Experiencing Healing Through the Body: The Power of Felt Sense Therapy

Healing is not just something that happens in the mind. Many of us spend years trying to “think” our way through discomfort, trauma, or emotional challenges—but the truth is, our bodies often hold the story first. This is where felt sense therapy comes in, inviting us to slow down, tune in, and truly experience what’s happening within.

Felt sense therapy is rooted in the belief that our bodies carry wisdom. Our sensations, movements, images, emotions, and the meanings we attach to them (often unconsciously) all provide essential clues to understanding ourselves. We have found that using the SIBAM framework helps folks to explore your inner landscape in a gentle, flexibly structured way.

• Sensation: What are you feeling physically? Tightness in your chest, a heaviness in your limbs, a flutter in your stomach? Empty? Hollow? Dense? Paying attention to these sensations helps us anchor in the present moment.

• Image: What mental pictures or inner visualizations arise when you focus on this sensation? Sometimes an image or metaphor emerges spontaneously that reflects what your body is experiencing. This part is exploring how you would describe the experience. An example could be: "It is like a dark heavy ball in my chest, like a baseball but black."

• Behaviour: Notice impulses for action—what does your body want to do? Maybe it wants to move, curl up, stretch, or even retreat. These behaviours offer insight into your needs.

• Affect: What emotions are present in the body? Anxiety, sadness, joy, or even relief—identifying feelings in connection with bodily sensations allows us to understand the depth of our experience.

• Meaning: What personal significance or story arises in response to the above? This is often subtle, revealing core beliefs or patterns that have guided your life unconsciously.

Through this process, felt sense therapy encourages not just awareness, but embodiment. It is about meeting yourself where you are and allowing the body’s wisdom to guide your healing. When we learn to listen to what our bodies are telling us, we begin to experience safety, regulation, and a deeper connection to ourselves.

Healing is not about rushing to “fix” feelings. It’s about slowing down, feeling fully, and allowing the body to lead us to insight. Over time, this approach can transform the way we relate to our emotions, ourselves, and even the people around us. You can't think yourself through a feeling.

If you’re curious about exploring felt sense therapy, consider taking the time to notice your sensations today—what is your body trying to tell you? The answers may surprise you.