Somatic therapy is a type of mental health counseling that focuses on the mind-body connection, rather than just cognitive thoughts. It’s primarily used for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic stress, complex trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression.
Somatic therapy recognizes that unresolved emotional experiences are stored not only in the mind, but in the physical body itself—in the nervous system, the fascia, the gut, and the tissues. As the body holds and expresses experiences and emotions, these issues can become “trapped” inside, showing up in muscle tension, disrupted sleep, chronic pain, anxiety, and an inability to fully regulate the nervous system.
The Somatic Experiencing method, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, works to release this stored energy and turn off the threat alarm that causes dysregulation and dissociation. Somatic therapy is particularly relevant for anyone who has experienced loss, illness, caretaking, burnout, or cumulative life stress. Common somatic tools include body scanning, breathwork, movement, gentle touch, and tracking physical sensations as they arise and shift during sessions.