Not Just Talk: how Somatic Therapy helps you heal from the inside out

When life gets overwhelming—whether because of stress, heartbreak, or painful past experiences—it can leave more than just emotional scars. It can affect how we think, how we relate to others, and even how our bodies feel. You might notice this in the form of chronic tension, fatigue, anxiety, or a sense of feeling disconnected from yourself. That is because trauma and stress do not just live in the mind—they live in the body, too. Trauma-informed somatic psychotherapy is a type of therapy that understands this connection deeply. It brings together body-based awareness with a sensitive and supportive approach to healing, especially for people who have been through trauma.

What are you feeling in your body?

In simple terms, “somatic” means body-focused. Somatic psychotherapy is different from traditional talk therapy because it doesn’t just ask, “What are you thinking?” It also gently asks, “What are you feeling in your body?” The idea is that our bodies carry memory, sometimes even before our minds fully make sense of what happened. This therapy helps people tune into physical sensations like tightness, restlessness, or numbness, and use that awareness as a path toward healing.

But being trauma-informed means going one step further. It means the therapist understands that trauma can change how someone sees the world and themselves. It means creating a space that feels safe, respectful, and empowering. A trauma-informed somatic therapist will not rush you or push you to talk about something before you are ready. They will work with you at your pace, offering tools that help you feel more grounded and in control. They also recognise that everyone’s experience is unique, shaped by things like culture, identity, family, and history.

So, who is somatic therapy for? 

Honestly, it’s for anyone who wants a deeper connection to themselves, not just mentally, but emotionally and physically. You don’t need to have experienced a specific trauma to benefit. You don’t need to know how to explain everything you’re feeling. Somatic therapy meets you where you are. It is especially helpful for people who feel like talking only gets them so far, or who want to explore healing in a more holistic, body-aware way.

Somatic therapy can support a wide range of challenges. It’s especially helpful for people living with the effects of trauma, whether from childhood, relationships, accidents, or systemic oppression. But it can also help with anxiety, depression, chronic stress, burnout, emotional overwhelm, body image issues, and difficulty with boundaries or relationships. It is useful for people who feel stuck in their heads or cut off from their emotions, and for those who have been feeling “off” physically—like they are always tense, tired, or out of sync with themselves. It is also supportive for anyone navigating life transitions, grief, or a desire to reconnect with their body more compassionately.

What happens in a trauma-informed somatic session? 

It might include some talking, of course, but it may also involve slowing down to notice your breath, tracking how your body feels in the moment, or exploring gentle movement or grounding techniques. You might be guided to pay attention to where you feel a certain emotion in your body, or to follow a sensation that feels important. Over time, this process can help release stuck tension, ease anxiety, and rebuild a sense of safety from the inside out.

This approach is especially helpful for people who feel like they have tried therapy before but didn’t quite get to the root of things, or for those who find it hard to explain what they are feeling with words alone. It is also a powerful tool for those healing from trauma, because it doesn’t pathologise or label people as “broken.” Instead, it sees symptoms as natural responses to hard experiences, and it focuses on reconnecting you with your inner strength and resilience.

Feel safe again in your body

In trauma-informed somatic psychotherapy, healing does not mean forgetting or getting over something. It means learning how to feel safe again in your body, how to understand your internal signals, and how to respond to yourself with compassion instead of judgment. It is a process that respects your boundaries, centres your experience, and supports deep, lasting change—not just in your mind, but in your whole being.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed, shut down, stuck in your body, or unsure of why certain patterns keep repeating, this kind of therapy can help you find clarity, relief, and reconnection. It is not a quick fix, but it offers something many people are quietly longing for: a way to come home to yourself, gently and with care.