Unlocking the Power of Somatic Awakening with a Somatic Therapist

Reconnecting with our body on the healing path

Many of us carry tension, stress and unresolved emotions in our bodies without realising it. We get on with life, we function, we look after others, yet somewhere inside there is a tightness, a numbness or a constant hum of anxiety that never quite settles.

Somatic awakening is one way of describing what happens when we begin to listen to the body again. Rather than trying to think our way out of stress and old patterns, we include the body as an active part of our healing. Working with a somatic therapist can support this process so we are not doing it alone or guessing what comes next.

This post explores what somatic awakening means, how a somatic therapist can support that journey, and simple ways we can begin to experience the benefits in everyday life.

A peaceful therapy area bathed in natural light, adorned with soft pillows, a warm blanket, and vibrant green plants, fostering an ambiance of calm and tranquility.

What is somatic awakening

Somatic awakening is the gradual process of becoming more aware of the sensations, emotions and even memories that live in the body. While traditional talk therapy focuses mainly on thoughts and feelings, somatic work brings attention to how our body has adapted to stress and experience over time.

When we go through trauma, chronic stress, burnout or early relational wounding, the body often holds onto those experiences as tension, pain, collapse or numbness. We might notice a tight jaw, a knotted stomach, a heavy chest or a sense of being checked out, be numb and distant from ourselves.

Somatic awakening invites us to notice these patterns with curiosity rather than judgement. Over time, the body can begin to release what it has been holding and find new ways to feel safe, connected and present.

Key aspects of somatic awakening include.....

• Body awareness noticing subtle physical sensations like tightness, warmth or tingling

• Emotional flow allowing emotions connected to these sensations to surface in manageable ways

• Movement and breath using gentle movement and breathing to support regulation and release

• Mind body connection understanding how our thoughts, emotions and bodily states influence each other

  
  

As this unfolds, many people experience greater emotional resilience, reduced anxiety and a stronger sense of presence and aliveness.

The role of a somatic therapist

A somatic therapist offers a relational, grounded space to explore this awakening process. Rather than pushing for big breakthroughs, the focus is on building enough safety and regulation for the body to soften in its own time.

Somatic therapists often integrate body based awareness with talking, so we can make sense of what we feel. Some draw from trauma informed approaches such as body based psychotherapy, nervous system regulation work and attachment focused modalities.

How a somatic therapist can support us....

• Creating safety offering a steady, respectful environment where it feels possible to notice what is happening inside

• Guided awareness gently helping us track and describe sensations without analysis or self criticism

• Supporting regulation using breath, grounding, imagery or small movements to bring the nervous system back towards a sense of steadiness

• Making meaning exploring how our bodily patterns relate to our history, relationships and current life

• Integration helping us carry this awareness into everyday situations so change is not just something that happens in sessions

  
  

The aim is not to force release or catharsis, but to support our system to find more choice and connection over time.

Somatic awakening with Laura at the Somatic Wellness Hub

On this site, somatic awakening is at the heart of how we work together. I bring over 25 years experience in mental health and social work, alongside training in somatic and trauma informed approaches. My focus is on developmental and relational trauma, anxiety, burnout, alcohol recovery and the quiet disconnection that can come from years of coping alone.

For many of us this journey is also deeply spiritual, even if we would not use that word. We might be questioning old identities, feeling inner shifts we cannot quite name or sensing that life is asking something more honest from us. In our sessions we honour both the nervous system and these deeper questions of meaning, without forcing a particular belief or path.

Sessions are online, one to one, and always paced according to what feels manageable for our system in the moment.

Potential benefits of somatic awakening

While everyone’s process is unique, people often report.....

• Less constant tension, stress and anxiety in the body

• More capacity to feel emotions without being overwhelmed or shutting down

• A sense of thawing from functional freeze or long term numbness

• Clearer boundaries and a deeper sense of self respect

• More presence in relationships and day to day life

• A more intimate, embodied relationship with whatever we hold as sacred

  
  

This is not about becoming perfect or endlessly calm. It is about having more choice than fight, flight, collapse or people pleasing.

Simple ways to begin somatic awakening

We do not have to wait until we are in therapy to start tuning into the body. Small, regular moments of attention can gently prepare the ground.

Here are a few simple practices.....

• Body scan spend five minutes slowly bringing awareness from the feet to the head, noticing sensations without trying to fix them

• Mindful movement take a short walk, stretch or practice gentle yoga, paying attention to how each part of the body feels as it moves

• Breath awareness place a hand on the chest or belly and notice the natural rhythm of the breath, perhaps lengthening the exhale slightly

• Journalling sensations jot down any physical feelings that stand out during the day and any emotions or thoughts that sit alongside them

• Grounding feel the support of the chair, the floor or the bed beneath us, letting the body register that support for a few breaths

  
  

These are not quick fixes. They are ways of saying to the body “I am here, I am listening” which is where somatic awakening begins.

What to expect in a somatic therapy session

If we choose to work with a somatic therapist, a typical session might include.....

• A short check in about how we are arriving that day

• Gentle guidance to bring awareness to the body and breath

• Time to track specific sensations, emotions or patterns that arise

• Occasional suggestions for small movements, postural adjustments or resourcing practices

• Space to reflect on memories, images or insights that emerge

• Simple invitations for things we can explore between sessions

  
  

Everything happens at your pace. We are always in choice about what we explore, and our boundaries are respected.

Is somatic awakening right for us

Somatic work can be supportive if we are.....

• Living with anxiety, stress, burnout or chronic tension

• Recovering from difficult childhood experiences or ongoing relational stress

• Reconsidering our relationship with alcohol or other coping patterns

• Feeling numb, disconnected or stuck in our head

• Sensing deeper shifts in awareness that are hard to make sense of

  
  

It is perfectly okay if we do not identify as “spiritual”. It is also okay if we do. Somatic awakening meets us where we are.

Taking a next step

If something in this speaks to us, we might begin by trying one of the simple practices above and noticing what we discover. When we feel ready to be supported, working with a somatic therapist can offer a steady companion on the path.

You can read more about my 1:1 trauma informed somatic therapy sessions and how we might work together CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

This journey is not about fixing who we are. It is about slowly reconnecting with the body’s truth, so that life can feel more lived, more honest and more our own.