Reconnect with Your Body, Reclaim Your Life
At Deeply Rooted Psychotherapy, we offer Somatic Therapy to help you heal trauma, reduce anxiety, and feel more grounded—by listening to the wisdom of your body. This body-centered approach to mental health empowers you to move beyond talk therapy, unlocking deeper, lasting change.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy is a holistic, body-based approach to mental health that integrates mind and body in the healing process. Rather than focusing solely on thoughts or emotions, somatic therapy brings awareness to physical sensations, posture, breath, and movement as a gateway to emotional healing.
This approach is rooted in neuroscience and trauma research, and it's particularly effective for those who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves.
Who Can Benefit from Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy can help if you're experiencing:
Anxiety or chronic stress
Disconnection from the body
Grief or emotional numbness
Difficulty with boundaries or self-regulation
Physical symptoms related to emotional distress (e.g., tension, fatigue, digestive issues)
You don’t need to have a specific diagnosis to benefit. Many people simply want to feel more at home in their bodies.
What to Expect in a Somatic Therapy Session
Every session is tailored to your needs, but may include:
Body awareness exercises: Noticing breath, posture, or areas of tension
Movement and grounding techniques: Helping you feel safe and centered
Guided imagery
Exploring how emotions show up physically
Sessions move at your pace. There’s no pressure to “perform” or revisit traumatic events unless and until you feel ready.
Why Choose Somatic Therapy?
Traditional talk therapy is powerful—but it can fall short when trauma is held in the nervous system, not just the mind. Somatic therapy helps release this “body memory,” promoting deeper healing and more lasting transformation.
Clients often report:
Increased sense of calm and presence
Better sleep and reduced physical tension
More emotional resilience
A stronger connection to themselves and others
Understanding the Nervous System: Polyvagal-Informed Somatic Therapy
Somatic Therapy is grounded in the principles of Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges. This science-backed framework helps us understand how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responds to safety, danger, and connection.
When you’ve experienced chronic stress or trauma, your body may stay stuck in survival states like:
Fight or flight: anxiety, racing thoughts, tension, panic
Shut down or collapse: numbness, fatigue, dissociation, depression
Fawn or appease: people-pleasing, self-abandonment, hypervigilance
Social engagement and connection: safety, connection, curiosity
In somatic therapy, we don’t just talk about stress—we help your body learn how to shift out of these states by building what's known as nervous system flexibility or regulation.
What Is Nervous System Regulation?
Nervous system regulation means having the capacity to return to a calm, connected state (called ventral vagal in Polyvagal Theory) after experiencing stress or activation. This is what helps you:
Feel safe in your body
Stay present in relationships
Make thoughtful choices instead of reacting from fear or shutdown
Rest, digest, and sleep more easily
Through somatic therapy, we help you develop this regulation through:
Co-regulation: Feeling safe in a therapeutic relationship
Micro-movements and breathwork: Gently calming the nervous system
Body mapping: Learning where tension, emotion, and activation live
Resourcing: Identifying internal and external tools that bring safety and stability
Over time, your body learns that it can move from survival to safety, without getting stuck. That’s where real healing happens.
Frequently Asked Questions About Somatic Therapy
Is somatic therapy the same as massage or bodywork?
No. While somatic therapy involves body awareness, it’s a form of psychotherapy, not bodywork. Touch is not required. Most sessions involve verbal dialogue and guided awareness of sensations, breath, and movement.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
Not at all. Somatic therapy emphasizes what’s happening in the present moment. You can heal without having to revisit every detail of your past. Many clients find relief simply by learning to track and regulate physical sensations linked to emotional patterns.
Is this therapy evidence-based?
Yes. Somatic therapy draws from well-established modalities such as Somatic Experiencing®, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Polyvagal Theory, all of which are grounded in trauma research and neuroscience. These methods are increasingly recognized for their effectiveness in treating trauma and anxiety.
What if I feel disconnected from my body or uncomfortable with sensations?
That’s very common—and it’s something we’ll work with gently. Somatic therapy is especially helpful for those who feel “numb,” overwhelmed, or out of touch with their body. You’ll never be pushed beyond your capacity, and you’ll learn tools to feel more grounded and safe.
How long does somatic therapy take to work?
Every person is different. Some clients notice shifts in a few sessions, especially in how they respond to stress or relate to their bodies. For others, deeper healing unfolds over time. Your therapist will collaborate with you to create a pace that feels supportive and sustainable.
Can somatic therapy be done online?
Yes! While in-person sessions can be powerful, somatic therapy works well via telehealth. Many of the core techniques—such as tracking sensations, breathwork, and movement—translate beautifully to a virtual setting. All you need is a private space and a stable internet connection.
Ready to Begin?
Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic anxiety or looking to feel more connected and empowered, somatic therapy can help. At Deeply Rooted Psychotherapy, we offer a supportive, compassionate space to begin this journey.
Complete the contact form and our office will reach out to get you connected!