What is Somatic Therapy?

by Candyce Young, MS, MHC-LP

What is Somatic Therapy?

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us have learned how to “push through” stress, ignore discomfort, and stay in our heads just to get through the day. While this can help us survive, it often leaves us feeling disconnected—from our bodies, our emotions, and even ourselves.
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Somatic therapy offers a different approach. Instead of focusing only on thoughts, it gently invites you to reconnect with your body as a source of healing.

Understanding Somatic Therapy

Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to mental health that recognizes the deep connection between the mind and body. The word “somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning “body.”

When we experience stress, trauma, or overwhelming emotions, those experiences don’t just live in our thoughts—they are also stored in the body.

Symptoms might show up as: 

• Tightness in your chest or shoulders
• Chronic tension or fatigue
• A racing heart or shallow breathing
• Feeling “numb” or disconnected

​Somatic therapy helps you safely tune into these physical sensations, allowing your body to process and release what it has been holding.

Why the Body Matters in Healing

Many clients come to therapy saying, “I understand why I feel this way, but I still feel stuck.”

That’s because insight alone doesn’t always create change.

Your nervous system plays a powerful role in how you respond to stress, relationships, and past experiences. When your body is in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze/shutdown, it can be difficult to feel calm, safe, or present, even if you logically know you’re okay.

Somatic therapy works by helping regulate the nervous system, creating a sense of safety from the inside out.

What to Expect in a Somatic Therapy Session

Somatic therapy is not about reliving trauma or forcing emotions to surface. Instead, it’s a gentle, paced process that meets you where you are.

In a session, you might be guided to:

• Notice physical sensations in your body
• Track changes in tension, breath, or posture
• Practice grounding techniques
• Explore how emotions show up physically
• Learn how to release stress in a safe, controlled way

You are always in control of the pace. The goal is to build awareness, not overwhelm.

Who Can Benefit from Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy can be especially helpful if you:
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• Feel anxious, overwhelmed, or constantly on edge
• Experience trauma or past emotional wounds
• Struggle with emotional numbness or disconnection
• Have difficulty relaxing or feeling present
• Notice stress showing up physically in your body

It’s also beneficial for those who have tried traditional talk therapy and feel like something is still missing.

Simple Ways to Begin Connecting with Your Body

You don’t have to wait for a therapy session to begin noticing your body. Here are a few gentle starting points:

1. Pause and Check In

Take a moment to ask yourself: What am I feeling in my body right now? No judgment—just notice.

2. Ground Through Your Senses

Look around and name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear.

3. Focus on Your Breath

Place a hand on your chest or stomach and notice the natural rhythm of your breathing.

4. Release Tension

Gently roll your shoulders, stretch, or shake out your hands to release built-up stress.

*Please note: Although the above ways are simple, they are not easy for everyone. Connecting with your body can be stressful and even scary. Start where you feel comfortable enough, and don't hesitate to reach out to a professional to help you in beginning this journey.

Healing is Not Just in Your Mind - It's in Your Body Too

As a therapist who completed somatic therapy training, I often remind clients: you don’t have to think your way out of everything. You can feel your way through it, safely and at your own pace.
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If you’re curious about somatic therapy, it may be a powerful next step in your healing journey.

Source: Salamon, M. (2023, July 7). What is somatic therapy? Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-somatic-therapy-202307072951

Candyce Young, MS, MHC-LP, is a clinician at Healing & Growth Counseling, providing individual mental health counseling services and couples/family counseling services via telehealth to clients across the state of New York. She has additional training and focus in the areas of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and couples work. She is an LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent affirming clinician. Providing services daytime, evenings, and weekends, she helps to make therapy accessible to those with busy schedules.

Learn more about Candyce on her Bio Page

Schedule an Appointment with Candyce