Trauma doesn’t only affect the mind; it leaves imprints on the body. Somatic treatment acknowledges that trauma is stored in the body and the nervous system. Somatic therapy helps people become aware of how their body is holding onto trauma. Trauma survivors experience physical symptoms like muscle tension, chronic pain, or a constant state of hyperarousal (fight, flight, or freeze responses).

Trauma can cause the nervous system to become dysregulated, leading to chronic stress, anxiety, and hypervigilance. Somatic therapy uses techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, and grounding exercises to calm the nervous system and help the body shift out of a state of heightened stress or hyperarousal.

Somatic therapy uses techniques such as gentle movement, touch, or guided body awareness to help release this stored tension. By addressing the physical symptoms of trauma, somatic therapy helps clients process and release the traumatic experiences from their bodies, which often leads to emotional relief as well.

Somatic therapy encourages clients to slowly reconnect with their bodies in a safe and supportive environment. This process can help trauma survivors regain a sense of control, agency, and safety within themselves, which is a crucial part of healing.

In the aftermath of trauma, the body can remain stuck in a state of heightened alertness or fear. Somatic therapy works to release this overactivation of the fight-or-flight system by teaching clients how to calm their bodies and return to a state of relaxation.

Some traumatic memories are not stored in the brain as conscious memories but rather as “body memory,” which manifests as physical sensations, flashbacks, or bodily reactions. Somatic treatment helps clients access these body memories, process them, and release the associated trauma in a safe way, allowing for deeper healing.

Trauma can cause individuals to dissociate or feel disconnected from the present moment. Somatic therapy emphasizes mindfulness and being present in the body, helping clients stay grounded and aware of their physical and emotional state in the present.

Somatic therapy treats trauma holistically, integrating both the emotional and physical aspects. By addressing how trauma affects the body and the mind together, it provides a more comprehensive healing process. This approach can lead to longer-lasting recovery, as it allows individuals to process trauma in a way that involves both mental and physical release.

Somatic therapy teaches clients techniques they can use on their own to regulate their emotional and physical responses. By learning to identify signs of stress in their body and using techniques to calm the nervous system, individuals gain tools to manage trauma symptoms and prevent re-traumatization.

Some traditional therapies can inadvertently re-traumatize individuals by asking them to repeatedly talk about their traumatic experiences. In contrast, somatic therapy focuses on present-moment awareness and bodily sensations, making it a gentler and less invasive form of trauma treatment. This reduces the likelihood of re-traumatization while still allowing for deep healing.