Find Relief with Somatic Therapy

Somatic Therapy (from the Greek soma, meaning “living body”) is a holistic approach that recognizes a fundamental truth: trauma is not just a story stored in the brain; it is a physiological event stored in the body.

Unlike traditional “top-down” therapies that focus on thoughts, somatic therapy works “bottom-up,” focusing on physical sensations, posture, and breath to help you release tension and process experiences that words cannot reach.

The Challenges That Somatic Therapy Treats

Because it addresses the nervous system directly, somatic therapy is often the missing key for issues that seem resistant to standard psychological treatments. It is particularly effective for:

• Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD & CPTSD): When the body is stuck in a loop of reliving past events.
• Chronic Anxiety and Panic: The sensation of a racing heart or tight chest when there is no immediate danger.
• Depression and “Freeze” States: Feelings of numbness, dissociation, or an inability to get out of bed.
• Unexplained Chronic Pain: Physical symptoms like migraines, fibromyalgia, or digestive issues (IBS) that often have roots in unresolved emotional stress.
• Emotional Dysregulation: Feeling zero-to-sixty anger or overwhelming grief that feels impossible to control.

What Shapes the Approach

Our approach to somatic therapy is grounded in neuroscience and the work of highly influential thinkers who revolutionized how we understand trauma.

Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s research transformed the field by proving that trauma literally reshapes the brain and body. He demonstrated that during trauma, the speech center of the brain often shuts down, rendering talk therapy ineffective for processing the event.

• Our Approach: We respect that your body holds a “score” of your history. We don’t force you to find words for the unspeakable; instead, we help your body release the physical imprint of the memory.

Peter Levine: Releasing the “Wild Animal” Energy

Dr. Peter Levine, the developer of Somatic Experiencing, observed that wild animals rarely get traumatized because they physically “shake off” the adrenaline after a threat. Humans, however, tend to freeze and “override” this shaking, trapping the survival energy in our muscles.

• Our Approach: We use Levine’s concept of Titration—slowing the process down to handle one drop of sensation at a time—and Pendulation, moving between stress and safety. This allows your body to finally complete the defensive actions (like shaking or crying) that were interrupted years ago.

Gabor Maté: The Cost of Hidden Stress

Dr. Gabor Maté’s work, particularly in When the Body Says No, highlights the link between emotional suppression and physical disease. He argues that the inability to say “no” to others often leads the body to say “no” for us in the form of illness.

• Our Approach: We use Compassionate Inquiry to look at what your physical symptoms are trying to tell you. We help you identify where you have abandoned yourself to please others, and how to reclaim your authenticity to heal your body.

Dan Siegel: The Science of Connection (Interpersonal Neurobiology)

Dr. Dan Siegel, a clinical professor of psychiatry, bridged the gap between how our brains work and how we relate to others. He coined the term Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), which explains that our nervous systems are not isolated; they are shaped by our relationships.

• Our Approach: We use Siegel’s concept of “Name it to Tame it.” By slowly helping you identify the physical sensation of an emotion (“I feel a heat in my chest” rather than just “I am angry”), we help the thinking brain reconnect with the emotional brain, soothing the nervous system and bringing you back into the flow of the river.

Eastern Wisdom & Buddhism: The Roots of Mindfulness

Long before neuroscience could map the brain, Buddhist psychology understood the power of the “witness.” Somatic therapy is deeply rooted in these ancient traditions, specifically the practice of Mindfulness (Sati) and Compassion(Karuna).

• Our Approach: We practice Non-Judgmental Awareness. In a session, we don’t try to “fix” your sensations immediately. Instead, we sit with them. We ask, “Can we just be with this tightness for a moment?” This act of compassionate witnessing often allows the tension to release on its own, a phenomenon known in Buddhism as organic unfolding.