What is Somatic Therapy?

What even is somatic therapy? People ask me this often, and I often wonder myself. My response changes every day. Today, in this moment, I’ll say that somatic therapy is a type of therapy that not only includes, but celebrates, the fact that we have bodies. We are not just heads and thoughts, but also feelings, emotions, sensations, energy…

Sometimes we get physical cues from our bodies: a rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, tense shoulders, and so on. Sometimes we’re aware of these cues, and sometimes we’re not. I’ve found that identifying and getting curious about these physical sensations can support nervous system regulation. It’s actually quite simple. Our bodies talk, and we listen.

When we don’t listen, symptoms such as fatigue, anger, joint pain, and so on can appear. Of course, our bodies naturally change over time, and aches and pains are part of life, but the sooner we start listening, the sooner we may find relief. Or perhaps not relief exactly, but greater awareness, acceptance, and connection with our changing bodies.

I offer a free 20-minute consultation to explore whether somatic therapy might be a good fit. I work with adults and young adults serving Santa Cruz, Felton, Ben Lomond, Scott’s Valley, and Aptos at Hummingbird Valley Retreat Center in Santa Cruz.