When understanding isn’t enough
You may understand what is happening to you, but still feel stuck. Perhaps you experience persistent pain, tension, overwhelm, anxiety, fatigue or a sense of disconnection. You may understand your patterns intellectually, but find that knowing isn’t enough to change how you feel.
Somatic therapy brings the body into the therapeutic process
Rather than focusing only on thoughts and words, we gently explore the relationship between your body, nervous system, emotions, experiences and relationships.
What does somatic therapy involve?
Somatic therapy isn’t a single technique or a set formula.
We might notice sensations, changes in breathing, muscle tension, movement or impulses in the body. We may explore emotions, patterns of protection or parts of you that have learned to keep you safe.
Sometimes we need to understand the story. Sometimes we need to notice what is happening in the body. Sometimes we meet the part that learned to protect us.
Sometimes we need to build safety, resources and nervous-system capacity first. And sometimes we’re ready to process experiences that your nervous system may still be responding to as though they are happening now.
The work can move between all of this.
Nothing is forced. We work collaboratively and at a pace that respects your capacity and readiness.
An integrated approach
Somatic therapy is the foundation of my therapeutic work. Somatic EMDR is a thread, bringing structure to the therapeutic process while allowing us to remain responsive to you. I also draw on Embodied Processing®, nervous system coaching, parts and attachment-informed approaches, NeuroAffective Touch® and Myofascial Bodywork where they are supportive and appropriate.
You don’t need to decide which approach you need.
We start with you, and the work develops from there.
Who might somatic therapy be helpful for?
Persistent physical symptoms
- live with persistent pain, tension or physical symptoms
- understand your patterns but struggle to change them
- feel that your body is carrying something you can’t quite put into words
Emotional overwhelm or shutdown
- feel overwhelmed, anxious or constantly on edge
- experience shutdown, numbness or disconnection
- have experienced trauma or difficult relationships
- feel stuck despite having tried other approaches
A gentle place to start
The first step is to reach out.
You don’t need to know where to start. We can explore that together.