Somatic Therapy
Connecting with what the body holds
Somatic therapy brings attention to the connection between the mind, emotions and body, recognising that our experiences are not held only in our thoughts.
When something feels overwhelming or threatening, the nervous system responds automatically in an attempt to protect us. Sometimes these responses can continue long after the original experience has passed.
You might understand something intellectually and know that you are safe, yet your body continues to respond differently. This can show up as tension, tightness, heaviness, numbness, restlessness, a racing heart, feeling frozen or a strong urge to escape.
Somatic therapy brings gentle awareness to these responses. Rather than focusing only on thoughts or talking about what happened, we become curious about what is happening in the body and what it may be communicating.
What Might Somatic Work Involve?
Somatic work may involve noticing:
physical sensations and changes in the body
where emotions are experienced physically
tension, numbness or areas that feel difficult to connect with
changes in breathing, posture or movement
urges to move towards, away from or protect yourself
shifts between feeling activated, shut down or settled
what helps your body experience greater safety and regulation
The aim isn't to force the body to relax or get rid of uncomfortable sensations. Instead, we develop a greater capacity to notice and understand what is happening internally without becoming overwhelmed by it.
How Can Somatic Therapy Help?
Somatic work can be particularly helpful when you find that talking and understanding aren't creating the shift you expected.
You may understand where a reaction comes from but still experience it automatically in your body. By including the body in therapy, we can work with these responses as they arise rather than relying on intellectual understanding alone.
Over time, this can support greater emotional awareness, regulation and connection with yourself.
How I Use Somatic Approaches
I integrate somatic awareness into therapy when it is helpful, particularly when working with trauma and patterns that feel difficult to shift through talking alone.
Rather than following one specific somatic method, I may invite you to notice what is happening in your body alongside the thoughts, emotions and patterns we are exploring.
This can be integrated with Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychodynamic psychotherapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy and EMDR to help us work with your experience on both an emotional and bodily level.
Common Questions about Somatic Therapy
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Not at all. Many people find it difficult to identify physical sensations or feel disconnected from their body, particularly if they have spent a long time coping by thinking, analysing or pushing feelings away. Developing this awareness can be part of the therapeutic process.
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Somatic work should not involve forcing you to stay with sensations that feel overwhelming. We work gradually and at a pace that feels manageable, paying attention to what helps you remain grounded and connected.
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No. While breathing or grounding strategies may sometimes be helpful, somatic work is broader than relaxation. It involves noticing how emotions, memories and protective responses show up in the body and becoming more aware of your body's responses.
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Yes. Somatic work doesn't replace talking therapy. We still explore your thoughts, emotions, relationships and experiences, while also paying attention to what is happening in your body.
At times, I may invite you to slow down and notice a physical sensation, emotion or impulse as it arises. This can help you stay with and process an emotional experience, rather than only understanding or analysing it intellectually.