About Eric Cooper
In skeptical desperation, I tried something called “Somatics.”
In 2010, my life was dominated by pain in my hip, sacrum, and back—so severe that I needed a cane to walk. My arms were numb, I was hunched forward, and my posture had shifted off to one side. I felt broken and defeated.
I had studied many advanced methods in search of relief, but nothing worked. I was still trapped in this cycle of muscle tension and pain, and despite my best efforts, I felt utterly helpless.
In desperation, I skeptically tried “Somatics” and, to my surprise, I was able to create improvement in my pain.
Even greater change came when I moved beyond the rigid protocols of traditional Somatics. By developing new, more effective movements and focusing on teaching the nervous system in a more adaptable way, I was able to achieve complete freedom from pain.
My method evolved by focusing on deeper tension patterns—those often overlooked by traditional approaches—that are the true source of many people’s chronic pain. I made movements that were more adaptable to the limits and abilities of my clients.
A significant part of my journey was my battle with severe depression for over 30 years. Today, I am no longer trapped by that depression. By addressing the underlying tension patterns that influenced both my body and mind, I found lasting relief.
What I’ve developed is more than a revision of Somatics—it’s almost a new modality, built on the foundation of Somatics, designed to meet the real needs of people struggling with pain, tension, and stress.
My mission now is to bring this improved method to the world, helping others experience the relief and freedom I’ve found.
-Eric Cooper
Developer of The Eric Cooper Somatics Method (ECSM)
Eric Cooper is a passionate Somatics expert dedicated to fostering individual growth through a unique and adaptive approach. Recognized for his sincerity, creativity, and personalized mentorship, each person’s journey is valued and encouraged.
Click for info on Eric Cooper's education and certifications
My Current Work
Over years of intensive training, personal exploration, and innovation, I have developed the Eric Cooper Somatics Method (ECSM), which addresses the real tension patterns and unconscious strategies that keep people locked in pain and postural imbalances. This exploration of movement, along with focused awareness, addresses the places and spaces that do not move, that we become disconnected from. The Eric Cooper Somatics Method focuses on bridging this disconnection that separates the mind and body, helping people reconnect to themselves, to become whole again.
Educational Background and Certifications
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Beloit College, with departmental honors.
I have also completed extensive bodywork training, earning multiple certifications, including:
- Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
- Board Certified Massage Therapist (NCTMB)
- Certified Neuromuscular Therapist (CNMT)
- Certified Myo-Fascial Therapist (CMFT)
- Certified Onsen Techniques Therapist (COTT) – Advanced training in Osteopathic Osteo-articular Manipulation
While these approaches provided valuable insights, I realized that the nervous system’s habits are the core issue behind chronic tension patterns. This led me to entirely shift my focus from therapeutic manipulation to a purely somatic approach.
Somatics Training Background
I studied Hanna Somatics in great depth—a system that allows the brain to relearn control over reflexive muscle contractions that cause pain and stiffness. My formal somatics training includes:
- Hanna Somatic Exercise Coach (HSEC)
- Three-Year Graduate Program in Clinical Somatic Education (CCSE)
“You are one of my two most brilliant students.”
– Martha Peterson, founder of Essential Somatics
The Eric Cooper Somatics Method
In the years that followed, I evolved and refined my own approach, rejecting many of the limitations of traditional somatics. The result is a new, more effective modality—one that addresses the hidden tension patterns that underlie chronic pain, stiffness, and postural limitations. ECSM is an adaptable method that can fit every person; it does not force people into rigid protocols. The method focuses on the deeper tension relationships that manifest as hidden breathing restrictions, confusions, and unconscious holding strategies. The specialized movements are designed to guide the nervous system to unlearn and release these patterns.
“After years of pain, and trying so many methods, I am now completely pain-free.”
– Eric Cooper
“You are one of my two most brilliant students.”
-Martha Peterson, CEO of Essential Somatics, at the time I graduated from her 3 year traditional Somatics Practitioner program.
What Martha and I didn’t realize then was that it was only the beginning.
I shifted my perspective and broke free from the constraints of traditional methods,
refining and evolving the process into something that
works for me and others.
This new version worked after nothing else did
Now, my mission is to deliver
a revised and improved version of this process
to those who need it.
I help people address why they have pain.
People with posture and pain problems come to me—often after trying many other solutions without success. Pain limits their lives. Through a specialized set of easy movements, I help them look inward and address the root of their pain.
I’m often able to help them profoundly change the cause of their pain entirely during one session, overcoming the trap, habit, or loop they had been stuck in.
Here’s a brief summary of my story:
I lived a life filled with stress and hard work, with decades of repetitive motion. I had injuries that were the genesis of what I interpret as opposing scoliotic bends. The result was unrelenting pain, tension, and sadness. I needed a cane to walk, and everything was sore.
I’d lie awake at night, worrying, feeling stuck and trapped.
I went on a quest to find a solution.
I found some relief in an earlier version of Clinical Somatics, originally developed by Dr. Thomas Hanna, but it wasn’t enough to fully resolve my pain.
I improved and revised the approach, building the missing parts of the method to create an adaptable, highly effective system for finding and changing the root holdings that lock people into muscle tension patterns.
Today, my pain is gone, I am no longer trapped in depression, and my muscles are free from the constant soreness that once defined my life.
I am dedicated to helping people change the course of their ship.
I am dedicated to helping people take control of their own journey, guiding them toward relief and a greater ease in their embodiment.
Change is possible.
There are so many reasons to be hopeful.
“I’m a firm believer in Thomas Hanna’s belief that Somatics would be the next revolution in Psychology therapy. Love where you have taken this work.”
-An advanced Hanna Somatics Practitioner