How Somatic Therapy Heals Trauma Stored in Your Body

Trauma affects more than memory. It also becomes embedded in the body in places that can’t be touched by logic. Although traditional talk therapy has helped many people to understand their past, some find that understanding is not enough. The body stores trauma, and for many people, the healing process can’t begin unless it is part of the conversation.

An alternative solution is somatic therapy. It does not concentrate solely on thoughts and feelings, but turns to the body as a partner in the healing process.

Listening to the Body’s Signals

Trauma is something that many people live with unknowingly. It is not always caused by a single catastrophic event. In many cases, it accumulates over time in the form of minor injuries, constant stress, or the ongoing strain of living in an insecure environment. The body reacts by adjusting. It strains, it stiffens, and it anticipates something which may never happen. This state of alertness may eventually result in physical and emotional burnout.

Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to healing that recognizes the interconnection between mind and body, using physical awareness and movement to help process and release trauma stored in the nervous system.

Somatic therapy starts by making individuals aware of their bodily responses. The chest may tighten when a person is shouting during a meeting. Some smells can trigger a sudden feeling of sadness. Such responses are not weaknesses. They are indicators of an alarm system meant to defend.

Somatic therapy does not aim at closing that system down but rather retraining it gently. Healing can occur when the body feels safe again.

Safety Before Story

In most instances, individuals go to therapy believing that they have to re-experience their trauma to overcome it. However, somatic therapy does not necessarily start with the whole story. When a person delves deeply into the past, it may lead to the body bracing even further. This is why somatic therapy usually begins with something easier, allowing the nervous system to find peace in the present moment.

The starting point could be deep breathing, grounding practice, yoga, or just being aware of what is occurring in the body at the moment. Minor changes count, such as touching feet to the floor. These are not distractions. They remind the nervous system that the present is not the past.

Trauma work can be deeper when safety is achieved, not by pushing memories into the future but by following the body’s cues. A shaking hand, a stiff jaw, or a sigh may be a sign of a moment that needs attention.

The Importance of a Trusting Connection

Trauma recovery is never an individual affair. Somatic therapy is all about the relationship between therapist and client. Trust was betrayed frequently and early in the lives of many who have suffered trauma. This is why a nonjudgmental, safe relationship can be healing.

The body can start to release its defenses in that setting, gradually and naturally. Over time, calm and clarity can replace fear and patterns of hypervigilance. A somatic practitioner can offer more than tools as an attentive presence to accompany you through the process.

Building a New Relationship with the Body

The fact that somatic therapy can make people reconnect with their bodies gently and respectfully is one of the most potent features of this type of treatment. Trauma can cause some individuals to feel betrayed by their bodies. It may appear random or uncontrollable. Somatic therapy helps rebuild trust between the mind and the body.

Somatic therapy encourages curiosity rather than avoidance of discomfort. What is the body saying? What does it require? With time, individuals start to feel more at home with themselves. That sense of being unnerved or out of touch gradually dissipates. Instead, a feeling of completeness starts to emerge.

Conclusion

Somatic therapy does not offer instant solutions. It is a soft, layered, intimate process. To many, it is the gateway to a form of healing that is permanent. Not only the alleviation of the symptoms but the reconstruction of a life in which peace and security may be enjoyed, not merely in imagination, but in every breath and step forward.

If you or someone you know experiences mental health issues, it is important to seek help from a qualified professional. Our Mental Health Resource Specialists can assist you in finding expert help and support in your community. Contact us now for more information on this free service.

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About the Author: Miranda Spears is a Texas native who, after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, spends her time as a freelance writer. When not writing, Miranda enjoys horseback riding, shopping, trying new recipes, and spending time with her lovely little pug, Gizmo. She also enjoys helping others reclaim their life, specifically through somatic therapists in Orange County.

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Photo by Picas Joe: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-holding-her-neck-11352554/

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