Somatic Body Psychotherapy
Somatic Body Psychotherapy for Trauma
Sometimes emotional distress is not experienced only through thoughts.
You may also notice tension, restlessness, changes in breathing, feeling disconnected from your body, becoming easily startled or other physical responses when something feels difficult or unsafe. I use Somatic Body Psychotherapy as one part of my integrative approach to trauma therapy. It gives us a way to pay attention to both your emotional experience and what you notice physically, while keeping the work at a pace that feels manageable. You remain in control of what we explore and when.
Professional Accreditations & Practice Standards
BACP Registered
CNHC Registered
2,000+
Fully Insured
What Is Somatic Body Psychotherapy?
What does somatic therapy mean?
The word somatic relates to the body. Somatic Body Psychotherapy recognises that our emotional experiences can be accompanied by physical sensations and responses. For example, you may notice changes in:
- Breathing
- Muscle tension
- Heart rate
- Posture
- Movement
- Energy levels
- Restlessness
- Feelings of heaviness or numbness
- How safe or settled you feel in your body
In therapy, these physical experiences can be explored alongside thoughts, emotions, memories and relationships. This does not mean that every physical symptom is psychological. It means that the body can provide useful information about how you are responding to stress, emotion and difficult experiences.
Why Include the Body in Therapy?
Why might talking alone not always feel enough?
Some people understand their difficulties very clearly. You may know why you feel anxious, where a particular fear came from or how to explain a relationship pattern logically. And yet your body may still react before you have time to think. You might tense up, freeze, become restless, feel overwhelmed or notice a strong physical reaction in certain situations.
Somatic work gives us another way of exploring those responses. Rather than focusing only on the question “What are you thinking?”, we may also gently consider:
- What are you noticing in your body?
- Where do you feel tension?
- What changes when you talk about something difficult?
- What helps you feel more settled?
- What happens when you slow down?
- What helps you feel safer and more present?
The aim is not to analyse every sensation. It is to develop greater awareness of how your emotional and physical responses may be connected.
Who May Find Somatic Therapy Useful?
Could somatic psychotherapy be suitable for me?
Somatic approaches may be considered when emotional experiences seem closely connected with physical reactions. You may recognise experiences such as:
- Feeling constantly tense or on edge
- Finding it difficult to relax
- Becoming physically overwhelmed during stress
- Feeling disconnected or numb
- Strong reactions to particular situations or reminders
- Anxiety that feels very physical
- Difficulty recognising when you are becoming overwhelmed
- Feeling unsafe even when you logically know you are not in immediate danger
- Struggling to identify or express emotions
- Feeling that talking has helped you understand something, but your reactions have not fully changed
These experiences can have many different causes. I do not assume they automatically mean that you need somatic therapy. The first step is understanding what is happening for you.
Somatic Therapy and Trauma
How can somatic work fit into trauma therapy?
Trauma can affect people emotionally, psychologically and physically. When something feels threatening or overwhelming, your body may respond automatically. Those responses can include becoming tense, alert, still, restless or disconnected. Sometimes similar reactions continue to appear later when something reminds you of an earlier experience.
Somatic psychotherapy allows us to notice those responses without immediately trying to force them away. The work may involve developing greater awareness of physical sensations, emotional changes, breathing, movement, boundaries, feelings of safety, signs that you are becoming overwhelmed and what helps you feel grounded.
The purpose is not to make you relive a traumatic experience. We work with what is happening in the present and proceed gradually.
You Set the Pace
Will I have to revisit traumatic experiences?
Not before you are ready. Trauma-informed therapy should not begin by forcing you into difficult memories. Our work starts with understanding what you are experiencing and what helps you feel sufficiently safe and settled.
You can decide what you want to discuss. You can also tell me when something feels too much. Sometimes the most useful work is simply learning to recognise your responses more clearly before doing anything further. Your pace matters.
What Happens in a Session?
What is a somatic psychotherapy session like?
A somatic session is still psychotherapy. We talk. We explore your experiences. We think together about what is happening. The difference is that I may also invite you to notice what is happening physically while we talk. For example, we might explore:
Body awareness
You may be invited to notice where you feel tension, ease, warmth, heaviness or another physical sensation. There is no correct answer.
Breathing
We may notice how your breathing changes when you discuss different experiences. Breathing exercises may sometimes be used where they feel appropriate and helpful.
Grounding
Grounding techniques can help you reconnect with the present moment when emotions or physical reactions begin to feel overwhelming.
Movement and posture
Sometimes small changes in posture or movement can help us understand how your body responds to particular emotions or situations.
Emotional awareness
We connect physical sensations with feelings, thoughts and experiences rather than treating the body and mind as separate.
None of this should feel like a performance. You do not need to move in a particular way or produce a particular response. We observe what is already happening.
Is This the Same as Massage or Physical Treatment?
Does somatic psychotherapy involve physical manipulation?
Somatic Body Psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy. It is not massage, physiotherapy or another physical medical treatment. The work is centred around therapeutic conversation, awareness and how emotional experiences may relate to physical responses.
Medical care
If physical symptoms require medical assessment, psychotherapy should not be used as a substitute for appropriate medical care.
How I Use Somatic Psychotherapy
Is somatic therapy used on its own?
I work integratively. For many clients, somatic psychotherapy is not used as an isolated technique. It can form part of a wider therapeutic approach. The approach we use depends on you; I do not expect every person to fit the same therapy model.
EMDR Therapy
A structured therapy commonly used when traumatic or distressing memories continue to affect the present.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Exploring relationships between thoughts, emotions and behaviour.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Developing practical skills around emotional regulation and relationships.
Hypnotherapy
An approach that may form part of work around fears, anxiety or other difficulties.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Exploring experiences, emotions and relationships in greater depth.
Somatic Therapy and EMDR
What is the difference between somatic therapy and EMDR?
Both may form part of trauma-informed work, but they are different approaches. EMDR follows a structured therapeutic process and is commonly used when working with distressing memories and trauma. Somatic psychotherapy places more emphasis on noticing physical sensations, body awareness and how emotional experiences are felt physically.
For some clients, I may use elements of both approaches at different stages of therapy. For example, somatic work may support awareness and emotional regulation while EMDR is used as part of structured trauma processing. You do not need to decide which one you need before contacting me.
How Long Does Somatic Therapy Take?
How many sessions will I need?
There is no standard number of sessions that applies to everyone. The length of therapy depends on factors such as:
- What has brought you to therapy
- What you would like to work on
- Whether you are dealing with one issue or several
- How longstanding the difficulties are
- What feels manageable for you
- Whether we are combining somatic work with another therapy
Some people require shorter-term support. Others may benefit from longer-term psychotherapy. Rather than promising a particular timeframe, we review how therapy is progressing together.
What does somatic therapy cost?
You can find current session fees, payment options and cancellation terms on the fees page. If you are unsure which appointment applies to you, you are welcome to get in touch before booking.
Where I Work
Somatic psychotherapy in Buckinghamshire and Kent
I work with clients across Buckinghamshire and Kent, and online.
Buckinghamshire
Sessions around High Wycombe, Marlow, Bourne End, Stokenchurch, Lane End and Cressex.
Online
Confidential video sessions from the comfort of your own home.
Genovieve Feasey • BACP, EMDR, CNHC
About Genovieve
Somatic psychotherapy with Genovieve Feasey
I am Genovieve Feasey. I have completed more than 2,000 clinical client hours and work with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, relationship difficulties and other emotional concerns.
My approach is integrative and trauma-informed. I use different therapeutic methods according to the person I am working with rather than assuming one method will suit everyone. Somatic psychotherapy may form part of that work when paying attention to physical responses can help us better understand what is happening.
First Steps
Do I need to know whether somatic therapy is right for me?
No. You do not need to diagnose yourself, and you do not need to choose a therapy method before speaking with me. If you contact me, we can begin by discussing:
- What has brought you to therapy
- What you are experiencing
- What you would like help with
- Whether you notice strong physical responses
- What approaches may be suitable
- Any questions you have about therapy
From there, we can consider the most appropriate next step.
Common Questions
Questions about somatic body psychotherapy
When You Are Ready
You do not have to choose the right therapy before you get in touch.
If you are experiencing emotional difficulties that also feel strongly physical, we can talk about what is happening and whether somatic work may form a useful part of your therapy. You decide what you share and the pace at which we work.