SHEN Therapy is a scientifically researched form of somatic energy healing developed by American scientist Richard Pavek. SHEN is an acronym for Specific Human Energy Nexus.

The primary aim of SHEN Therapy is to release emotions trapped in the body. Once the emotions have been cleared, the body too is liberated from any associated physical pain or tension.

Some forms of therapy such as counseling involve talking a great deal about traumatic events with the idea that this releases them, but it is the contention of this particular form of healing that somatically held emotions may need a push from an external source of energy to free the body/mind of the original wound.

SHEN Therapy teaches that emotions are held in the torso, at four main sites: the heart, the solar plexus, the kath (below the navel), and the root (the perineum area).

During a session, the practitioner places hands in paired positions on the fully clothed client who is lying on the table. The practitioner ascertains the locations of somatically held emotions and determines an appropriate physio-emotional release plan. (This treatment plan is based on extensive intake and interviewing with the client prior to the session.) A naturally occurring energy flows from the practitioner’s hands through the emotional energy centers (chakras) of the client’s body in a precise way to discharge debilitating emotions.

Here are a few common examples where the need for healing might be indicated according to SHEN philosophy:

• Weight on the chest (Heart)
• Butterflies in the stomach (Solar Plexus)
• Choking back emotion (Throat)
• Nervousness to the point of wanting to vomit (Solar Plexus)

Each noted feeling or sensation is associated with one of the chakra centers in the centers of the body, and may be an indication of repression or holding of information or trauma in the body/mind.