What is “Somatic Therapy”?

Demystifying therapy series

Part 2

It can be challenging to sift through the jargon on a therapist’s profile and website and figure out what sounds like it might be a good fit for you – especially when you are new to therapy!

In this series, I will break down some of the most common approaches you may see on therapist profiles and websites, to help you navigate the waters of choosing a therapist that is right for you (check out Part 1 of this series, “What is Behavioural Therapy?”).

You may see that many therapists list “somatic therapy” or “somatic approach” as one of their specialties.

So, what does this mean?

It can mean many things, so it is best to ask questions in the consultation! This will help you determine if it is something that you want to try out.  

Somatic therapy recognizes and taps into the mind-body connection. It integrates bodily sensations, movements, and experiences into the healing process. At its core lies the belief that our bodies hold onto past traumas and emotions, often manifesting as physical tension or discomfort. Somatic approaches are used for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, grief, and more.

Often a somatic approach will try to work with the nervous system, which is responsible for our “fight, flight, freeze, fawn” responses. These nervous system responses may be activated by conscious or unconscious triggers. At times, cognitive techniques (such as traditional talk therapy) can struggle to soothe and repair nervous system dysregulation.

So, what might somatic techniques look like in a therapy session? Below are a few examples, though it is far from exhaustive!

1.       Body Awareness Exercises: Through gentle movements, breathing techniques, and mindfulness practices, somatic therapy helps clients cultivate greater awareness of bodily sensations and rhythms. By tuning into these sensations, individuals can begin to release tension and regulate their nervous system responses. Somatic Experiencing is one approach that focuses on bodily sensations as a way to restore safety and emotionally regulate.

2.       Grounding Techniques: Grounding exercises aim to anchor individuals in the present moment and promote feelings of safety and stability. Techniques such as grounding through the senses or connecting with the environment can help regulate the nervous system and alleviate symptoms of anxiety or dissociation.

3.       Trauma-Informed Touch: For some individuals, trauma may be stored in the body as muscle tension or physical discomfort. Trauma-informed touch, conducted with consent and sensitivity, can help release stored tension and facilitate the processing of traumatic experiences in a safe and supportive environment.

4.       Bilateral Stimulation (such as tapping or eye movements): These are typically used in approaches like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Bilateral stimulation engages both sides of the brain to process and integrate traumatic memories.

Somatic interventions can also be incorporated into almost any approach, including behavioural approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (for more information on behavioural approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – check out my blog post!), or Internal Family Systems (IFS).

At Modern Resilience Therapy, we incorporate somatic elements frequently, helping clients tune into their inner landscape, and harnessing the power of the physical to help regulate and heal the psychological. If this sounds interesting to you, reach out for a free consultation!