With an increasing number of wellness options available, one type of therapy is emerging as a compelling choice. We spoke to some experts to find out what it is and why it’s resonating with so many people.
Gone are the days when therapy was a taboo topic, kept secret and spoken of only in whispers or behind closed doors. Instead, we now face a barrage of therapy talk at every turn, from TikTok therapists and meditation apps to mindfulness podcasts and online therapy platforms.
For many, this shift comes as a welcome relief and a sign of progress. But with this wealth of information comes a new challenge: navigating the overwhelming number of options available. Among the many routes and opportunities available, one type of therapy in particular has been gaining significant traction.
Over the past decade or so, somatic therapy has moved from the fringes of the therapeutic world to the forefront, as more people become curious about how trauma affects the body and ways in which to heal it. If you’ve heard of the book The Body Keeps the Score by Dr Bessel van der Kolk or come across the work of Dr Gabor Maté, you’ve likely encountered the foundational ideas behind somatic therapy.
Somatic experiencing therapist Karden Rabin and co-author of The Secret Language of the Body, attributes the rise of somatic therapy to a “confluence of knowledge, effective clinical tools and the internet.”
But what is it about somatic therapy that’s resonating with so many people? I spoke to Karden and his co-author Jennifer Mann to find out.
What is somatic therapy?
Derived from the Greek word sōmatikos, meaning ‘of the body’, somatic therapy is an umbrella term that covers a range of therapies that integrate physical techniques like breathing exercises, movement and mindfulness.
Michael Peck, a conscious embodiment coach at Fire + Alchemy explains that somatic therapy “focuses on the mind-body connection to address both the physical and emotional effects of trauma and stress.”
By working with the body, it aims to release trauma that has been unconsciously stored in the body, often for years.
This makes it particularly effective for those seeking a more “embodied sense of healing,” says Jennifer, especially for individuals dealing with things like PTSD, stress, depression, eating disorders, chronic pain and illness and deep-seated childhood trauma.
How is somatic therapy different from talking therapy?
At its core, the difference between somatic and talk therapy lies in their focus. While traditional talk therapy often focuses on verbal communication to explore thoughts and emotions, somatic therapy works with the body’s physical responses.
According to Karden, the foundation of all forms of somatic therapy is awareness of what’s happening in the body.
“Your nervous system is constantly sending you signals, but most people are ignoring or misinterpreting these,” he explains. Somatic therapy teaches you to become aware of these signals and understand what they mean.
It also emphasises the need to learn how to feel safe within your body when receiving these signals, even when faced with discomfort, fear or anxiety.
The reason this is so difficult is because “these feelings are coping mechanisms trying to protect you,” Karden explains. “But once you gain awareness, you need to learn how to interrupt these processes. This involves finding a felt sense of safety within your body when experiencing uncomfortable emotions.”
To Jennifer, somatic therapy is about “rewriting the story” we tell ourselves. She explains that “minds are meaning-making machines,” always trying to make sense of our feelings, even when the meaning we assign is misplaced.
For example, a client might express that they feel anger or frustration when a friend repeatedly cancels plans. Somatic therapy would prompt them to interpret the signals their body sends, deeply feel that emotion and recognise that it might be tied to a childhood experience where they felt abandoned or unsupported.
In other words, they are unconsciously reliving the story of their childhood in that moment, assigning meaning to it based on what they’ve previously gone through.
As adults, we have the capacity to understand what’s happening, but our bodies may still respond as they did in childhood because that’s how we learned to cope with overwhelming emotions.
Somatic therapy helps retrain the nervous system through supported practices and exposure to situations that previously felt unsafe. This process doesn’t aim to eliminate fear or discomfort but to teach the body to stay regulated in the face of these emotions.
Karden likens this “redesign step” to cold-water therapy: “Initially, when you jump in, it’s profoundly unpleasant — you want to jump out. But with support and practice, you learn to stay in the discomfort and eventually feel safe with it.”
Read more: I braved a cold sauna and couldn’t believe the benefits
Somatic therapy in practice
It’s this process of learning to stay with, and release, difficult sensations that’s central to somatic therapy.
For Hayley Knight, a client and passionate advocate of somatic therapy, this has been lifesaving. After experiencing lifelong trauma that led to severe anxiety, depression and chronic health issues like memory loss, tremors and headaches, she found relief through somatic therapy.
Despite multiple hospital visits and numerous medical tests, doctors couldn’t find a clear cause for her symptoms. For nearly 20 years, she had tried various forms of talk therapy and CBT, but it wasn’t until she began somatic therapy three years ago that she found relief.
However, Hayley emphasises that feeling your feelings properly for the first time is a daunting and painful task. “Trying to release your physical trauma is difficult and I have experienced deep, intense downs through somatic healing,”
But the positive effects are undeniable: “I’ve experienced peace and calm for the first time in my life,” she says.
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Is somatic therapy better than talking therapy?
With the rise of somatic therapy, many have taken to platforms like TikTok and Instagram to criticise talk therapy for encouraging the over-intellectualisation of emotions. Some even suggest that it may hinder, rather than help, progress.
Others simply point out that while talk therapy is helpful, it doesn’t address the physical effects of trauma.
Hayley echoes this sentiment: “Talking can only get you so far, especially when you’re unpacking so much.” For her, the time-limited nature of talk therapy sessions often felt overwhelming, making it difficult to process trauma effectively.
Karden and Jennifer believe somatic therapy is not about replacing talk therapy, but complementing it.
Recognising this too, Hayley’s current therapist now incorporates a combination of talk therapy, guided meditation, grounding exercises and other techniques, alongside Hayley’s own somatic practices.
One of the most significant advantages of somatic therapy, according to Hayley, is the independence it offers once you’ve learned the techniques.
“Now that I know what I’m doing, I mainly practise somatic therapy on my own,” she says. “I listen to music and then let my body guide me. Sometimes I incorporate visualisation and meditation — it depends on what my body needs.”
Through somatic therapy she’s learned to take control of her life and her emotions. “You have to completely trust your body, but once you do, the healing process is incredibly freeing,” she says.
Read more: The best apps for support with anxiety & stress
Why is somatic therapy becoming so popular now?
The trouble with the way somatic therapy has gained popularity is that it may lead some to dismiss it as another wellness trend.
But Karden and Jennifer urge us to consider why so many people are seeking alternatives to traditional talk therapy.
Karden believes the reason somatic therapy resonates with so many people is that the modern world has made us more disconnected from our bodies. “Our nervous systems are being nurtured poorly so they’re developing poorly,” he explains. “This has created a fracture between our body and our mind.”
So, could somatic therapy be the answer to how we can reconnect with ourselves?
For Hayley, somatic therapy has undoubtedly re-established a connection to herself and her body. “I’ve learned to embrace the freedom that comes with understanding my body and its needs,” she says. “My body will always hold trauma, but now I listen to it when it communicates and I have built a stronger, more resilient relationship with it.”
