Final answer:
Somatic catharsis is the physical release of bodily tensions, whereas emotional catharsis is the mental relief from emotional stress. The correct answer is a) Somatic catharsis refers to physical release, emotional to mental relief. These concepts are key in different therapeutic approaches for alleviating physical and psychological harm.
Step-by-step explanation:
When differentiating between somatic catharsis and emotional catharsis, it's important to understand their specific definitions and contexts within therapy and treatment. Somatic catharsis refers to a physical release of tension, often manifested through bodily processes such as crying, shaking, or other forms of physical expression. On the other hand, emotional catharsis pertains to the mental relief and release of pent-up emotional stress, often achieved through talking, expressive arts, or experiencing emotions deeply.
To clarify, option (a) is correct: a) Somatic catharsis refers to physical release, emotional to mental relief. By contrast, option (b) incorrectly reverses these terms, option (c) suggests they are the same, which they are not, and option (d) incorrectly labels them as spiritual healing practices, which is not their primary focus.
The effective employment of cathartic methods in therapy has been examined in various studies, like the one conducted by Abbass, Kisely, & Kroenke, which analyzes Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for somatic disorders. This implies a direct connection between psychological processes and physical symptoms, thus highlighting the complex interplay between mind and body that catharsis seeks to address.