Somatic therapy takes its name from the broad term “somatics” which includes any body movement that is used to improve mental health. Yoga, with its origins in ancient India, has been practiced for more than 3,000 years and is an example of somatic exercise familiar to many. Pilates, Thai chi, and meditative breathwork are all examples of somatic exercises.
The practice of somatic therapy takes this mind-body connection further and has at its centre the belief that while the body can manifest mental unease, it can also heal it. Somatic therapy provides emotional and physical benefits, supporting healing from trauma, chronic pain, PTSD, and emotional dysregulation. By encouraging awareness of the body’s responses, individuals can learn to regulate emotions more effectively and build resilience.
A broad range of challenges, including grief, stress, and the physical manifestations of emotional strain, are addressed by somatic therapy. Research and client experiences indicate that these practices can complement traditional therapy, offering pathways toward recovery that respect the body’s role in emotional processing. Mind-body integration through somatic therapy can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being.
The Benefits of Somatic Therapy
Trauma can become “stuck” in the body, creating cycles of tension, hyperarousal, or emotional avoidance. In somatic therapy, healing is understood to involve more than thoughts or emotions — it’s rooted in the body. Trauma and stress can become physically stored, shaping posture, breathing, and nervous system responses long after the original event.
Somatic therapy helps individuals connect bodily sensations with emotions and thoughts, allowing trauma and stress to be processed more completely. This approach emphasizes the integration of mind and body and encourages awareness of how experiences are held physically. The body can store tension and unresolved stress, and attending to these signals is a key step toward holistic healing.
The Mind-Body Connection
Movement and awareness provide grounding when the mind feels overwhelmed, reconnecting the mind and body. Engaging in mindful body practices can strengthen resilience and self-regulation by allowing people to notice sensations, breathe into tension, and shift habitual stress patterns. This concept is central to Eli’s Place discussion on the mind-body connection.
The practice of somatic therapy is grounded in the work of early pioneers who combined psychology and bodywork. Researchers such as Wilhelm Reich and Peter Levine demonstrated that physical awareness and movement could release long-held psychological tension, forming the foundation for modern somatic psychotherapy. The field has since evolved to include diverse methods that help individuals safely process and regulate both mind and body responses.
In 2014, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s book The Body Keeps the Score explores how these physical imprints affect emotional and mental health, showing that full recovery requires engaging the body alongside the mind. His book has been translated into over 40 languages and remains one of the key texts exploring the mind-body connection to trauma. In this short video, Dr. van der Kolk explains his understanding of the way trauma (which he asserts is a very common experience) can become rooted in the body.
Techniques and Types of Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy engages the body as a key part of emotional processing. Several techniques focus on connecting body and emotion, including mindful breathing, grounding exercises, gentle touch, and guided movement. These techniques encourage the nervous system to return to a state of calm while increasing awareness of physical sensations linked to emotional experiences. Practicing these exercises over time can help individuals identify and release stored stress responses and cultivate a stronger sense of bodily presence.
For those who are sensitive to touch or prefer movement-based practices, somatic therapy is adaptable. Techniques such as Somatic Experiencing guide clients through gradual physical release of tension, helping restore natural rhythms of relaxation and supporting emotional processing.
What to Expect from a Somatic Therapy Session
Somatic therapy sessions are collaborative and client-led. Practitioners guide individuals in noticing areas of tension, warmth, or discomfort and exploring how these sensations relate to emotions and past experiences. This hands-on attention helps individuals process stress stored in the body and learn skills for self-regulation. Typical somatic therapy sessions provide a space where people can move at their own pace while gradually reconnecting with both physical and emotional experiences.
Bridging Mind and Body for Healing
Somatic therapy bridges the gap between mind and body, offering a holistic path toward emotional healing and self-awareness. By noticing how emotions are expressed physically, individuals can release stored tension, regulate responses, and restore balance. Exploring somatic practices can complement traditional therapy and open new paths toward resilience.
Individuals seeking a somatic therapist can explore practitioners through Psychology Today’s directory. Eli’s Place will provide a therapeutic environment where mind-body approaches are supported, helping individuals process trauma and develop emotional literacy. Help us open our doors and make this space a reality for people pursuing healing through body-centered practices.
Eli’s Place Communications Team
Our Eli’s Place blogs are developed & written by the Eli’s Place Editorial Team — a collaboration between staff and volunteers committed to raising awareness about serious mental illness in Canada. We aim to inform, inspire, and engage with readers who care about mental health and recovery.
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- Eli’s Place Communications Team#molongui-disabled-link
- Eli’s Place Communications Team#molongui-disabled-link
- Eli’s Place Communications Team#molongui-disabled-link
