Article Preview: Some of the most popular examples of somatic therapy include trauma-informed yoga, EMDR, somatic experiencing, body-mind centering, hakomi, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, and sensorimotor psychotherapy. Read on to learn about the benefits of each one.
If you’ve ever been to a therapy session, you’ve probably engaged in somatic therapy on some level.
Somatic therapy focuses on your mind-body connection to understand how trauma, stress, and anxiety impact your physical health.
Working to master that awareness is a critical step in your own mental health journey.
Once you understand how these physical sensations appear in your body, you can begin to eliminate that source of internal tension—leading to better overall health.
But somatic therapy isn’t just mindfulness. There are multiple examples of somatic therapy that can potentially benefit you, as we’ll discuss today.
Table of Contents
Examples of Somatic Therapy
Benefits of Somatic Therapy
Book A Somatic Therapy Session
Somatic Therapy FAQs
Examples of Somatic Therapy
Here are some of the most popular forms of somatic therapy you’ll likely come across in your mental health journey:
1. Trauma-Informed Yoga
Yoga is already popular in the mental health space for its focus on mindfulness and low-impact, strength-building exercises, but trauma-informed yoga takes everything a step further.
This form of yoga allows practitioners to better understand their bodies in a safe and empowering way, while providing an opportunity to work through the physical symptoms of trauma, stress, and anxiety.
2. EMDR
There’s no question about it: We’re big promoters of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
I still remember finishing one of my first trainings in EMDR with a number of other therapists who were learning it at the same time. Everyone in the room was physically moved by the practice; we’d never experienced anything like it before.
Related Reading: What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR incorporates eye movement, bilateral stimulation, and other movements to engage the entire body in the healing process while “rewriting” how the mind engages with certain painful memories.
3. Somatic Experiencing
Pioneered by Dr. Peter Levine, somatic experiencing works to release the tension and trauma that is “stuck” in the body, especially that energy that was never expelled during previous bouts of fight, flight, or freeze.
Somatic engineering gradually builds renewed tolerance for difficult body sensations and suppressed emotions to support the nervous system.
4. Body-Mind Centering
Body-Mind Centering is an experiential practice that was first developed in the 1970s, but is still popular today for its accessibility and inclusion of the body, mind, and emotions through movement, touch, voice, and awareness.
Because of its cross-disciplinary approach, you’ll often find Body-Mind Centering in dance, yoga, bodywork, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, child development, education, and even the arts.
5. Hakomi
Hakomi is a powerful form of somatic therapy that blends traditional talk therapy with compassionate self-observation, allowing you to identify the gestures, tensions, tone, and facial expressions that hint at deeper experiences and traumas, known as “core material.”
Once the “core material” is identified, practitioners work through these traumas with resilient self-acceptance, gradually reaching a body- and mind-centered calm that empowers us to better engage with the world around us.
6. Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCT)
Although some research has questioned craniosacral therapy’s ability to support both musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions, its emphasis on awareness and touch can make it a powerful somatic experience.
BCT blends touch and massage to adjust your body’s energy, but the real benefits come through the heightened awareness. While many report feelings of relaxation and even meditation, others may achieve new insights about their past experiences, resulting in renewed emotional growth.
At a minimum, the blend of relaxation and physical touch can help some feel rejuvenated.
7. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Like Somatic Experiencing, sensorimotor psychotherapy is a blend of body- and talk-therapy, where a therapist will ask you about the events leading up to a painful traumatic experience.
But instead of talking through the event itself, your therapist will ask you to identify the negative physical reactions within your body.
Together, you and your therapist will move the body to respond to the uncomfortable sensations in a positive way, giving you a sense of accomplishment, calm, and even self-esteem.
Benefits of Somatic Therapy
By focusing on both the body and mind simultaneously, somatic therapy can deliver:
- Stress relief
- Anxiety reduction
- Heightened self-esteem
- Increased emotional regulation
- Relief from stress-induced physical pain
Thanks to those benefits, somatic therapy can address a wide range of chronic, long-standing issues, including:
- PTSD: Somatic therapy helps individuals with PTSD identify and release trauma-related tension stored in the body while developing healthier responses to triggers and distressing memories.
- Anxiety: By increasing awareness of physical sensations and calming the nervous system, somatic therapy can reduce chronic anxiety and help individuals feel more grounded in the present moment.
- Depression: Somatic therapy encourages reconnection with the body and emotions, helping individuals break free from patterns of numbness, hopelessness, and emotional withdrawal.
- Memory: Because traumatic experiences are often stored through both physical and emotional memories, somatic therapy can help individuals process and better understand past experiences.
- Self-Esteem: Developing a stronger connection between the mind and body can improve self-awareness, self-acceptance, and confidence in navigating daily life.
- Stress: Somatic therapy provides practical techniques for calming the body’s stress response, reducing tension, and promoting a greater sense of balance and well-being.
- Fatigue: Chronic stress and unresolved trauma can be exhausting, and somatic therapy may help restore energy by reducing the physical burden carried by the nervous system.
- Grief: Somatic therapy offers a safe way to process the physical and emotional manifestations of grief, helping individuals move through loss with greater awareness and self-compassion.
Book A Somatic Therapy Session
Depending on your current symptoms, background, and goals, somatic therapy could be beneficial for you.
Contact us to learn more. We’ll partner you with an ideal therapist from our team who’s ready to guide you through the practices of somatic therapy.
We’re looking forward to meeting you!
Somatic Therapy FAQs
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and body to help individuals process trauma, stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
How does somatic therapy work?
Somatic therapy works by helping individuals notice and respond to physical sensations within the body, allowing them to release tension, regulate emotions, and better process past experiences.
What conditions can somatic therapy help with?
Somatic therapy is commonly used to support individuals dealing with PTSD, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, grief, emotional dysregulation, and trauma-related physical symptoms.
Is EMDR considered somatic therapy?
Yes. EMDR incorporates body awareness, bilateral stimulation, and physical responses into the healing process, making it one of the most well-known forms of somatic therapy.
What’s the difference between somatic therapy and talk therapy?
Traditional talk therapy primarily focuses on thoughts and emotions, while somatic therapy also explores how experiences and trauma are physically stored within the body.
Can somatic therapy help with physical pain?
In some cases, yes. Because stress and trauma can contribute to muscle tension and nervous system dysregulation, somatic therapy may help reduce certain forms of stress-related physical discomfort.
What happens during a somatic therapy session?
Depending on the approach, sessions may include mindfulness exercises, breathing techniques, movement, grounding exercises, body awareness practices, or traditional conversation with a therapist.