What Is Somatic Therapy and How Does It Work?
Somatic therapy, to me, means healing from the body up. Soma is the Greek word for body. So often, we try to think our way through what’s hard. We talk, analyze, and think some more. But our bodies experience our lives, too. Somatic therapy makes room for that experience.
Think about a conversation you’re nervous to have. As you imagine it, what happens in your body? Does your chest tighten? Does your breath move faster? Can you feel your feet on the ground? These sensations don’t replace your thoughts and feelings. They give us another way to listen to what’s happening for you.
In my work, we may use breath, gentle movement, and body awareness to support your nervous system. We aren’t trying to force a feeling to go away. We’re getting curious about your body and building tools to help you move through life with more presence and ease.
What Happens in a Somatic Therapy Session?
First, we say hello—and take a moment to arrive and pause. We move through our days doing 101 million things. It’s easy to rush into a counselling session and begin talking before we’ve had a chance to notice how we are.
We might begin with a few breaths, a centering practice, or some gentle movement. It’s a chance to get your body, mind, and being in the same room.
From there, we talk about what’s rising for you. How are you today? What’s been happening in your life? What would you like from our time together? As you share, I may invite you to notice what’s happening in your body. If a stressful story comes up, where do you feel it? What happens to your breath?
We don’t have to shut those sensations down or push further into them. We can be curious together, at a pace that feels right for you.
Depending on what you need, a session might include breathwork, gentle movement, visualization, or EMDR tools. We may also build resources you can return to when life feels overwhelming.
For me, one of my own resources is imagining the big prairie fields of golden wheat near my grandpa’s farm—a place where I remember feeling supported and nourished.
What Can Body Awareness Look Like in Practice?
In a recent session, a client arrived feeling overwhelmed. As she spoke, she noticed that her heart was racing and her breath was moving quickly. We paused, and I invited her to place one hand on her heart and one on her belly.
She noticed her heartbeat and a tight feeling in her gut. We stayed with those sensations only as long as she felt comfortable. Then we explored breathing into her back body and noticing how her breath moved.
We didn’t need to make a list of everything needing "fixing". In fact nothing needed to be fixed. But we can learn to grow our ability to be present when challenging things arrive. To be more present and have tools to make choices that change things.
In that moment, the practice was to be with her body, breathe and expand while the stress was there. She told me the intensity eased and she was able to step out of the constant spin of worry.
One practice won’t feel the same for everyone. What matters is that we can begin to build more ways to support ourselves when worry shows up.
Who Is Somatic Therapy For?
People come to me for different reasons. Some have tried other forms of support and are curious about something new. Some know they want to work with the body. Others simply want to feel better and aren’t sure yet what somatic therapy means.
You don’t need to know how to “do” somatic therapy before you arrive. And if paying attention to your body feels unfamiliar or scary, that’s okay. I won’t push you to do something you don’t want to do. You are the expert on your own life and your own body. We can take the time you need.
A One-Minute Practice to Try
If you’d like to begin noticing your body, try a gentle one-minute pause:
- Put your feet on the ground. If it feels comfortable, place a hand on your heart and a hand on your belly.
- Notice your breath. You don’t need to change it.
- Notice your feet, your back body, and how your mind is doing.
- Ask yourself: What am I aware of in this moment?
Bring curiosity and wonder rather than judgment. You can stop whenever you want to. And you don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable to talk to someone. Support can be a place to learn tools, feel encouraged, and make more room for ease in your life.
Curious about exploring somatic therapy together? You can learn more about sessions with me here.
Be Alive and Shine
xoxo Christine
