Long before we have words for what we’re feeling, our bodies know. The tight chest before we admit we’re anxious. The clenched jaw we didn’t notice we were holding. The breath we’ve been holding - sometimes for years.
So much of how we cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss happens in the body, beneath conscious awareness. And yet, when we think about therapy, we often imagine talking - putting feelings into words. But what happens when words aren’t enough? This is where somatic practices come in.
What Are Somatic Practices?
The word “somatic” comes from the Greek soma, meaning “the living body.” Somatic practices are approaches that work with the body - its sensations, tension, breath and nervous system - rather than focusing on thoughts alone.
The principle is simple but profound: stress, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss don’t just live in our minds. They live in our muscles, our posture, our breathing and our nervous systems. We may carry the residue of a difficult experience in our bodies long after our minds have tried to move on.
Somatic practices invite us to gently turn towards what’s happening in the body - to notice the tension and holding we’ve learned to override and to begin to release it.
Why the Body Matters in Healing
When we experience stress or trauma, our nervous system responds automatically - the familiar “fight, flight, freeze or fawn” response. This is a protective mechanism and a helpful one in genuine danger. But when stress is ongoing or when difficult experiences go unprocessed, our nervous system can become stuck in a state of high alert or shutdown.
Talking can help us understand this intellectually. But understanding alone doesn’t always settle a dysregulated nervous system. Sometimes we need to work more directly with the body to feel genuinely calmer, safer and more present.
This is why integrating somatic awareness into therapy can be so powerful, particularly for those experiencing anxiety, trauma, grief or loss that seems to “live” in the body.
Gentle Ways to Begin Reconnecting With Your Body
You don’t need any special training to start listening to your body. Here are a few gentle practices you can try:
Notice. Pause and ask yourself, “What is my body doing saying now?” Is your jaw tight? Are your shoulders raised? Is your breath shallow? You don’t need to change anything - simply noticing is the first step.
Breathe low and slow. A longer exhale than inhale gently signals safety to your nervous system. Try breathing in for a count of four, and out for a count of six.
Ground yourself. Feel your feet on the floor and your back against the chair. Remind yourself: I am here. I am safe in this moment.
Release. Consciously soften your jaw, drop your shoulders and unclench your hands. Notice how it feels to let go, even a little.
These small practices, repeated regularly, can help build a kinder, more connected relationship with your body over time.
How I Weave Somatic Awareness Into My Work
In my practice, I integrate somatic awareness throughout my therapeutic work, drawing on integrative counselling, clinical hypnotherapy, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Bowen Therapy, Sound Healing and Therapeutic Yin Yoga. Rather than treating the mind and body as separate, I work with the whole person - meeting you wherever you are, at whatever pace feels right for you.
Healing isn’t only a conversation. Sometimes it’s a slow, kind homecoming to the body we’ve been living above rather than within.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, phobias, grief, loss or a difficult life transition and you’d like to explore a gentle, body-aware approach to therapy, I’d love to hear from you.
I offer sessions in person near Shrewsbury in Shropshire and online via Zoom across the UK, with flexible appointment times including early mornings, evenings and weekends.
Come as you are. Leave more like yourself.
[Get in touch] / [Book a free 15-minute discovery call]