It’s estimated that about 70% of the world’s population will experience at least one traumatic event throughout their lives. Some might go through a traumatic childhood. Others might witness something that stays with them forever. Or trauma can come in the form of an abusive relationship.

Because traumatic experiences can take so many forms, it’s important to find safe, healthy, and effective treatment options. One of those options is somatic therapy.

Somatic therapy focuses on the mind-body connection as it helps you throughout your healing journey. Most of us understand that trauma impacts a person's mental well-being. But by focusing on the body and releasing stress and tension, you can learn to let go of the effects of trauma and move forward with your life.

Let’s dive into a better understanding of somatic therapy and how it can help you heal from trauma.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Again, somatic therapy puts a heavy focus on the connection between the mind and body. How do bodily sensations relate to your mental well-being and your emotions? That’s what this type of therapy aims to bring forward through each session.

During somatic therapy sessions, you’ll work on things like mindful movement and deep breathing exercises. That might include things like light stretching or guided imagery. The goal is to release tension that your body could be holding onto.

If you experienced trauma as a child or you’ve worked hard to repress or ignore it, there’s a good chance your body is still holding onto it. The effects of trauma can manifest in many ways, including aches and pains, sleep issues, and even a weakened immune system. Discovering where trauma is stored in the body and learning how to gently release it can help you finally let go.

So, while the cognitive thoughts associated with trauma are important to address, somatic therapy also focuses on everything from breathing patterns, bodily sensations, and muscle tension to help you move past your trauma.

Accessing Trauma

It’s often easy to ignore physical sensations or assume they couldn’t possibly be associated with mental health issues.

Somatic therapy helps you access traumatic memories that might not be so easy to tap into through talk therapy alone. This can be especially helpful if you have a hard time discussing what you went through, or even if you’ve forgotten the details. The body remembers.

The idea of accessing trauma through the body might seem a bit overwhelming, at first. Somatic therapy is designed to approach healing gradually. You’ll become more aware of your body and the sensations you experience, so you can process the emotions associated with those experiences at a pace that’s comfortable for your needs.

Somatic Therapy Techniques

Your therapist will likely use a variety of techniques throughout your sessions to help release trauma from the body while allowing you to fully experience and understand stored emotions. Some of those techniques might include mindfulness, body scans, breathwork, and grounding techniques.

All of these practices are designed to help you access stored emotions, release them, and find peace and comfort in the present, rather than letting your trauma define you or dictate your future. Most importantly, you'll go through these practices without judgment, so you can feel free to experience and express your emotions without letting fear hold you back.

Healing from trauma takes time. Somatic therapy is a gradual process. It's important to find a therapist you can lean on for guidance and support. I’m happy to help and answer any questions you might have. If you want to learn more about somatic or trauma therapy, feel free to contact me for information or to set up a consultation soon.