What to Expect in a Somatic Therapy Session (UK)
A somatic therapy session is a gentle, paced space in which you and your therapist work with what you notice in your body, such as breathing, tension, warmth or the urge to move, as well as with your thoughts and feelings. Sessions usually begin with settling in and agreeing what feels safe, move at a pace your nervous system can manage and end with time to ground and integrate what has arisen.
If you are thinking about somatic therapy, it is completely natural to wonder what to expect in a somatic therapy session - what actually happens in the room. As a trauma-informed somatic therapist in Beverley, East Yorkshire, I often hear from people who are curious but unsure, particularly if they have only experienced talking therapy before. Here is what you can expect when you work with me.
What to expect in a somatic therapy session?
Somatic therapy is an umbrella term that covers several body-based approaches, so sessions can vary between practitioners. My own work is rooted in NeuroAffective Touch®, alongside nervous system awareness and relational therapy, and most sessions include some of the following.
We begin with a check-in about how you are arriving that day, both in your mind and in your body. From there, I may gently invite you to notice sensations, such as where you feel tension, how your breath is moving or what happens in your body as you talk about something that matters to you. We explore what arises with curiosity rather than analysis, following what your body shows us rather than a fixed plan. Towards the end, we slow down to notice what feels different, even slightly, and to ground you before you leave.
What happens in your first somatic therapy session?
Your first session is largely about getting to know each other and building a sense of safety. We talk about what has brought you to therapy, what has felt hard and what you hope might feel different. I will ask a little about how stress or past experiences seem to show up in your body, such as difficulty sleeping, feeling on edge, numbness or chronic tension.
We also agree on boundaries and pace together, including anything you would prefer not to explore yet. You are always in charge of what we work with, and there is never any pressure to share more than feels right.
Do I have to talk about my trauma?
No. One of the things many people find reassuring about somatic therapy is that you do not need to retell your whole story, or go into a particular event, for the work to help. We can work with what is happening in your body now, such as current stress patterns, triggers or the sense of being on high alert, and with resources, which are sensations, memories or places that help you feel steadier.
Your history still matters, and understanding it helps me know what your body may be carrying, although the focus stays on how things feel in the present, at a pace that feels manageable.
How is the pace managed if things feel overwhelming?
Somatic therapy works in small, manageable steps, sometimes called titration. Rather than diving into the most difficult feelings, we touch into them a little at a time and then return to something that feels safer or more neutral, noticing how your nervous system responds each time.
In practice, I might ask questions such as "Where do you notice that in your body?", "What happens if we stay with that sensation for a moment?" or "Is this feeling a little easier or a little harder?". If anything starts to feel like too much, we pause, slow down or turn towards something steadying, such as your feet on the floor or the support of the chair.
Is touch part of somatic therapy?
Touch can be part of my work, although it is always optional and never assumed. NeuroAffective Touch® brings together gentle, attuned touch with reflection and body awareness, and you remain fully clothed throughout. Touch is light and intentional, it is only offered with your clear consent, and you can change your mind at any time. Sessions may also include warm heated pillows or blankets for extra support.
Many people choose not to include touch at first, or at all, and still benefit fully from the work. You can read more about touch in my post NeuroAffective Touch® Therapy in the UK: What a Session Is Like
Can somatic therapy happen online?
Yes. Hands-on touch requires an in-person session in Beverley, although the same principles of tracking sensation, pacing and attuned presence work well online, supported by guided self-touch and gentle practices you can do at home.
How does a somatic therapy session end?
We always leave time at the end to notice what feels different, however small, and to ground and settle your nervous system before you leave. This might involve feeling your feet on the floor, slowing your breath or noticing the room around you. We may also talk about something gentle you could notice or practise before your next session.
How long are sessions and how much do they cost?
My sessions last 75 minutes and cost £75 each. Many people choose to work with me through a bundle of ten sessions used over six months, at £65 per session, which can be paid in five monthly instalments of £130. A small number of reduced-rate places are sometimes available.
How do I choose a somatic therapist in the UK?
"Somatic therapist" is not a protected title in the UK, so it is worth asking any practitioner about their training and approach before you begin. It is also reasonable to ask whether they have professional accreditation, whether they work under regular supervision and hold professional insurance, how they handle consent, particularly if touch is involved, and what they do if you feel overwhelmed during a session.
For transparency, I hold ACCPH Senior Member accreditation, have completed NeuroAffective Touch® training with Dr Aline LaPierre, work under regular professional supervision and hold professional indemnity insurance.
Questions you might like to ask before your first session
You are always welcome to ask me anything before we begin. Some people find it helpful to ask what a typical first session looks like, whether the focus is mainly on talking or on sensations in the body, how pacing works if they start to feel overwhelmed and whether touch is involved and how consent is agreed.
Taking a next step
If this speaks to something you recognise in yourself and you are curious about what this work could offer you, I would love to hear from you. One to one somatic therapy, including NeuroAffective Touch®, offers a relational, body-based space that works with your nervous system directly, with care, honesty and without judgement. Sessions are available online and in person in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and you are warmly welcome to book a free connection call.
If you would rather explore at your own pace, the Sunday Pause is a gentle weekly email with a moment of reflection and a short practice to help your nervous system soften and reconnect. You are warmly welcome to sign up using this form below.
About the author
Laura Starky is an integrative somatic therapist based in Beverley, East Yorkshire, offering sessions in person and online. Her path into this work began in pre-hospital emergency care and continued through 25 years in social work across child protection, substance misuse and mental health. Her somatic training began with ISOHH and has since deepened through NeuroAffective Touch® training with Dr Aline LaPierre. She holds ACCPH Senior Member accreditation and works under regular professional supervision. Laura is also a qualified yoga and meditation teacher and a committed practitioner of contemplative practice, rooted mainly in the non-dual tradition of Shaiva Tantra.
Resources and references
Resources and references
LaPierre, A. (2012) Healing Touch: Honoring the Somatic Dimension of Psyche [ebook]. Available at: www.neuroaffectivetouch.com
Mind (n.d.) What to expect from therapy. Available at: mind.org.uk
Further reading
You may also find my posts What Is Somatic Therapy? and NeuroAffective Touch® Therapy in the UK: What a Session Is Like helpful.
Last updated: September 2026
