Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind. It also lives in the body. After a traumatic experience, many people continue to feel on edge, disconnected, or overwhelmed long after the danger has passed. This is because trauma can disrupt the nervous system, leaving the body stuck in survival mode. Somatic therapy is a powerful, body-centered approach that helps individuals heal by addressing how trauma is stored and expressed physically.
Understanding the Mind–Body Connection
When someone experiences trauma, the body may respond with fight, flight, or freeze reactions. If these responses aren’t fully processed, they can remain “trapped” in the nervous system. This may show up as chronic tension, fatigue, panic, numbness, digestive issues, or difficulty feeling safe. Traditional talk therapy can be helpful, but for many people, healing also requires working directly with the body.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy focuses on increasing awareness of physical sensations, movements, posture, and breath. Rather than retelling traumatic events in detail, this approach helps clients notice how trauma shows up in their bodies in the present moment. With the guidance of a trained therapist, clients learn to gently release stored tension, regulate their nervous system, and restore a sense of safety and control.
Common elements of somatic therapy may include:
- Mindful attention to bodily sensations
- Breathwork and grounding techniques
- Gentle movement or posture awareness
- Learning to track and regulate emotional and physical responses
How Somatic Therapy Supports Healing
By working with the body, somatic therapy helps calm the nervous system and reduce symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional overwhelm. Over time, clients often report feeling more connected to themselves, better able to manage stress, and more present in their daily lives. This approach is especially helpful for individuals who feel “stuck” or who find it difficult to put their experiences into words.
A Gentle Path Toward Recovery
Healing from trauma is not about forcing change. It’s about creating safety, patience, and self-compassion. Somatic therapy honors the body’s wisdom and allows healing to unfold at a pace that feels supportive and manageable.
At Embrace Psychological Services, somatic therapy is offered as part of a trauma-informed approach to care. If trauma has left you feeling disconnected from your body or overwhelmed by physical symptoms, exploring somatic therapy may be an important step toward lasting healing and recovery.
Schedule a Consultation
For more information, contact Embrace Psychological Services, Inc. in Airdrie, AB, to schedule a consultation.