What is Somatic Therapy? A Beginner’s Guide
What Is Somatic Therapy? A Beginner’s Guide
If you’ve ever noticed your shoulders tense when you’re stressed or your stomach twist when you’re nervous, you already know one of the most important truths about healing: the body holds our stories.
Somatic therapy is a healing approach that focuses on this body–mind connection. Instead of relying only on talking about past events, somatic therapy invites us to notice the physical sensations, emotions, and patterns held in the body—and then gently work with them. Think of it as therapy that doesn’t just ask, “How do you feel about that?” but also, “Where do you feel that?”
In this guide, we’ll explore what somatic therapy is, how it works, and why it can be a powerful tool for healing trauma, anxiety, and stress.
So…What Does “Somatic” Mean?
The word somatic comes from the Greek word soma, meaning “body.” Somatic therapy is rooted in the understanding that our nervous system, muscles, and tissues remember experiences—especially overwhelming or traumatic ones.
When we don’t have the chance to fully process a difficult event, the nervous system can stay stuck in survival mode. This often shows up as:
Chronic anxiety or overthinking
Trouble setting boundaries or people-pleasing
Feeling disconnected or “shut down”
Tension, pain, or health symptoms without a clear medical cause
Somatic therapy offers tools to help the body feel safe again, so you can move beyond survival and reconnect with a fuller, more authentic life.
How Trauma Lives in the Body
When something frightening or overwhelming happens, your nervous system reacts instantly to protect you. This is the fight, flight, freeze or fawn response.
Fight/Flight: The body surges with adrenaline and energy, ready to run or defend.
Freeze: The body shuts down to survive when escape isn’t possible.
Fawn – Instead of fighting or running, your body tries to please, appease, or smooth things over. It’s the nervous system’s way of saying: “If I can keep you happy, maybe I’ll stay safe.”
These responses are brilliant for short-term survival—but when it doesn’t get fully resolved, your body may continue to act as if the danger is still present. That’s why trauma can leave us feeling anxious, jumpy, shut down, or co-dependent even years later.
Somatic therapy helps complete this survival cycle, so your body can release old tension and find regulation again.
What Happens in a Somatic Therapy Session?
Every practitioner has their own style, but here are some common elements you might experience:
Catching Up – You’ll start by sharing what feels present for you that day or what came up since your last session .
Tuning In – Your practitioner may guide you to close your eyes, notice your breath, or become aware of sensations in your body.
Resourcing – Together, you’ll find a “resource,” like a safe memory, a pleasant body sensation, or an image of a supportive figure. This becomes an anchor when things feel intense.
Processing – Using body-based techniques such as guided visualization, gentle movement, or bilateral stimulation (like tapping), you’ll explore and reprocess experiences in a safe way.
Integration – The session closes with grounding, reflection, and often simple practices you can take into daily life.
Benefits of Somatic Therapy
Research and client experiences show that somatic therapy can help:
Reduce chronic anxiety and stress
Release tension and pain held in the body
Improve sleep and emotional regulation
Heal attachment wounds and relationship patterns
Build resilience and confidence
Increase overall vitality and sense of aliveness
Most importantly, somatic therapy helps people feel safe in their own bodies again.
Is Somatic Therapy Right for You?
You don’t need to have experienced “big trauma” for somatic work to be helpful. Many people seek somatic therapy when they feel:
Stuck in cycles of stress or burnout
Tired of repeating the same relationship patterns
Disconnected from themselves or their bodies
Curious about living with more authenticity and joy
If you long to feel more present, more alive, and more at peace in your own skin, somatic therapy may be the next step on your healing journey.
Healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about remembering your wholeness. Somatic therapy provides a safe, supportive space to explore the wisdom of your body and release the patterns that no longer serve you.
At Gamut Somatics, my mission is to help you reconnect with your most authentic self through trauma-informed, body-based practices. Together, we can gently rewrite your story so you can live a life that feels grounded, inspired, and deeply true.
