Somatic Therapy

Trauma doesn’t just live in our thoughts — it also lives in the body. You might notice tension that won’t ease, feeling constantly on edge, shutting down emotionally, or reacting strongly even when you know you’re safe. These are common trauma responses, and they make sense.

Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body, helping you gently reconnect with physical sensations, emotions, and nervous system responses in a safe and supportive way.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy is a body-based approach that recognises how stress and trauma can become stored in the nervous system. Rather than relying only on talking, this approach helps you notice and work with bodily sensations — such as breath, posture, tension, or movement — to support healing.

The aim is not to relive trauma, but to help your body learn that the threat has passed and that it can begin to settle again.

How Somatic Therapy Can Help

Somatic therapy can be especially helpful if you:

Feel constantly tense, numb, or overwhelmed
Experience anxiety, panic, or a sense of being “on edge”
Struggle to relax or feel safe in your body
Have trauma responses that feel automatic or out of your control
Find it hard to put experiences into words

By working gently with the body, many people notice increased calm, improved emotional regulation, and a greater sense of connection to themselves.

What Sessions Are Like

Sessions are slow, gentle, and guided by what feels right for you. There is no pressure to talk about traumatic experiences unless you choose to.

We may explore:

Awareness of breath and physical sensations
Grounding techniques to help you feel more present and safe
Noticing how emotions show up in the body
Supporting your nervous system to move out of fight, flight, or freeze

Everything is done collaboratively, with choice and consent at the centre of the work.

Somatic Therapy and Trauma

For many people, especially those with trauma or PTSD, the body learned to protect itself during overwhelming experiences. Somatic therapy helps honour those protective responses while gently supporting the body to release what it no longer needs.

This approach can be used on its own or alongside other therapies, such as trauma-focused CBT, depending on your needs and preferences.

A Compassionate Way Forward

You don’t need to understand your body perfectly or “do it right.” Somatic therapy is about listening, noticing, and responding with kindness.

If you’re curious about a body-based approach to healing, or would like to explore whether somatic therapy might be helpful for you, you’re welcome to get in touch.