What Is Somatic Therapy?
When you've lived through stress, trauma, or long-term anxiety, your body doesn't just “move on.”
It holds tension, habits, and survival responses—even long after the event is over.
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach that goes beyond talk therapy. At Tidal Trauma Centre in Surrey, we use somatic therapy to help clients reconnect with their bodies, process stored trauma, and regulate their nervous systems with compassion and skill.
The Body Remembers: Why Talk Alone Isn’t Always Enough
Traditional therapy focuses on thoughts and emotions—but trauma is also stored in the body. You may feel “fine” cognitively but still experience tension, chronic pain, startle responses, or emotional numbness.
This is where somatic therapy makes a difference. By working gently with bodily sensations, movement, and breath, this approach helps the body complete stress cycles and release what’s been stuck. It’s grounded in neuroscience and trauma theory—and designed to support healing from the inside out.
What Happens in Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is experiential. That means you’ll do more than talk—you’ll also tune into your body in safe, structured ways.
You might be guided to:
Notice where tension lives in your body
Track sensations with curiosity and without judgment
Practice grounding or breathing exercises
Explore small, mindful movements
Release held trauma through body-based techniques
You won’t be forced to relive anything. The pace is always client-led, and you’ll be supported every step of the way.
Benefits of Body-Based Therapy
Somatic therapy can be especially powerful for people who feel:
Disconnected from their body
Chronically anxious or “on edge”
Emotionally numb or flat
Easily overwhelmed or reactive
Tense, stiff, or in chronic pain
This approach helps regulate the nervous system, increase emotional resilience, and build trust with your body again. It can also gently surface buried emotions in ways that feel manageable—not overwhelming.
Who Might Benefit from Somatic Therapy?
At Tidal Trauma Centre, we often recommend somatic therapy for clients navigating:
PTSD and trauma recovery
Anxiety or panic disorders
Dissociation or shutdown responses
Chronic stress or burnout
Attachment wounds
Religious or childhood trauma
Somatic therapy is effective on its own or as part of an integrative approach alongside EMDR, IFS, or talk therapy. We offer this work in Surrey, Cloverdale, Langley, and virtually across BC.
Ready to Reconnect With Your Body?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, disconnected, or tense for too long—your body might be asking for a different kind of support. Our somatic therapists in Surrey are here to help. We’ll meet you with care, at your pace, and help you rediscover what safety and regulation feel like from the inside out.
📍 In-person therapy in Cloverdale, Surrey
💻 Virtual sessions available across BC
👥 Trauma-informed, body-based care
FAQs: Somatic Therapy
Q: What exactly is somatic therapy? A: Somatic therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between body and mind. Unlike traditional talk therapy, it emphasizes bodily awareness, physical sensations, and movement as tools for emotional healing. It’s especially useful for trauma survivors whose nervous systems remain dysregulated even when their minds understand the trauma is over. This therapy helps complete “unfinished” stress responses, allowing clients to feel calmer, more grounded, and safe in their own bodies again.
Q: Do I need to have a big trauma to benefit from somatic therapy? A: Not at all. While somatic therapy is highly effective for trauma recovery, it's also valuable for managing chronic stress, anxiety, and even burnout. Many people who benefit from somatic work don’t identify as “traumatized”—they simply feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or numb. If your body feels tense, shut down, or hard to befriend, somatic therapy might help you shift that gently and sustainably.
Q: Is somatic therapy the same as massage or bodywork? A: No, somatic therapy is not a form of bodywork like massage or chiropractic care. It’s a therapeutic process facilitated by a licensed or trained mental health professional. You remain fully clothed and in control throughout. While you might explore posture, breath, or subtle movement, everything is guided by verbal consent and collaboration. There’s no hands-on manipulation—just a focus on how your body and emotions interact in real time.
Q: What if I’m not “in touch” with my body or sensations? A: That’s incredibly common—and it’s actually one of the reasons people seek somatic therapy. Trauma and chronic stress often lead to disconnection from the body, which can make even noticing sensations feel difficult at first. The good news is that you don’t need to “be good at it.” Your therapist will help you build interoception (inner body awareness) gently, at your pace, using simple tools that restore connection over time.
Q: How does somatic therapy support nervous system regulation? A: Somatic therapy helps clients recognize the physiological states of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and then learn how to shift out of those states using breath, grounding, and sensory awareness. Over time, this supports better vagal tone (related to the vagus nerve) and builds capacity for self-regulation. Many clients report feeling more present, emotionally flexible, and physically relaxed as a result of this work.
Q: Can I combine somatic therapy with other trauma modalities? A: Yes—somatic therapy often works beautifully alongside other trauma-informed modalities like EMDR, IFS, or narrative therapy. At Tidal Trauma Centre, we frequently integrate somatic practices with these approaches to support the whole person: mind, body, and nervous system. You might explore EMDR to reprocess trauma memories, IFS to work with internal parts, and somatic work to regulate your body between sessions. Your therapist can co-create a treatment plan that supports you holistically.
Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental health advice. It is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.