Somatic Therapy
Let’s talk somatic therapy! It’s one of those things that might sound a bit “out there” at first, but it’s all about the mind-body connection. If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding onto stress or emotional baggage (and honestly, who hasn’t?), somatic therapy could be the game-changer you need. It’s different from your usual talk therapy, where it’s all about the chat. Here, we’re getting into body awareness, sensations, and even a bit of movement to help process all that built-up tension. Sounds interesting, right?
The whole idea is that your body holds onto emotions and trauma, and by tuning into things like tension, pain, or even numbness, you can start to release those emotional knots you didn’t even know were there. Practitioners of somatic therapy use techniques like breathwork, mindfulness, and even touch to help you access and release that stuck energy.
It’s super helpful for people dealing with anxiety, trauma, stress overload, PTSD, and anything else that throws you off balance. And the best part? It doesn’t just help you feel calm and centred emotionally, it gets your body feeling more at ease too. Double win!
Let’s dive into some of the popular types of somatic therapy, so you can see what might click for you.
Somatic Experiencing (SE): Dr Peter Levine created this one, and it’s all about slowly accessing trauma stored in the body through body awareness and gentle movement. No need to relive the past, just tune in and let your body guide you.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Here, we mix talk therapy with a sprinkle of mindfulness and movement. The focus is on how your physical sensations and posture link to emotional and psychological stuff. It’s like unlocking a hidden code!
Body-Mind Centering (BMC): This one’s a biggie for body awareness. Using movement, touch, and a dash of consciousness, BMC helps you explore how your body influences your emotions and perceptions. Pretty cool, huh?
Bioenergetic Analysis: If you like getting a bit more physical, this one’s for you. It combines exercises, deep breathing, and psychotherapy to let go of emotional tension stuck in your body. It’s like a full-body reboot.
Hakomi Method: This is a more gentle approach where mindfulness meets somatic therapy. You tune into your body and its present sensations, exploring the emotional meaning behind them. It’s a bit like a detective game for your feelings.
Core Energetics: Ready to move some energy? This method mixes bodywork with a touch of spiritual and psychological exploration, focusing on moving blocked energy through physical expression, movement, and breathwork.
Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT): If you’re more of a mover and shaker, DMT could be for you. Using dance and movement, you connect your mind and body, letting out emotions through physical movement. Dance it out!
Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE): This set of exercises is designed to release deep stress and trauma patterns by activating your body’s natural tremoring response. You shake it out, literally!
Rolfing Structural Integration: Want to realign your body and improve your physical and emotional well-being? Rolfing’s deep tissue manipulation does just that. It’s all about getting your body back into alignment.
Feldenkrais Method: This gentle practice uses small movements and increased awareness to retrain your Nervous System and improve both how you move and how you feel. Think of it like a little reset for your mind and body.
Now, we know the idea of digging into trauma and emotions can sound intense (and, let’s be honest, a bit scary), but the right practitioner will guide you through it all. Finding someone who gets you and knows their stuff is key. So, don’t be shy to ask some questions when you’re on the lookout for a practitioner!
Here are a few good ones:
- How long have you been doing this for?
- Why do you prefer this method over others?
- Do you have any success stories you can share (anonymously, of course)?
- How do you help people with serious trauma?
- Are you connected with other professionals and mentors?
Getting recommendations from friends or word-of-mouth is always a good shout. Just remember, what works for someone else might not be your thing, so don’t be afraid to try out different therapists and methods until you find the right fit. And heads up: real change can take time, so stick with it if it feels like it’s helping—even if it takes some time to fully work its magic!
Gud stories:
From Patricia:
For as long as I can remember, my nervous system had been on high alert. I constantly felt anxious, overwhelmed, and like I couldn’t fully relax. My body always seemed to be stuck in fight-or-flight mode, and I had no idea how to get it to calm down. I tried everything—meditation, yoga, therapy—but nothing seemed to get to the root of the problem. Eventually, I learned about somatic therapy and how it worked directly with the body to address trauma and nervous system dysregulation. It sounded promising, but it took some trial and error to find what really worked for me.
I started with Somatic Experiencing because it focused on releasing trauma stored in the body. My therapist guided me through tuning into my physical sensations, encouraging me to notice where I felt tension, anxiety, or numbness in my body. At first, I struggled to connect. My body felt like a stranger, and I often left sessions feeling frustrated that I wasn’t "doing it right." SE helped me become more aware of my body's signals, but it didn’t feel like it was enough to shift the deep patterns of stress I had been carrying for years.
Next, I tried Bioenergetic Analysis, a more active approach that involved physical exercises, deep breathing, and even vocal expression. The idea was to help release blocked emotions and energy trapped in my body. In these sessions, I found myself stomping, punching pillows, and letting out deep sounds I had been holding back. It was intense and, honestly, a little embarrassing at first. But after a few sessions, I noticed how much lighter I felt afterwards. It was like my body had been waiting for permission to release years of stored tension. But while it was great for releasing energy in the moment, the effects didn’t seem to last.
I kept searching and found Hakomi Therapy, which combines mindfulness with body-centred therapy. This approach was gentler, focusing on being present with the sensations in my body and exploring what they meant emotionally. I liked how Hakomi helped me slow down and connect my emotions to my physical sensations, but I still felt like I needed something more structured to calm my constantly overactive nervous system.
Finally, I found Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE). TRE involved a series of simple exercises designed to trigger the body’s natural tremoring response—something I had never experienced before. I was sceptical at first, but during my second session, I felt it: my legs started to shake uncontrollably. At first, it was strange and even uncomfortable, but my therapist explained that this tremoring was my body’s way of discharging built-up stress and trauma.
After a few sessions, I began to notice a profound shift. The constant sense of tension and hypervigilance I had carried for years started to ease. My body was learning how to release the deep-rooted stress on its own, without me having to force it. I could feel my nervous system slowly resetting, finding a new, more balanced rhythm.
It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but TRE was the first method that made a lasting difference. It allowed my body to do what it needed to do: release. Today, I use a combination of the awareness I gained from Somatic Experiencing, the emotional release techniques from Bioenergetics, and the self-regulation tools from TRE. Together, they’ve helped me get to the root of my nervous system dysregulation, giving me the peace I had been searching for all along.
For more info, tips, and ways to try out these therapies, join The Gud Root community! And don’t forget to share your success stories and favourite practitioners with us—we’re building a network of trusted pros to help you on your journey.
