What is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between mind and body. The term "somatic" comes from the Greek word soma, meaning "body," and somatic therapy works on the principle that trauma, stress, and emotional pain are not only stored in the mind but can also manifest as physical tension, discomfort, numbness, or chronic symptoms in the body. In somatic therapy, the clinician helps the client bring awareness to their felt experiences so they can process and release them. Specific somatic therapies include Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Sensorimotor Therapy. Somatic therapy is also an element of EMDR and IFS. At Magnolia Psychotherapy, we include somatic principles in all therapeutic treatments in order to provide holistic healing.