what is Somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to mental health that treats the connection between the mind and body as central to healing. Rather than focusing on thoughts and talk alone, it incorporates physical sensations, movement, breath, and nervous system awareness to help people process stress, trauma, and difficult emotions stored in the body.
Is somatic therapy right for you?
You feel like “talk therapy” hasn’t worked well for you in the past or you feel stuck
You experienced a major shift, trauma, life transition
Feel like your past or history is dictating how you’re showing up in your life now
You intellectualize and have been told you’re so “self-aware,” you don’t need therapy but still feel “off”
You feel on edge but don’t know why
what does a somatic therapy session look like?
Somatic therapy is based on the idea that stress and trauma live in the body, not just the mind, so the session pays attention to physical sensation alongside talk.
You'll usually start by talking through what's going on, like any therapy session. But the therapist slows things down and asks you to notice what's happening in your body, like a tight chest, clenched jaw, or knot in your stomach, and stay with that sensation instead of just analyzing it. From there they might guide you through grounding exercises, breathwork, gentle movement, or releasing tension you're holding. Some approaches gently revisit a hard memory while keeping you anchored in the present, so your body can release a stress response that got stuck.
You remain fully in control the whole time, and you can pause whenever you want. People often leave feeling calmer and more settled.
It's a good fit for trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress, and it pairs well with regular talk therapy.
If you are looking for a more concentrated approach, learn more about our somatic intensives:
somatic therapy FAQ
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Everyone’s experience is different, but you can expect a combination of talking through your thoughts, breathwork, grounding work, body movement, using your imagination, and leaning into your vulnerability. We’ll take breaks as needed and you can take your time through the somatic exercises.
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Before the intake session, you’ll have a few forms to fill out such as consents, payment, and assessment.
For yourself: making sure that you’re well rested, well fed, well hydrated, and in comfy clothes is a great place to start. It may be helpful to let your support system know that you’ll be taking part in an intensive so they can help with supporting you or covering any needs you have.
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Please use our contact form to get connected with us!
You don’t have to carry this alone.
Whether you’re looking for somatic therapy in Philadelphia, West Chester, or prefer online counseling, we’re here to help support you and help you start moving toward the life you want to live.