When Words Aren’t Enough
Understanding Why Somatic Therapy Often Works When Talking Doesn’t
Have you ever noticed that no matter how much you talk about the trauma you have experienced, your body still feels tense or you shut down afterward? Maybe you’ve been in traditional therapy before and it helped for a while, but then the next stressor happens and you feel like you’re back at square one. So, you reopen those old wounds by talking about it again, and the cycle repeats itself.
You’re not alone.
Traditional talk therapy (like Cognitive Behavioral, Interpersonal, Psychodynamic, or Humanistic) often focuses solely on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. These types of therapy can be really helpful for gaining a better understanding of yourself, finding new perspectives, building coping skills, and problem-solving. These models are often what therapists are trained in in graduate school, and you will never hear me bashing them because they absolutely serve their purpose in the therapy world.
But when it comes to trauma, just understanding the story and yourself doesn't always make the feelings about it go away. When you’ve been through something that felt overwhelming, whether it’s a single incident trauma or years of ongoing stress, your body remembers. Even when your adult logical brain understands that you’re safe now, your body just might not get that message.
Somatic Therapy: Listening to What Your Body Has to Say
That’s why somatic approaches, such as EMDR, Brainspotting, or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, can be so powerful. The word somatic simply means having to do with the body. Somatic therapies go beyond talking to help you heal not just your thoughts, but can also bring healing to your nervous system, where your trauma really lives.
That’s because unprocessed trauma can get stored in your body. When something scary or overwhelming happens, your body automatically goes into fight, flight, or freeze mode. This is the way your nervous system tries to protect you. But long after the danger is gone, your body can stay stuck in that state of high alert if you aren’t able to process or mentally digest the trauma you experience once you are safe.
If you’ve ever watched an animal after they’ve been attacked and are finally safe, they will shake their entire body and then go back to doing life. Humans are wired for this same process, but thanks to our highly developed thinking brains, we’ve been led to believe that we just need to think about it, make it make sense, and then we’ll be ok. Talking about events with others is a great way to make meaning of our stories, so we try this over and over again.
The problem with trying to talk or think our way through trauma is that these alone do not physically release the trauma that gets in your body. So instead, you are left with that trauma being stuck in your nervous system, and you might notice the following:
Feeling on edge, irritable, or angry
Trouble relaxing or sleeping
Feeling numb or checked out
Anxiety that seems to come out of the blue
Headaches, body pains, or stomach issues
These reactions aren’t “just in your head.” They’re your body’s way of saying, “I don’t feel safe yet.”
Instead of diving straight into your thoughts, somatic therapies help you slow down and notice what’s happening in your body, like your breath or body sensations, and where you notice feeling them. Once you have made the connection to your body and its sensations, you will be guided to think about the traumatic memory while you are focusing on your body, and this begins the process of digesting the memories. Each type of somatic therapy uses the body’s natural healing process to support you in reaching your goals.
Types of Somatic Therapy
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, back-and-forth eye movements, tapping, or sounds, which allows your brain to release the sensations of the traumatic memories so your brain can store them where they belong. You still remember what happened, but it no longer controls how you feel.
Brainspotting (which was discovered by an EMDR therapist) therapists help you find specific “brainspots,” which are eye positions linked to stored emotional experiences. As you focus on these spots while you notice body sensations and memories, your brain and body naturally start to process and release the trauma that has been stuck in the body
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy helps a client develop awareness of body sensations, postures, and movements that were associated with their trauma. By re-experiencing these physical responses inside the therapeutic environment, clients can complete previously unfinished survival responses, release stored energy, and bring regulation to their nervous system.
In addition to these 3 modalities, Somatic Experiencing, Dance Therapy, Hakomi Method, and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy are also used by therapists to support their clients. As a therapist, I encourage you to research each type of somatic therapy and ask prospective therapists as many questions as you need to make sure it feels like a good fit for you in your journey.
No matter how long ago the trauma happened, healing is possible. You don’t have to relive painful memories or push yourself too fast. A somatic therapist should always go at YOUR pace and help your body find the release it needs so you can live the life you want for yourself.
Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’ve been feeling stuck or you’ve tried talk therapy and still don’t feel the relief you’re looking for, these somatic approaches might be the missing piece for you.
You don’t have to carry this forever. Your body already knows how to heal; it just needs help connecting to its natural healing process.
If you’re looking for EMDR, Brainspotting, or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy in Huntersville, Cornelius, or Davidson, NC, reach out today to schedule a free consultation with me and take the step toward healing the trauma inside your body.