Somatic Healing - What is it?

Somatic healing is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between the mind and the body. Unlike traditional "talk therapy," which primarily processes experiences through conversation and logic, somatic healing looks at how the body carries stress, trauma, and emotions physically.

The word "somatic" comes from the Greek word soma, meaning body.

How It Works

The core philosophy is that your body "remembers" what your mind might try to forget. When we experience high stress or trauma, our nervous system can get stuck in a "fight, flight, or freeze" response. Somatic healing aims to "reset" the nervous system by focusing on physical sensations rather than just the story of what happened.

Instead of asking "Why do you feel this way?", a somatic practitioner might ask:

  • "Where in your body do you feel that tension?"
  • "What is the temperature of that sensation?"
  • "If that tightness had a movement, what would it be?"

Common Techniques

Somatic healing isn't just one thing; it’s an umbrella for various practices:

  • Somatic Experiencing (SE): Developed by Peter Levine, it focuses on releasing "pent-up" energy from the body in small, manageable doses.
  • Breathwork: Using specific breathing patterns to influence the autonomic nervous system.
  • Grounding: Techniques to bring your focus back to the present moment through physical contact with the environment (e.g., feeling your feet on the floor).
  • Movement: Intuitive dancing, shaking, or stretching to "shake off" stagnant energy.
  • Body Scanning: Systematically noticing sensations from head to toe without judgment.

Why People Use It

It is particularly effective for people dealing with:

  1. PTSD and Trauma: Releasing the physical "loop" of a traumatic event.
  2. Chronic Stress: Lowering cortisol levels and improving sleep.
  3. Anxiety: Learning to calm the heart rate and nervous system manually.
  4. Physical Pain: Addressing "psychosomatic" pain that doesn't have a clear medical cause.

A Note on Safety: Because somatic work can "unlock" suppressed emotions, it's often best practised with a trained therapist, especially if you’re working through significant trauma. At Lifeforce Hypnotherapy and Counselling, we are trained practitioners, holding a safe space for your healing journey.


Vicki Childs. Clinical Hypnotherapist, Registered Counsellor. Clinical Supervisor Mental Health Workers. Anxiety Management Specialist.