Somatic Therapy is a body-based and trauma-informed approach that centers the experience of the body and nervous system in therapy.  Somatic Therapy (Body Psychotherapy) invites us into gentle, present-moment awareness of the nervous system patterns that are alive in each of our bodies. This supports our systems in feeling what's present and deepening our relationships to it, and can aid in metabolizing trauma, restoring nervous system resilience, and providing opportunities to (re)connect with the innate wisdom of our bodies as we build awareness of our own embodied consciousness. The process of engaging in Somatic Therapy and somatic practice helps us become aware of and expand our capacity to be with difficult emotions and sensations. This increase in capacity creates more safety in our bodies and supports us in accessing embodied states of wellbeing. It can be used as a stand-alone approach to psychotherapy, or as a trauma-processing tool adjunctive to other modalities.

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Body-based (somatic) approaches to psychotherapy can be especially supportive for those experiencing:

 

• Trauma and PTSD

• Injuries and accidents

• Grief, loss, and heartache

• Attachment-based traumas

• Chronic pain and disability 

• Anxiety, depression, or overthinking

• Dissociation, avoidance, or nervous system dysregulation

• Perinatal experiences and birth preparation 

• Trauma and exhaustion related to systemic oppression

• Issues with intimacy, boundaries, and trust 

• Navigating neurodivergence and neuroqueer identities 

• Compassion fatigue, burnout, chronic stress

 

How can Somatic Therapy help you?

 

Many of us live with chronically overburdened nervous systems. This can result from trauma, grief, anxiety, and carrying the cultural patterning of urgency and overwhelm that is inherent in the Western pace of life. By spending more time being with sensations and emotions, we can support our nervous systems in slowing down, processing the charge(s) stored in our bodies, and creating and embodying new patterns for how we relate to ourselves and the world.

 

Some benefits of Somatic Therapy include:

 

• Building nervous system resilience

• Processing and metabolizing traumatic experiences held in our nervous systems

• Helping our bodies notice our “stuck” states (like fight, flight, freeze, fawn) and access other options

• Creating and embodying new patterns of relating to self and other

• Accessing internal resources for change and wellbeing

• Finding less activation in difficult conversations

• Discovering and expressing embodied boundaries

• Finding greater access to ease, joy, rest, and calm 

• Preparing for or processing challenging body-based experiences (surgeries, pregnancies, accidents, losses, etc.)

 

What happens in a Somatic Therapy session?

 

Each Somatic Therapy session is different, and is tailored to support the specific patterns of your nervous system. A somatic talk therapy session is conducted in a chair and might include gentle breathing, nervous system mapping and education, processing of emotions or sensations, mindfulness, expressive arts or creative expression, and may draw upon traditional talk-therapy modalities like self-compassion, parts work (IFS), dream work, DBT, emotionally focused therapy, and narrative therapy. An Integrative Somatic Therapy Session (ISTP)™ is conducted on the floor and can include deeper breathwork, gentle movement and postures, restorative touch, and ceremony. More info about ISTP™ can be found on the ISTP™ website here. All sessions are offered both online or in-person. A Somatic Therapy session can include any of the following:

 

• Holding compassion for emotions and sensations 

• Practices for noticing how your body responds to feelings in the present moment

• Restorative breathwork, restful postures and learning to trust the body's natural processes for moving energy

• Somatic processing for trauma recovery (eg. discerning and discharging “stuck” responses in the body, like noticing the body's desire to flee and stomping the feet to process this “flight” energy)

• Creative expression through organic movement, sound, or arts

• Psychoeducation on nervous system patterning and the ways the body protects itself through armouring (because it cares about you and wants to keep you safe!)

• Spiritual practices for deep calm (mindfulness, sound therapy, organic movement, breathwork, guided meditation)

• Experiences of co-regulation with your therapist, which can help soothe an activated nervous system

• ISTP™ sessions can also include touch and bodywork for processing trauma patterning

 

Is Somatic Therapy right for you?

 

Somatic therapy is offered for individuals and couples. It can be used as a stand-alone psychotherapy treatment or in conjunction with other therapy modalities you may also be engaged in with other practitioners. Some may choose to continue seeing other therapists, but engage in Somatic Therapy sessions to address trauma or chronic pain, practice a specific skill such as embodied boundary-setting, prepare for a body procedure, or process childhood experiences. 

 

If you are longing to connect more deeply with your body, to understand your nervous system better, or to feel less activated and more spacious throughout your day, you would likely be a great fit for somatic approaches to therapy.

 

How to prepare for Somatic Therapy:

 

In Somatic Therapy, all you need to do is show up and be yourself. I tailor my approaches to meet you where you exactly where you are at. You may want to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that supports you in feeling safe and relaxed. You may also want to bring any small items that bring comfort, like a blanket, soothing stone, or special item.

 

If you are coming for ISTP™ and your session is longer than 2.5 hours, please also consider bringing some snacks for if we decide to take a light break.

 

If you have any further questions, please reach out.

To book a session, contact feelingspacetherapy@gmail.com.

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