have come to realize that while the mind can distract us from the truth, the body always speaks the truth, when we are willing to listen.
Experiences with my own clients have taught me that one’s separation or disconnectedness cause suffering while wholeness or connectedness informs healing. Thus, integrating various approaches into a cohesive whole is premise to healing body-stored trauma. While most healing modalities remain distinct thus reinforcing separation, ISTP integrates distinctive approaches into a cohesive whole; working with breath, body, emotions and energy. Thus, for many of my clients, I their last stop. I am truly humbled by my clients lived experiences and strengths in their hope with overcoming life circumstances.
Training Certificate
Enhance your practice by learning to apply Somatic Therapy skills to help clients self-regulate emotional distress, manage physiological symptoms, experience self-efficacy, and build resilience with Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (ISTP) ™.
Integrative Somatic Studies Institute offers CE Credits for all our trainings. Training consist of 3 progressive levels presented as an experiential format offered both online and in-person. Completion of the full training is 1.5 years. See Training Overview.