What Is Somatic Experiencing Therapy?

Updated on 07/21/23

Somatic counseling, also known as somatic experiencing therapy, or SE therapy, is a type of therapy that helps treat post-traumatic stress, past trauma,  and effects from other mental health conditions. This type of therapy connects a person’s mind and body to apply psychotherapy and physical therapies during treatment.

“Somatic therapy is designed to help individuals clear their minds and connect to their bodies, and it is helpful because it combines mindfulness, grounding techniques, and traditional talk therapy.”

Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, LCSW-C, CMHIMP, EMDR

Therapists who practice somatic body psychotherapy, which applies basic principles of somatic psychology, believe a person’s inner feelings impact their physical form – they use mind-body exercises to release pent-up trauma from the mind and the body. By releasing these bodily sensations, a somatic therapist works towards healing trauma from the inside out with this form of trauma therapy.

Wondering how somatic therapy works? Read on to learn more about the techniques involved in somatic therapies and what it’s commonly used for.

How Does Somatic Therapy Work?

It is easy to feel trapped by our own physical and emotional stress. This feeling of being trapped might also lead you to feel panicked, anxious, and unable to calm down. Traditional talk therapy can effectively address many mental and emotional health challenges, but those who practice somatic psychotherapy believe talk therapy can benefit from paying attention to a person’s body and symptoms, which can help a person alleviate the stress and chronic pain preventing them from fully experiencing life.

“Somatic therapy approaches aim to address both your physical and mental health simultaneously so that you can find relief more quickly.”

Talkspace therapist Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD, CDBT

Somatic experiencing therapy is a specific approach to somatic therapy and is based on the idea that traumatic experiences cause dysfunction in a person’s nervous system and prevent them from processing the experience. The goal of somatic experiencing therapy, therefore, is to help an individual notice physical sensations stemming from their mental health issues and use that awareness to work through painful feelings and emotions. This kind of physical sensation can be in the form of chronic pain and other unpleasant symptoms.

Over time, somatic trauma healing therapy aims to help individuals improve their body awareness and learn somatic therapy techniques to release physical tension. These can include:

• Breathing exercises for anxiety
• Sensation awareness
• Physical exercise
• Massage
• Dance therapy
• Grounding exercises

The key is helping a person develop new thinking patterns and behaviors to better respond to various experiences or emotions as they come up.

When Is Somatic Therapy Used?

Somatic trauma healing therapy focuses on a person’s physical and mental connection during treatment and can be done in both an individual and a group therapy setting. This type of trauma therapy can be used to help address both physical and psychological symptoms of certain mental health issues, including:

• Chronic stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief
• Addiction
• Trauma and abuse
• Problems with relationships
• Sexual function

Somatic experiencing therapy can also benefit those who have tried, but not found success with, more traditional treatment methods after a traumatic experience. These treatments can include those for physical pain, digestive disorders, sleep problems, and other medical issues. The idea of using somatic techniques is that once physical symptoms are resolved, most people will find it is easier to address psychological symptoms through the use of somatic therapy techniques.

Somatic Therapy Techniques 

Somatic therapy aims to engage a person’s body as a therapy technique and draw from the basic functions of the nervous system during treatment. Somatic psychology, the theory from which somatic therapy is derived, includes the following primary concepts.

Grounding

Grounding techniques refer to a person’s ability to experience themselves as embodied in the moment. The somatic therapy approach involves a person sensing their physical form, engaging their senses, feeling their feet on the earth, and ultimately, calming down their nervous system.

Boundary development

Boundary development entails having an individual focus on the present moment, empowering them to stay responsive to their changing needs, and develop clear boundaries, whether it’s family boundaries, friendship boundaries, or in the workplace. It helps one respond in a way that feels strong and protected.

Self-regulation

Emphasizing the importance of mindfully staying connected to the body during big emotions or sensations, the goal of self-regulation is to develop an awareness of physical sensations, with the intent to regulate (or respond effectively to) emotional intensity.

Movement and process

Somatic therapies tap into an individual’s capacity to heal by listening to their body, incorporating what’s known as body psychotherapy. Postures, gestures, and the use of space all provide insight into a person’s experience, and in SE therapy, they are encouraged to mindfully engage with their impulses to drive a resolution. 

Sequencing

When tension begins to release, the movement of emotion can happen throughout the body. Tension may build in the belly, move to the chest, and finally settle into tightness of the throat, or alternatively, tension may be released via tears and result in an ability to breathe more freely.

Titration

Titration is a somatic approach that refers to a process of experiencing small amounts of distress with the goal of relieving pain from a previous traumatic event or experience. As one slowly begins to revisit past trauma, your therapist will track your body’s response and the sensations they bring up. They will check in about how you feel in addition to watching your physical response, breathing changes, clenched hands, or shift in tone of voice.

Are There Limitations to Somatic Therapy?

While many report good results from somatic therapy, science-backed evidence of this approach remains limited. In 2017, the first randomized controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of this approach for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and found that somatic psychotherapy does have positive benefits as a treatment option. However, the study had some limitations, as does some other research on PTSD.

In addition to the need for additional research, there are ethical concerns surrounding the use of touch during therapy. While some may find physical contact during therapy reduces pain and helps release tension, others – especially those affected by trauma and sexual abuse – may be triggered or uncomfortable.

What to Look for in a Somatic Therapist

Somatic therapy can be easily integrated into other psychotherapy and counseling practices – the key is to find a licensed and experienced mental health professional with training in somatic therapy techniques. Keep in mind that finding a therapist with the right educational background and experience is only one piece of the puzzle; it is just as important to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable speaking and who you feel understands you and the challenges you’re looking to overcome.

The connection between a person’s mind and body is strong and can open up new potential treatments for mental health issues. Practitioners of somatic therapy believe a person’s thoughts and feelings can impact their physical well-being and use mind-body exercise to help release pent-up tension. While greater research is still needed, there is evidence that finds benefits to somatic therapy. With the help of a licensed therapist on our online therapy platform at Talkspace, a person can better manage the physical tension in their body and improve their experiences. Get started with online somatic therapy today.