Somatic therapy is becoming increasingly popular in therapeutic practices, but what exactly is it? Where did it come from? In this blog, I’ll explain somatic therapy and how you can talk to a therapist about integrating it into your treatment if interested.
The word “soma” means body, so somatic therapy involves using the body as a critical element in the treatment of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and trauma. It recognizes that our physical sensations, nervous system, and bodily experiences are deeply connected to our mental and emotional well-being.
Somatic therapy has many approaches, such as Sensorimotor Therapy, Somatic Attachment Therapy, and Somatic Internal Family Systems. There isn’t one singular type of somatic therapy that’s considered the best—it’s a rich and diverse field with many traditions that honour the body’s role in healing. Western somatic practices also owe much to ancient and traditional healing methods from cultures worldwide.
Somatic Experiencing: A Deeper Dive
One of the somatic traditions I’ve been studying (though I’m not certified) is called Somatic Experiencing (SE). This method was designed to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or what we commonly refer to as trauma.
Understanding the Autonomic Nervous System
The core idea behind Somatic Experiencing is that trauma affects the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiration. The ANS has three divisions: the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric systems. It helps us stay relaxed in safe environments or prepares us to react to danger by activating fight, flight, or freeze responses.
Like other animals, humans have evolved survival instincts to respond to danger. If we face a threat, our body naturally wants to run (fight), defend itself (fight), or freeze (play dead). But when these responses are blocked—when we can’t run away or fight back—the unresolved instinct stays trapped in the body, leading to chronic trauma responses like PTSD.
How Trauma Gets “Stuck”
Even when the threat is long gone, the body may still behave as if it’s in danger. The nervous system doesn’t operate on the same timeline as our minds—it doesn’t know that the danger has passed. If a trauma response (fight, flight, or freeze) is not fully processed, the nervous system can remain stuck in a state of chronic distress.
Somatic Experiencing aims to help the body complete these unfinished responses, allowing the nervous system to reset. The therapy gradually works through the physical sensations linked to trauma, helping the body discharge the trapped energy and return to a state of calm.
How Somatic Therapy Works in Practice
In somatic therapy, the therapist creates a safe space where clients can build coping skills to manage overwhelming emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations. When clients feel ready, they begin to work through their traumatic memories while paying close attention to their bodies’ sensations.
This focus on the body, not just the mind, allows clients to process their trauma more fully. Instead of getting stuck in cognitive loops, somatic therapy helps integrate the body’s natural healing instincts, leading to a greater sense of calm and control.
The Power of Integrating Mind and Body
One of the things I love about Somatic Experiencing—and somatic therapy in general—is that it respects the body’s intelligence. It acknowledges that we are not just thinking beings but also physical beings with instincts and reactions shaped by evolution.
Clients can tap into a more profound sense of wholeness and connection with themselves by involving the body in therapy. Somatic therapy recognizes that the body, like the mind, has the power to heal. It helps us feel more integrated and grounded in our internal world and the world around us.
Interested in Somatic Therapy?
We have a few therapists that incorporate somatic practices into their treatment approaches. Feel free to reach out if you’re curious about how somatic therapy could help you! We offer free 20-minute consultations.
Schedule your consultation and start your healing journey today!