What Is Somatic Therapy? How Body-Based Healing Unlocks Deep Transformation
- jennifergrindonthe
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 5
If you’ve ever felt like talking about your struggles isn’t enough — you’re not alone.
Many people come to therapy saying,
“I understand why I feel this way, but I can’t change it.”
“I’ve processed it in my head, but my body still reacts.”
That’s because healing doesn’t happen in the mind alone — it happens in the body.
This is where somatic therapy comes in.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is an approach to healing that integrates the body (soma) into the therapeutic process.
Instead of focusing solely on thoughts or behaviours, somatic therapy helps you:
Tune into physical sensations, tension, and patterns in the body
Process emotions that are “stuck” or stored in the nervous system
Regulate your stress response and restore a sense of safety
It’s especially powerful for trauma recovery, where the body holds memories and reactions long after the mind has tried to move on.
Why Does Somatic Therapy Work?
Trauma Lives in the Body
As Dr. Bessel van der Kolk writes in The Body Keeps the Score, traumatic experiences are not just remembered — they are felt in the body. Tight shoulders, racing hearts, numbness, or gut tension can all be signs of unresolved stress.
The Nervous System Needs Help to Regulate
When we’re stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn states, our nervous system needs help returning to balance. Somatic therapy teaches tools for grounding, calming, and self-soothing.
Bottom-Up Healing Complements Top-Down Work
Talk therapy works on the cognitive (top-down) level, while somatic therapy addresses the physiological (bottom-up) level — creating more integrated, lasting change.
What Happens in a Somatic Therapy Session?
In somatic therapy, your therapist will guide you to:
Notice and track physical sensations in the body
Pay attention to places of tension, contraction, or numbness
Explore the felt sense beneath emotions or memories
Use breathwork, grounding, movement, or touch (if appropriate) to support regulation
Learn how to titrate (slow down) intense experiences so they’re processed safely
It’s not about “reliving” trauma — it’s about helping your body release what it’s been holding onto.
What Does Somatic Therapy Help With?
Somatic therapy has been shown to help with:
PTSD and complex trauma
Anxiety and chronic stress
Dissociation and emotional numbness
Chronic pain and health conditions linked to stress
Relationship and attachment difficulties
Emotional regulation and resilience
Why People Love Somatic Therapy
It’s gentle and body-respecting
It works even when words are hard to find
It empowers you to listen to your body’s wisdom
It supports long-term nervous system healing, not just short-term symptom relief
Is Somatic Therapy Right for You?
If you:
Feel like talk therapy hasn’t fully addressed your struggles
Notice physical symptoms tied to emotional stress
Want to heal trauma in a body-centered way
Are ready to reconnect with your body safely and gently
…somatic therapy may be a powerful next step on your healing journey.
You don’t have to stay trapped in old patterns — your body knows the way home. Reach out to us to start your journey. We offer free consultations to ensure you receive the best fit for your journey.
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