Somatic-Oriented Therapy: What is it and who can it help?
Somatic psychotherapy helps you connect with your body's natural wisdom to facilitate healing and lasting change. Through gentle awareness of physical sensations, movement, and breath, you can access deeper insights and develop a more embodied relationship with yourself and your experiences.
​​Updated: 26/11/24
Written by Dr Sara Tookey, Clinical Psychologist
Somatic Psychotherapy: Connecting Mind and Body for Healing
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Somatic psychotherapy recognises that our experiences, emotions, and traumas are stored not just in our minds but in our bodies. This body-based approach to therapy helps people connect with their embodied experience to facilitate deeper healing and lasting change.
Somatic psychotherapy encompasses various body-based therapeutic approaches including Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Focusing-Oriented Therapy.
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Core Principles
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1. Body-Mind Connection
The body and mind are inseparable aspects of human experience. Our thoughts, emotions, memories, and experiences are reflected in our physical state and bodily sensations.
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2. Embodied Awareness
Developing awareness of bodily sensations, movements, and patterns provides direct access to emotional experiences and implicit knowing.
3. Present-Moment Experience
Working with immediate bodily experience in the present moment allows access to deeper levels of understanding and change.
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Key Concepts
The Felt Sense
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Whole-body awareness of situations
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Pre-verbal knowing
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Physical-emotional experience
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Source of embodied wisdom
Nervous System Regulation
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Window of tolerance
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Autonomic nervous system states
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Self-regulation skills
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Co-regulation in therapy
Somatic Resources
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Grounding techniques
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Body awareness practices
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Movement interventions
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Breath work
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Who Can Benefit?
Somatic therapy can help with:
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Trauma and PTSD
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Anxiety and stress
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Depression
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Chronic pain
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Relationship issues
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Identity exploration
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Emotional regulation
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Embodied awareness
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What to Expect in Sessions
Session Structure
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Check-in and grounding
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Body awareness exploration
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Working with present experience
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Integration and closure
Common Practices
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Mindful body tracking
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Movement exercises
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Breath awareness
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Boundary exercises
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Postural awareness
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Gesture work
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The Evidence Base
Research supports somatic approaches for:
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Trauma healing (van der Kolk, 2014)
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Anxiety reduction (Payne, 2015)
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Depression management (Röhricht, 2013)
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Pain management (Price, 2007)
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Emotional regulation (Ogden, 2015)
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Key Therapeutic Elements
1. Safety and Stabilisation
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Building body awareness
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Developing resources
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Creating safe space
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Establishing boundaries
2. Processing and Integration
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Working with sensations
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Processing emotions
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Integrating experiences
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Building resilience
3. Embodied Change
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New movement patterns
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Changed emotional responses
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Improved self-regulation
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Enhanced awareness
Common Challenges and Solutions
Challenges
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Difficulty sensing body
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Overwhelming sensations
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Dissociation
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Body shame
Solutions
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Gradual exposure
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Titration techniques
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Grounding practices
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Resourcing skills
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Special Considerations
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When Somatic Work May Be Most Helpful
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Trauma healing
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Chronic stress
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Emotional disconnection
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Physical symptoms
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Identity exploration
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When to Consider Alternatives
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Acute crisis
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Severe dissociation
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Active psychosis
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Immediate safety concerns
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​Recommended Resources
Books
Professional Resources
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"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk
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"Waking the Tiger" by Peter Levine
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"Focusing" by Eugene Gendlin
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"Body Awareness as Healing Therapy" by Moshe Feldenkrais
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United States Association for Body Psychotherapy
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European Association for Body Psychotherapy
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Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute
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Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified mental health professional for personalised guidance.​​​​​​​​​​​
Note: While somatic work can be powerful, it's important to work with a qualified therapist who can help you navigate this approach safely and effectively. Our therapists are trained in various somatic methods and can help determine the most appropriate approach for your needs.​
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References​
Gendlin, E. T. (2012). Focusing-oriented psychotherapy: A manual of the experiential method. The Guilford Press.
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Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books.
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Ogden, P., & Fisher, J. (2015). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: Interventions for trauma and attachment. W.W. Norton & Company.
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Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93.
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Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W.W. Norton & Company.
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Price, C. (2007). Body-oriented therapy in recovery from child sexual abuse: An efficacy study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13(5), 30-37.
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Röhricht, F. (2013). Body psychotherapy for the treatment of severe mental disorders – an overview. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 8(4), 216-232.
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van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
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