“Somatic” means body-based. Somatic therapy recognises that psychological stress and trauma are not only stored in the mind but also in the body. Instead of focusing mainly on thoughts, it pays attention to bodily sensations, posture, breath, and tension.
I might guide you through grounding, breathing, movement, or awareness exercises to help you release stuck stress responses (like fight/flight/freeze). Or maybe to show you where that energy from past experiences is stuck in the body and I’ll talk you through releasing that slowly in the session. Sometimes, it’s just good to do this for ‘here and now’ emotions and to give you control over them. It also helps to regulate the nervous system. The two therapies of CBT Counselling and Somatic together complement each other and allow your mind to relax and problem-solve more efficiently.
