Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy brings the body into the conversation, helping you notice and settle the physical side of stress and trauma that words alone may not reach.
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What somatic therapy is
Somatic means relating to the body. Somatic therapy pays attention to what your body is doing, not only what your mind is thinking. After trauma, the body can stay on alert long after danger has passed: a tight jaw, a racing heart, shallow breathing, a startle at small sounds, or a heaviness that will not lift. Somatic approaches help you notice these signals with less fear and find ways to help your nervous system settle.
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What sessions can include
In a somatic session your therapist may pause the conversation and invite you to notice what is happening physically. Where do you feel that worry? What happens to your breathing when you talk about the hospital? You might experiment with small movements, posture changes, pressing your feet into the floor, or orienting to the room around you. Nothing is forced. You stay in control of what you try and can always say, "Not today."
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Doing it online
Somatic work translates well to online sessions. You are already in your own space, which can make it easier to notice how your body really feels day to day. A little preparation helps: a chair you can sit in comfortably, room to stand or stretch if you want, and a blanket or object that feels grounding. Your therapist will guide you through what to notice and will check in often about how it is going.
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When the body has been through a lot
If you live with chronic pain, an injury, a brain injury, or medical trauma, paying attention to your body may feel complicated or unwelcome. That is understandable. Somatic work here is not about pushing through pain. It is about building a kinder, more workable relationship with your body as it is now, finding moments of ease, and respecting its limits. Let your clinician know about any physical conditions so the work fits your body.
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Questions to ask
You might ask: What would somatic work look like for me? How do you adapt it for pain or limited mobility? What if noticing my body makes me more anxious? How does it fit with EMDR or talk-based approaches? Sessions are online, 55 minutes, for people located in Arizona. Ask during a free 15-minute consultation whether somatic work is a good fit, and what a first session might feel like for you.
Questions
Before You Begin
Does somatic therapy involve touch?
No. All sessions are online, and somatic work here focuses on your own awareness and movement.
What if I live with chronic pain?
Tell your clinician. Somatic work is adapted to your body and never asks you to push through pain.
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