What is Somatic Therapy?

Sometimes trauma is not only in our heads, but mostly in our bodies. Somatic therapy focuses on the body as an entry point for processing stress and trauma. This form of therapy assumes that intense experiences can lodge in the nervous system, causing people to get stuck in survival reactions such as fighting, fleeing or freezing. Somatic therapy can help release this tension and restore the body's natural balance.

How does it work?

Unlike talk therapy, the focus in Somatic Therapy is on bodily sensations. The therapist helps clients dwell on what is happening in their bodies in a safe and gradual way. Consider noticing a rapid heartbeat, a tense stomach or the feeling of heaviness in the chest. By observing those sensations without judgement, and working with small steps towards ‘unloading’ tension, the body gains space to still respond to an event that was previously experienced as overwhelming.

Animals literally shake off their stress

The method was developed by Dr Peter Levine, who was inspired by wildlife. He noted that animals rarely develop trauma, despite regularly experiencing life-threatening situations. Their secret: after the threat, they literally shake off the stress. Humans often lose that natural mechanism, allowing tension to build up.

In what situations is it applied?

Somatic Therapy is used for a variety of complaints and backgrounds. It has proven effective in cases including:

• Post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
• Attachment problems from childhood
• Anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Chronic pain with no obvious medical cause
• Fatigue and burnout
• Recovery after operations or accidents
• Emotional neglect or prolonged stress

Research shows that trauma can arise both acutely from a one-off event and gradually from long-term stress. According to a publication in Frontiers in Psychology (2020), regulating the autonomic nervous system - one of the goals of Somatic Therapy - can help reduce stress-related symptoms and strengthen the body's ability to recover.

A real-life example

A middle-aged woman reports to a somatic therapist with persistent fatigue and agitation. She is often tense, sleeps badly and has difficulty concentrating. In the first conversation, she tells that she was involved in an accident 10 years ago. Although she has physically recovered, her body still ‘feels like it has to react’ at any moment. During the sessions, she learns to recognise her body's signals better. She notices how her shoulders unconsciously creep up when there is tension. And how her breathing speeds up. In small steps, she learns to give space to these reactions, slowly calming her body. After a few months, she feels firmer, calmer and better connected to her body.

A body-centred view of recovery

Whereas many therapies focus on thoughts and emotions, somatic therapy looks primarily at what happens physically in response to trauma. This approach makes it suitable not only for psychological symptoms, but also for people who want to understand and regulate physical signals. This makes it a valuable complement to other forms of treatment.

Wondering if Somatic Therapy is right for you? Check out our list of therapists who specialise in it.