What Is Somatic Therapy & Why It Works
The word somatic comes from the Greek root soma, meaning “body.” Somatic therapy is a body-aware approach to psychotherapy that pays attention to what shows up in the body — sensations, breath, movement, and the felt sense of safety or tension — and uses those signals as vital information for healing. Rather than treating the mind and body as separate, somatic therapy helps integrate both, allowing new experiences of regulation, resilience, and connection.
I’ve been teaching yoga since I was 16, and that early relationship with breath, mindfulness, and alignment continues to shape how I approach therapy. I have always integrated somatic tools into therapeutic work with clients, when relevant. Over time, I’ve found that when the body is included in therapy, change happens more deeply and sustainably.
In this post, I’ll share what somatic therapy is, why it works, what the research shows, and how I bring it into my work with clients.
What Somatic Therapy Actually Does
In traditional talk therapy, we explore thoughts, emotions, and stories. Somatic therapy adds the missing piece: the body’s experience.
Instead of asking only “What happened?” we might ask, “What are you noticing in your body right now?” or “Where do you feel that emotion?”
Somatic therapy may include:
tracking body sensations
exploring posture and movement patterns
noticing breath changes
grounding or centering practices
mindful movement or guided imagery
The focus is on building awareness of the nervous system, and helping it find balance. As clients become more connected to their sensations, they can recognize stress earlier and recover more easily after difficult emotions or triggers.
The Science Behind the Body–Mind Connection
The nervous system and body are not passive bystanders in our emotional life — they are the landscape where emotions live. When we feel anxious, the body reacts: our heart races, shoulders tense, and breath shortens. Over time, these patterns can become chronic, locking the body in “fight or flight.”
Somatic therapy works by helping the nervous system complete these stress cycles safely and slowly.
Through mindful attention, slower breathing, and grounding sensations, the body learns new patterns of safety.
In short, by changing how we experience sensations, we change how the brain organizes stress.
Research on Somatic and Mindfulness-Based Therapies
Scientific interest in body-based psychotherapy has grown significantly over the past decade. Somatic therapy shares common ground with approaches like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which also integrates the body’s natural rhythms and sensory processing to support nervous system regulation and trauma healing. Both emphasize that lasting change happens when the body feels safe enough to let go. While research on somatic therapy is still developing, findings are promising:
Mindfulness-based therapy is seen as “a promising intervention for treating anxiety and mood problems in clinical populations.”
EMDR is an effective treatment modality for trauma, depression and anxiety disorders.
Research supports what many therapists observe daily: integrating the body helps clients regulate, heal, and connect more deeply with themselves.
What a Somatic Therapy Session Might Feel Like
Somatic therapy is welcoming and collaborative.
You might:
notice subtle physical sensations while talking
experiment with posture or breath
pause when something feels “too much”
learn how to recognize early signs of activation and calm your system
A somatic session is not about reliving trauma or performing big physical actions. It’s about slow noticing, small shifts, and building trust with your body.
As a therapist who’s also been teaching yoga for over 15 years, I bring mindfulness, compassion, and respect for pacing into every session. Consent and choice are always central.
Who Can Benefit from Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy can be supportive if you experience:
Anxiety, panic, or chronic stress
Trauma-related symptoms
Physical tension, chronic pain, or fatigue tied to emotions
Trouble sleeping or relaxing
Difficulty staying present or grounded
Because it focuses on regulation and awareness, somatic therapy complements other approaches like CBT, EMDR, or psychodynamic therapy.
Simple Somatic Tools to Try
Here are four practices you can try at home or between therapy sessions:
Ground through your feet — Press your feet into the floor, noticing the support beneath you.
Soft belly breath — Place a hand on your belly and breathe slowly until your hand rises and falls.
Orient to safety — Gently look around your space, noticing three colors or objects that feel pleasant.
Name sensations — Instead of labeling feelings (“I’m anxious”), describe the sensations (“My chest feels tight, my hands are warm”).
These micro-practices build interoceptive awareness — the foundation of self-regulation.
How I Integrate Somatic Work in Therapy
In my sessions, mindfulness and body-based awareness are naturally woven into talk therapy. Sometimes this looks like tracking sensations while discussing emotions; other times it’s guiding a few grounding breaths, or helping a client notice where they feel safe in their body.
Choosing a Somatic Therapist
If you’re seeking a somatic therapist:
Ask about their training and certifications.
Look for trauma-informed language and emphasis on safety.
Ensure consent is always part of body-based work.
Notice how you feel in their presence — safe, respected, and not rushed.
Your body’s cues are the best compass for finding a fit.
Where This Work Leads Us
Somatic therapy is not just another modality — it’s a reminder that healing happens through the body, not just through talking about it.
By learning to listen to sensations with curiosity rather than fear, we begin to rewrite our internal patterns of safety and trust. Over time, this awareness ripples outward — into relationships, work, and daily life.
If you’re curious to explore somatic therapy, you can book a free 15 minute consultation call here.
xoxo,
Amanda
