What is Somatic Therapy?

Why Won’t My Body Relax?

Have you ever felt like your body just won’t relax? You keep telling yourself, “Everything is okay” and “I am safe,” but those pesky physical feelings of anxiety (heart pounding, hot cheeks, heavy breathing) just won’t go away. It’s as if your body didn’t get the memo, which can leave you feeling frustrated. You might have wondered, why is this happening? Learn more about physical symptoms of anxiety here.

The Screaming Almond of Terror (Your Amygdala) This could be because the wrecking ball known as life (trauma, stress, or anxiety) has damaged the road connecting your logical brain (the frontal cortex) to your fear center (the amygdala). Here is what you should know about this important brain structure:

• The amygdala is an almond-shaped part of your brain responsible for setting off alarms to keep you safe.

• I like to call it the screaming almond of terror because it is constantly on alert, always ready to sound the alarm that you are not safe.

• While the amygdala’s goal is to protect you, it can get stuck in overdrive, leaving you perpetually on edge.
  

A Dysregulated Nervous System When the nervous system becomes dysregulated, and the road between the logical brain and the fear center is broken, your logical brain cannot effectively tell your screaming almond of terror when you are safe. This can lead to:

• Persistent physical symptoms of anxiety, such as heart racing, shallow breathing, and tense muscles

• What I call the racing anxiety mind, where thoughts and fears spiral out of control

If this resonates with you, do not worry. You are not alone. And here is the good news: somatic therapy can help.

What Is Somatic Therapy? Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to psychotherapy that integrates awareness of bodily sensations into the healing process. It is based on the understanding that trauma and emotional distress are not only stored in the mind but also held within the nervous system and body (van der Kolk, 2014). Techniques often include breathwork, grounding, movement, and mindful tracking of sensations to help clients process and release stuck emotional patterns (Ogden, Minton, & Pain, 2006). This approach supports clients in building resilience, improving self-regulation, and fostering a deeper connection between body and mind.

How Does Somatic Therapy Work? Somatic therapy begins with body awareness. Pat Ogden, PhD, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy pioneer, emphasizes the important of expanding breath and taking up space.  As Bessel van der Kolk, MD once stated, “Trauma is all about being unable to move and being helpless. So, in order to become a capable person, you need to learn to move and to get what you need.” 

Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses on thoughts and feelings, somatic therapy integrates the body into the healing process. In sessions, you might:

• Practice breathwork to calm your nervous system

• Engage in mindfulness exercises to increase awareness of bodily sensations

• Explore gentle movements to release tension and reconnect with your body

• Use guided body scans to identify and process where emotions are held physically

These techniques help you rebuild body awareness and regulate your nervous system, allowing you to address both emotional and physical aspects of healing.

A Holistic Approach to Healing Changing your thoughts and self-talk is powerful, and it is an essential part of healing. However, it often does not fully address the physical aspects of stress and trauma. That is where somatic therapy comes in to bridge the gap.

By combining cognitive tools with body-based approaches, somatic therapy works to:

• Rebuild the connection between your logical brain and your fear center

• Empower you to manage anxiety and stress more effectively

• Help you reclaim a sense of calm, control, and balance

I offer virtual therapy for individuals in Maine and Georgia, specializing in somatic therapy for trauma, anxiety, and nervous system healing. Ready to get started? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call today to see if we're a good fit! References:

• Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. W. W. Norton & Company.

• Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.