When we face emotional challenges, it’s easy to get caught in the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. “I’m not good enough,” “They always leave,” or “I’ll never get it right.” These narratives can feel as unshakable as stone, replaying again and again in our minds, keeping us stuck in cycles of pain and disconnection.
Somatic psychotherapy offers a powerful way to move beyond these stories. It helps us tap into the wisdom of our bodies to access the deeper truths that often lie beneath our words. By focusing on the body, somatic therapy enables us to address the root of emotional blocks, bringing body and mind into the here and now.
The Role of the Body in Somatic Psychotherapy
Traditional talk therapy often focuses on analyzing the mind and untangling our thoughts. While this can be insightful, it may not reach the implicit memories and automatic patterns stored in the body. Neuroscientist and clinician Dr. Dan Siegel refers to the body as a “neural net of wisdom,” emphasizing the importance of integrating the embodied experience into psychotherapy. He writes, “The mind is both embodied and relational—it is not something that is simply in the head.”
Somatic psychotherapy focuses on the body as the entry point for healing. By working with physical sensations, movements, and breath, we create pathways to release stored trauma and reset patterns of dysregulation. This process is informed by decades of neuroscience and somatic research.
Trauma Lives in the Body
Renowned researcher and psychotherapist Dr. Juliane Taylor Shore explains that trauma is stored as implicit memory in the body, shaping our emotional reactions and behaviors even when we’re not consciously aware of it. She highlights the importance of accessing these embodied memories to truly resolve trauma.
Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory further illuminates this concept, showing how our nervous system continuously scans for safety. When we experience trauma, our autonomic nervous system can become stuck in survival states such as fight, flight, or freeze. Somatic therapy works to shift these states by engaging the vagus nerve and helping clients regulate their physiological responses to stress.
Moving Beyond the Story
Somatic psychotherapy allows us to connect with the body’s present-moment experience, offering a way to access and transform patterns that are often inaccessible through talk therapy alone. Dr. Pat Ogden, founder of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, writes, “The body has its own story to tell, one that often bypasses our conscious awareness.”
By integrating techniques such as mindful movement, grounding, and body awareness, somatic therapy brings us back to the here and now. These practices enable us to notice how emotions manifest physically, such as a tight chest when feeling anxious or a clenched jaw when angry. By working with these sensations directly, we can release the emotional energy tied to them.
The Neuroscience of Embodiment
Somatic therapy is grounded in the latest neuroscience. Dr. Siegel’s concept of “interpersonal neurobiology” emphasizes the role of the body in fostering integration between different parts of the brain. When body-based practices are incorporated into therapy, they help strengthen connections between the brain’s emotional centers (such as the limbic system) and the prefrontal cortex, which governs self-regulation and decision-making.
What a Somatic Therapy Session Looks Like
In a somatic psychotherapy session, you’ll be invited to tune into your body’s sensations, movements, and impulses. You might explore how an old memory feels in your chest or how a current relationship stirs sensations in your stomach. Rather than diving into the story, the therapist helps you stay present with your body’s experience, guiding you toward greater awareness and regulation.
A Path to Wholeness
As Stephen Porges reminds us, “Safety is the treatment.” Somatic psychotherapy creates a safe space where the body’s wisdom can emerge, helping you break free from old patterns and step into the present. When the body and mind come into alignment, you experience a sense of wholeness and connection that goes beyond words.
If you’re ready to move beyond the stories you have long known and discover the transformative power of somatic psychotherapy, I invite you to reach out to our team for support.
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