What is Somatic Therapy? Learning to Listen to What Your Body Has Been Trying to Tell You
Photo by Diego Martz on Unsplash
Over the past few weeks, I've had more conversations than usual about somatic therapy. Some people tell me it was recommended by their physiotherapist, osteopath, or another healthcare provider. Others say something like:
"I can feel my emotions in my body so intensely. I just want it to stop."
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.
As a somatic therapist, these are conversations I have almost every day. Many people can feel that something is happening in their bodies, but they don't know what it means or what they're supposed to do about it.
So, what is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is an umbrella term for different types of counselling that focus on the connection between your mind and body. Rather than talking only about your thoughts, somatic therapy also pays attention to your physical sensations and what they might be communicating.
The basic idea is simple:
Our thoughts, emotions, and nervous system all influence what happens in our bodies.
Think about how your heart races when you're anxious. Or that sinking feeling in your stomach after hearing difficult news. Maybe your shoulders tighten before a stressful meeting, or your throat closes up when you're trying not to cry.
These experiences aren't "just in your head". They're whole-body experiences.
One of the goals of somatic therapy is to help you understand these sensations instead of feeling trapped by them.
"Something is happening in my body, and I don't know what to do."
Here's something I hear in my office pretty much every week:
"There's this horrible feeling right in the middle of my chest. I don't know what it is, but I need it to go away."
Or:
"When I get anxious, my throat closes up and I can't speak. I feel like I can't breathe. Then I start crying, and it's so embarrassing."
At the heart of these stories is often the same question:
"Something is happening in my body. Can you help me make it stop?"
Sound familiar?
Your body isn't working against you
One of the biggest shifts that happens in somatic therapy is learning to see your body differently.
Instead of asking, "How do I get rid of this feeling?"
we begin asking,
"What is my body trying to tell me?"
Our bodies communicate through sensations because that's the language they have.
I often compare it to a baby crying. A baby can't say, "I'm scared," "That hurt," or "I'm overwhelmed." Crying is how they communicate that something needs attention.
Our bodies do something similar. They communicate through tightness, heaviness, butterflies, numbness, warmth, shaking, pressure, and hundreds of other sensations.
They're not trying to make your life harder.
They're trying to get your attention.
Why listening to your body can feel so difficult
For many of us, growing up meant learning to disconnect from our bodies.
Maybe you heard things like:
"Stop crying."
"You're fine."
"Push through it."
"Don't be so sensitive."
Or maybe no one ever asked what was happening inside of you.
Over time, many of us learn that uncomfortable sensations are something to ignore, minimize, or fight against instead of something worth listening to.
The problem is that our bodies don't stop communicating just because we've stopped listening.
What happens in somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is about slowing things down enough to notice what your body is already saying.
Rather than trying to force uncomfortable sensations to disappear, we become curious about them.
This doesn't mean we dive into overwhelming experiences or stay stuck in painful feelings.
It means we learn skills to help your nervous system feel safer while gently exploring what your body is communicating.
Over time, many people notice that the sensations they once feared begin to feel more understandable, less overwhelming, and more able to move through them instead of getting stuck.
Healing isn't about getting rid of your feelings
One of the hardest parts of this work is that there isn't a quick fix.
I wish there were.
In my experience, healing doesn't happen by fighting against our internal experience. It happens by learning how to relate to it differently.
When we create enough safety, curiosity, and compassion to notice what's happening inside, our nervous system often doesn't have to work so hard to get our attention anymore.
If you're curious about somatic therapy, I'd love to help you learn the language of your body—at a pace that feels right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is a type of counselling that focuses on the connection between your mind and body. Along with talking about your thoughts and emotions, you'll also learn to notice physical sensations like tension, heaviness, or butterflies. These sensations can offer important clues about what your nervous system is experiencing and what you need.
Can somatic therapy help with anxiety?
Yes! Anxiety often shows up in the body as a racing heart, tight chest, shallow breathing, muscle tension, or nausea. Somatic therapy helps you understand these physical responses, regulate your nervous system, and develop new ways of responding to anxiety with greater awareness and self-compassion.
What happens during a somatic therapy session?
Every session is different, but we usually begin by talking about what's been happening in your life. From there, I may invite you to notice what's happening in your body, explore physical sensations with curiosity, and practice skills that help you feel more grounded. We always move at a pace that feels manageable for your nervous system.
Is Focusing-Oriented Therapy a type of somatic therapy?
Yes! Focusing-Oriented Therapy (FOT) is the specific type of somatic therapy that I practice. Focusing combines body awareness, mindfulness, active imagination, curiosity, and self-compassion to help you better understand your inner experience. If you'd like to learn more, check out my blog post on What Is Focusing-Oriented Therapy?
Is somatic therapy right for me?
Somatic therapy may be a good fit if you often feel overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, stuck in patterns you don't understand, or notice that stress and emotions show up strongly in your body. You don't need to know how to connect with your body before starting—that's something we can learn together, one step at a time.
