EMOTIONAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE EFFECTS OF SOMATIC THERAPY TECHNIQUES IN REDUCING DEPRESSION AMONG STUDENTS OF SKILL TRAINING INSTITUTIONS

Depression among students of higher education institutions is an increasingly worrying issue, with negative effects on mental well-being and academic performance. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of somatic therapy techniques in reducing depression levels and improving students' emotional well-being. Somatic therapy focuses on the relationship between the body and emotions through movement, breathing, and body awareness techniques to reduce psychological stress. This study uses quantitative and qualitative approaches, involving a sample of students with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Data were collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and behavioral observations before and after an eight-week somatic therapy intervention. The results of the study showed a significant decrease in participants' depression levels, increased emotional awareness, and increased ability to control stress. Somatic therapy was found to be an easy-to-practice and effective method in reducing depression. This study suggests that somatic therapy should be made part of mental health intervention strategies in higher technical education institutions.