Somatic Therapy for Trauma

What is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It’s based on the idea that trauma, stress, and other emotional experiences can be “trapped” in the body, leading to physical and psychological symptoms.  

The science also clearly indicates that during trauma memory becomes fractured into the explicit (factual) and implicit (somatic or feeling or emotional) parts as a protective action. Part of therapy for complex trauma is to recombine these parts, having first stabilised the client in a felt-safe and actual-safe state.

Here’s a breakdown of what somatic therapy is all about:

The Core Idea:

  • Mind-body connection: Somatic therapy recognizes that our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations are all interconnected. Experiences, especially traumatic ones, can get stored in our bodies as tension, restricted movement, or chronic pain.  
  • Body as a resource: The body isn’t just a vessel; it holds valuable information about our experiences and emotions. By paying attention to bodily sensations, we can gain insights into unresolved issues and begin to heal.  

How it Works:

Somatic therapy involves various techniques to help you become more aware of your body and release trapped energy. These may include:  

  • Mindfulness and body awareness: Paying close attention to physical sensations, like your heartbeat, breathing, or muscle tension.  
  • Movement: Gentle movements, stretches, or dance to help release tension and promote emotional expression.  
  • Breathwork: Conscious breathing exercises to regulate the nervous system and calm the body.  
  • Visualization: Using mental imagery to explore emotions and access inner resources.  
  • Touch: In some forms of somatic therapy, gentle touch may be used to help release tension or support the body.  
  • Talk therapy: While the focus is on the body, talk therapy is often integrated to help process emotions and experiences.  

What it Can Help With:

Somatic therapy can be beneficial for a range of issues, including:

  • Trauma: Processing and releasing the physical and emotional effects of trauma.  
  • Stress and anxiety: Reducing tension and improving emotional regulation.  
  • Chronic pain: Addressing the underlying emotional and physical contributors to pain.  
  • Depression: Releasing emotional stagnation and increasing vitality.  
  • Relationship issues: Improving body awareness and communication skills.  
  • Personal growth: Enhancing self-awareness and emotional intelligence.  

Important Considerations:

  • Finding a qualified therapist: It’s essential to work with a therapist who is trained and experienced in somatic techniques.
  • Safety and pacing: Somatic work can bring up intense emotions, so it’s important to proceed at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.  
  • Integration: Somatic therapy is often most effective when combined with other forms of therapy and self-care practices.

If you’re interested in exploring somatic therapy, it’s a good idea to research different approaches and find a therapist who resonates with you.

Types of Somatic Therapy:

Somatic therapy encompasses a variety of approaches, each with its own unique focus and techniques. Here are some of the main types:  

1. Somatic Experiencing (SE):

  • Developed by: Peter A. Levine  
  • Focus: Releasing trauma “trapped” in the body by helping individuals regulate their nervous systems and complete the natural fight-or-flight responses that were interrupted during the traumatic event.  
  • Techniques:
    • Tracking bodily sensations  
    • Pendulation (moving between activation and calm)  
    • Titration (processing trauma in small, manageable doses)  
    • Resourcing (accessing positive experiences to support the process)  

2. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy:

  • Combines: Principles from psychotherapy, somatic therapy, attachment theory, and neuroscience.  
  • Focus: Addressing the impact of past trauma and attachment patterns on present-day functioning, with an emphasis on the body’s role in these patterns.  
  • Techniques:
    • Body awareness exercises  
    • Exploring movement patterns  
    • Working with boundaries  
    • Completing unfinished actions related to past traumas  

3. Hakomi Method:

  • Developed by: Ron Kurtz  
  • Focus: Using mindfulness and self-discovery to explore core beliefs and patterns that shape our experience of ourselves and the world.  
  • Techniques:
    • Gentle exploration of bodily sensations  
    • Mindfulness practices  
    • Experiential exercises  
    • Working with the “wisdom of the body”  

4. Bioenergetic Analysis:

  • Developed by: Alexander Lowen  
  • Focus: Releasing chronic muscular tension that is believed to restrict emotional expression and vitality.
  • Techniques:
    • Breathing exercises  
    • Movement and expressive techniques  
    • Working with posture and body structure  

5. Biodynamic Psychotherapy:

  • Developed by: Gerda Boyesen  
  • Focus: Integrating body-oriented techniques with psychotherapeutic principles to address emotional and psychological issues.
  • Techniques:
    • Body awareness
    • Massage  
    • Movement
    • Emotional expression

6. Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT):

  • Focus: Using movement as a primary means of expression and communication to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration.
  • Techniques:
    • Improvisational movement
    • Structured dances
    • Body awareness exercises
    • Rhythmic and expressive movements

7. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):

  • Developed by: Francine Shapiro
  • Focus: Processing traumatic memories and reducing their negative impact through bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements) while recalling the traumatic event.
  • Techniques:
    • Bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds)  
    • Cognitive restructuring
    • Body scans

8. NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM):

  • Developed by: Dr. Laurence Heller
  • Focus: Addressing developmental trauma and its impact on the nervous system, attachment patterns, and sense of self.
  • Techniques:
    • Somatic awareness
    • Attunement
    • Working with relational patterns

9. Mindfulness using somatic Body Scanning:

A core form of mindfulness and often underused as a method



It’s important to note that many somatic therapists integrate techniques from different approaches to create a personalized treatment plan for each individual. If you’re considering somatic therapy, it’s essential to research different types and find a therapist whose approach resonates with you and your needs. Stuart’s experiences and competencies can be found HERE and include numbers 1,2,3,7,8,9 from the above list, as well as elements from Chi Gung and trauma informed movement similar to 6.