SOMA Festival 2027
september 2 - 5
The only festival for Body Psychotherapy
MISSION
The Body Psychotherapy Festival SOMA provides an enriching environment for learning, sharing, and personal growth. By bringing together leading experts, practitioners, students, and enthusiasts in a dynamic space, the festival facilitates the exploration of body psychotherapy's profound benefits. SOMA fosters a community dedicated to holistic well-being and mental health.
Vision
SOMA aspires to be a gathering place for body psychotherapists, inspiring a shift towards a more embodied society where individuals are deeply connected to their physical and emotional selves. We envision a world where body psychotherapy principles are widely recognized and integrated into everyday health practices, contributing to a healthier, more aware, and resilient global community.
Theme: "What's love got to do with it"
The theme “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” invites us to explore one of the most fundamental forces shaping human experience: our capacity to love, desire, connect, and be intimate with one another. Through the lens of body psychotherapy, we turn to the body as the place where our histories of attachment, longing, pleasure, vulnerability, and relationship are lived and expressed.
Love is rarely simple. It can open us to profound connection and aliveness, while also bringing us face to face with fear, dependency, loss, conflict, and the limits of our capacity to remain present with another. Through compassionate exploration and connection we will explore what happens in the body when we reach for connection, when we protect ourselves from it, and when we allow ourselves to be changed by it.
SOMA Festival 2027 provides a space to engage with the many ways we experience love, intimacy, desire, and connection. Bringing together diverse perspectives from across the field of psychotherapy, the festival invites both personal and professional reflection on how we form relationships, navigate vulnerability, and meet one another in genuine contact. Together, we will consider what love has to do with the way we relate to ourselves and others, and how it shapes our experience of being human.
BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY
Body Psychotherapy, originated from psychoanalysis approximately a century ago. It is a constantly evolving field with a broad spectrum of applications, from treating trauma, distress, and imbalance to enhancing overall quality of life.
This approach integrates the mind-body connection, offering tools to address problems, dysfunctional attitudes, and addictive behaviors. By promoting integration, body psychotherapy helps individuals achieve a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
At its core, body psychotherapy recognizes that the mind and body are both interconnected and distinct. They function as one when in harmony but can feel separate when disrupted by trauma, stress, or unresolved emotions—often manifesting physically. By addressing both the psychological and physical aspects of these issues, body psychotherapy promotes profound healing and growth.
This comprehensive approach honors the deep connection between the body and mind, combining traditional therapeutic methods with body-centered techniques. Whether treating trauma, stress, or emotional challenges, it provides individuals with valuable tools to improve mental and physical health.
Have you ever wondered about the benefits of psychotherapy? Have you noticed how life experiences affect both your mind and body? Body psychotherapy allows you to process experiences holistically, fostering present-moment awareness to support a healthier, more integrated life.
Workshops
The festival offers a diverse range of workshops led by experienced practitioners and experts in body psychotherapy. These workshops provide experiential learning opportunities for participants to deepen their understanding and engage in personal growth.
VENUE
In the heart of Borovets Resort, at the foot of the majestic Rila Mountains, Hotel Rila provides the ideal setting for Festival SOMA 2027. Just over an hour from Sofia International Airport, it combines modern comfort with one of Bulgaria’s most spectacular mountain landscapes.
The hotel offers an exceptional conference centre, comfortable accommodation, multiple restaurants, a spacious SPA and wellness centre, an Olympic-size indoor swimming pool, and inviting communal spaces. The program of the festival is being designed to make full use of both the hotel’s outstanding facilities and the surrounding nature, creating a unique experience where learning, movement, and connection extend far beyond the conference rooms.
Extra Activities
In addition to workshops, Festival SOMA offers the following activities to enhance your experience:
Music
Enjoy live performances and evening dance sessions with skilled DJs.
Swimming & SPA
Relax, detoxify, rejuvenate in the on-site SPA and swimming pool.
Nature Walks
Join guided walks to explore the serene beauty of Rila mountain.
Group Sharing Circles
SOMA corners are the spaces where one can connect with fellow participants in supportive group discussions.
Silent Disco
Dance to your choice of music via wireless headphones, creating a uniquely personal experience.
We look forward to welcoming you to SOMA Festival 2027 a space for connection, growth, and inspiration
