Hello! I’m Sophia, trauma therapist specializing in relational trauma, including betrayal trauma and narcissistic abuse. For years, I have worked with individuals to heal from the wounds caused by antagonistic relationships and emotional pain, guiding them toward recovery and empowerment. One of the most transformative approaches I incorporate into my work is somatic therapy.
Somatic therapy works with the body to heal trauma stored in the nervous system, empowering individuals to reconnect with themselves, their emotions, and their physical sensations. If you are someone who has experienced relational trauma, somatic therapy may offer the relief and recovery you're seeking. In this post, I’ll explain what somatic therapy is, why it’s crucial for trauma healing, the specific somatic modalities I use in my practice, and how to know if somatic therapy is right for you.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-centered therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between the body and the mind. It recognizes that trauma doesn’t only reside in our thoughts and memories; it is also stored in the body’s tissues, muscles, and nervous system. Trauma can manifest as physical tension, pain, or other somatic symptoms, and until it is processed, these physical manifestations can continue to impact us on an emotional and mental level.
Somatic therapy seeks to release these stored memories by tuning into the body’s sensations and bringing awareness to the ways in which the body holds trauma. It allows individuals to process emotions and experiences in a safe and grounded way, ultimately leading to deep healing and emotional freedom.
Why is Somatic Therapy Important for Trauma Healing?
When we experience trauma, especially relational trauma such as betrayal or narcissistic abuse, it doesn’t just affect our minds—it impacts our entire being. Over time, this trauma can become embedded in the nervous system, leading to chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, dissociation, or a disconnection from one’s body. This disconnection can make it difficult to process emotions, set healthy boundaries, or even recognize your own needs.
Somatic therapy offers a way to “reconnect” with our bodies, allowing the trauma to be processed on a deep level. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on the cognitive and emotional aspects of trauma, somatic therapy allows you to access the physical sensations that may be linked to your trauma. This approach can help release stored tension, ease chronic pain, and bring a sense of safety and presence back to your body.
Moreover, somatic therapy can help regulate the nervous system, teaching individuals how to move from a fight-or-flight response (which often accompanies trauma) to a more grounded and calm state. By integrating the body and mind, somatic therapy facilitates lasting healing and the ability to live fully and consciously.
The Somatic Approaches I Use in Therapy
In my work, I integrate several somatic modalities that specifically target the healing of relational trauma. These include:
1. Nervous System Attunement
This approach is based on the principle that trauma is stored in the nervous system, and by attuning to the body’s responses, we can help regulate and heal that system. By cultivating awareness of physical sensations, breath, and tension, nervous system attunement helps individuals return to a state of balance and calm. This process involves guiding you through grounding techniques, breathwork, and mindfulness practices to restore a sense of safety and equilibrium.
2. Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS is a powerful therapeutic model that views the psyche as made up of different "parts." Some of these parts, such as those shaped by trauma, can become fragmented or stuck in protective patterns. Somatic IFS works by engaging with these parts through bodily sensations and feelings, allowing them to express their pain and begin to heal. By creating a compassionate relationship between these parts and your true Self, IFS can help reintegrate the fragmented parts of your psyche and foster a greater sense of inner harmony and empowerment.
3. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a well-established therapy for trauma that involves bilateral stimulation (usually through eye movements or tapping) to help reprocess traumatic memories. It works by engaging both hemispheres of the brain, helping to transform the way the brain stores traumatic memories. Somatic EMDR focuses on how the body holds and reacts to these memories. As we work through trauma using EMDR, we often incorporate somatic awareness to help release physical tension and reframe the emotional responses tied to past events.
How to Know if Somatic Therapy is Right for You
Somatic therapy can be incredibly effective for those who are struggling with the lingering effects of trauma. Here are some signs that somatic therapy may be a good fit for you:
You Feel Disconnected from Your Body
If you find it hard to stay present in your body, or you feel numb or disconnected, somatic therapy can help you reconnect with physical sensations and reclaim your bodily autonomy.
You Experience Chronic Pain or Tension
If you experience unexplained physical pain or tension that has no clear medical cause, it may be a sign that trauma is stored in your body. Somatic therapy can help release this tension and bring relief.
You Struggle with Anxiety or Hypervigilance
Many individuals who have experienced relational trauma find that their nervous systems are stuck in a state of high alert. Somatic therapy can help regulate your nervous system, providing you with the tools to feel safer and more grounded.
You Feel Emotionally Overwhelmed or Stuck
If your emotions feel overwhelming or you struggle to access and express them, somatic therapy can help you navigate these feelings and process them in a healthy, embodied way.
You Want a Holistic Approach to Healing
If you are looking for a therapeutic approach that integrates both the mind and body, somatic therapy offers a holistic way to address the root causes of trauma.
Final Thoughts
Somatic therapy is a powerful tool for those healing from relational trauma. It addresses the body’s role in trauma, helping you to reconnect with yourself and release the stored energy that may be hindering your healing process. Whether you’re dealing with betrayal trauma, narcissistic abuse, or any other form of relational pain, somatic therapy can help you find a pathway to healing, empowerment, and emotional freedom.
If you think somatic therapy may be right for you, I encourage you to reach out and explore how this healing approach can support your journey toward wholeness.
Healing is possible, and you deserve to live a life that feels grounded, empowered, and free.
With warmth and care,
Sophia
If you're ready to embark on this journey, consider reaching out to Sophia, a relational trauma therapist, to support you along the way.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Here (Open to residents of BC, SK, MB, and ON, Canada): https://superbloomwellness.intakeq.com/booking
About the Author
Sophia is a trauma therapist, a dietitian, and most importantly, a fellow human navigating the complexities of the human experience. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She is deeply passionate about walking alongside clients looking to heal from various forms of trauma, such as complex trauma (including C-PTSD), betrayal trauma, relationship trauma, childhood trauma, parental trauma, narcissistic abuse, and/or intergenerational trauma. She specializes in supporting clients through healing the impacts that trauma can have on their most important relationships: including their relationship with self, with others, with their body, and with food. She draws from numerous trauma-focused modalities including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic and Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, and Psychodynamic Therapy.
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