How to heal from the body up with somatic approach
“I often felt stuck and helpless,” James shared when he first came to me. “I carry so much tension in my legs and shoulders. My brain knows I’m safe now, but my body doesn’t feel it. I can’t let go of the sense that I’m constantly on edge. In danger. Especially after something triggers me.” How to Heal from the body up with somatic approach, you may think!
This is a reality for so many who live with unprocessed trauma. Life experiences, especially those filled with fear or helplessness, don’t just leave a mark on our minds; they imprint on our bodies and nervous systems. These imprints, like tension or a lingering sense of dread, can show up in the most unexpected ways:
– Struggling to relax at the end of the day, your shoulders still tight as if bracing for impact.
– Freezing in a meeting when conflict arises, unable to speak or think clearly.
– Constant sense of hypervigilance, as if something terrible could happen at any moment.
For James, the tension in his body was like a shield. Protecting him from harm but also keeping him small and disconnected. Together, we slowed down and gently explored this tension. We found that it had served a purpose: as a young boy, James had learned to stay small and invisible to avoid being shouted at by the “big people” in his life. That shield had kept him safe.
Through somatic therapy we didn’t try to force the shield away. Instead, we acknowledged it with care and curiosity. Slowly, the protective part of James began to soften, and underneath, a frightened and lonely child started to emerge. By creating a safe space for this vulnerable part, James was able to experience something new – not just understanding he was safe with his mind but feeling it in his body.
Over time, the shield wasn’t needed so constantly. James began to sense, deeply and fully, that he’s now an adult capable of protecting himself. This realisation wasn’t just a thought – it became embodied, shifting him from living in trauma’s grip to moving forward with greater freedom and ease.
The body is our greatest ally in the healing process, as it holds the wisdom and resources necessary for healing.
Peter Levine, Author of Waking the Tiger
The Limitations of Talk Therapy
Before seeing me, James worked with a wonderful talk therpist, who helped him work more cognitively through his experience. But talk therapy alone couldn’t reach those deeper layers of trauma. Trauma resides in survival instincts, which can’t be resolved through analysis alone, as the brain’s emotional and survival centres respond to safety, not logic.
READ MORE: Unlock the Power of Your Body’s Wisdom to Heal Trauma
His body was holding onto survival energy, keeping him stuck in patterns long after the threat was gone. Using somatic approach, we could gently access these places in the body, helping him to discharge that trapped energy and restore balance to his nervous system. This helped James to support completing the survival responses that were interrupted during the trauma, restoring the body’s natural equilibrium, and helping him move forward with greater ease and wholeness.
When we listen to our body’s wisdom, we open the door to healing not just the mind but the whole self. If James’ story resonates with you, know that your body, too, holds the key to coming home to yourself.
If this post resonated with you and you’re seeking one-on-one support, I’d love to hear from you. My somatic work integrates the Hakomi method and Somatic Experiencing, offering a gentle, body-based approach to healing. My practice is based in Luxembourg, and I see my clients online. Feel free to reach out!
Schedule your free consultation HERE.
