Somatic Therapy: A Bird’s Eye View
Let’s begin with a personal story.
Back in 2016 (or maybe 2017—honestly, it’s a blur), I found myself in a relationship that was toxic AF. I stuck around longer than I should have, as many of us do. During this time, I was going hard at the gym—five to six days a week, 90 minutes or more each session. Physically, I was in the best shape of my life. Mentally, though? I was unraveling.
I had a stress response in my jaw and tongue that left my gums sore for days. My eye twitched constantly. My mood was all over the place. I also had a complicated, often unhealthy, relationship with food. Looking back, the gym was the only place where I felt a sense of peace—and I genuinely believe that saved me in some ways.
Then, one day, something unexpected happened. I was deadlifting, and mid-rep, my eyes started to well up. Within seconds, tears were streaming down my face. If I had let go in that moment, I would’ve had a full-blown ugly cry. Instead, I kept lifting, letting the tears fall, channeling whatever emotion was surfacing into the movement. It passed as quickly as it came, and I even laughed at myself afterward. “What a weird time to cry,” I thought.
Fast forward to today: I’m a somatically trained therapist, and now, it all makes sense.
That moment at the gym was an embodiment of emotion rising to the surface. My body found a way to process and release it. In hindsight, the only time I was truly able to feel deeply back then was when I was fully present in my body—lifting, breathing, grounded. That connection to my physical self, combined with the incredible support of my coach Magda from @mindfulmagda (who I still work with today), was what gave me the strength to leave that relationship and reclaim my sense of self.
This story illustrates the essence of somatic therapy.
What Does It Mean to Be Embodied?
The Oxford Dictionary defines embodied as:
“To be an expression of, or give a tangible or visible form to, an idea, quality, or feeling.”
Through embodiment, we give shape to something that often feels intangible—emotions, memories, or sensations. And once it’s tangible, we can work with it. We can process, renegotiate, and reorganize what’s happening internally.
Yet many of us are moving too fast to notice what our bodies are trying to tell us. We rush from task to task, moment to moment, disconnected from the quiet cues that signal when something isn’t quite right.
When we ignore those cues long enough, the body speaks louder:
Chronic pain
Digestive issues
Eye twitching
Jaw clenching or grinding
IBS
Tension headaches
Panic attacks
Ignored cues can manifest as psychosomatic symptoms—physical discomfort with no clear medical cause.
Why Is Mindfulness Such a Buzzword?
Because it works.
Research consistently shows that mindfulness is one of the most powerful tools in therapy. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of studies confirming its physical and psychological benefits.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), defines it as:
“Mindfulness is the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.”
Paying attention. With intention. In the here and now. Without judgment.
Simple? Yes. Easy? Not always.
When was the last time you truly experienced that kind of presence?
Most of us are so disconnected from our feelings that we suppress or avoid discomfort entirely. But being mindful means slowing down enough to notice. It’s about turning inward with curiosity, and honoring the signals your nervous system is sending you in real time.
How Can You Get Started?
There are many schools of thought and methods within the field of somatic therapy, such as:
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Hakomi Method
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
You’ll also find deep somatic roots in Buddhism, Yoga, Taoism, and other Eastern traditions that have been integrating mindfulness for centuries.
I’m especially drawn to the work of Peter Levine, the creator of Somatic Experiencing. His language and metaphors make complex psychological concepts accessible to everyone. If you’re curious to explore, I highly recommend these books:
Waking the Tiger
In an Unspoken Voice
Healing Trauma
Another excellent resource is Deb Dana’s Anchored, which introduces the nervous system and polyvagal theory in a digestible way.
Final thoughts
If you're looking to process trauma or deep emotional work, I highly recommend working with a trained somatic therapist. This type of work can be transformative, but also intense—and having a skilled professional by your side makes all the difference.
Whatever your starting point, I hope this gives you a glimpse into the power of somatic therapy and the healing potential that lies in truly connecting with your body. And whatever path you take, I hope it leads you to a deeper connection with yourself—and to the kind of healing that feels empowering, embodied, and true.