Mind-Body Connection: How Somatic Therapy Can Help With Healing and Recovery From Trauma
The mind is a battlefield, and this is especially true for those suffering from trauma. But trauma goes beyond impacting the mind and our emotions. It can also wreak havoc on the body, as well, affecting how we move, breathe, and respond to the world around us.
For many people, talk therapy helps understand the emotional and psychological aspects of trauma. Yet, healing isn’t always complete until the body is also addressed. That’s where somatic therapy comes in and can help individuals fully process trauma and reclaim a sense of peace in both mind and body.
How Trauma Affects the Body
When we experience trauma, whether it’s from a single event or repeated exposure to stress or harm, our bodies react with a fight, flight, or freeze response. This is our natural way of protecting us from danger. However, when trauma is not fully processed, these responses can remain “stuck” in the nervous system long after the threat has passed.
The result can be a range of physical and emotional symptoms—chronic tension, fatigue, digestive issues, panic attacks, shallow breathing, or feeling numb or disconnected. The body may stay in a state of hypervigilance, always on edge or ready to react.
For many survivors, these physical symptoms of trauma persist even if they understand their trauma intellectually. That’s because trauma is stored in the body, not just the brain—and to truly heal, both must be addressed.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to healing trauma that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It recognizes that emotional and psychological pain often manifests physically, and that healing must involve more than just talking about what happened.
In somatic therapy, clients are gently guided to tune into physical sensations, body awareness, and movement. Therapists may use techniques such as breathwork, grounding exercises, body scanning, gentle movement, and guided imagery to help clients notice and release tension or stored trauma. The goal is not to relive the trauma, but to safely process the physiological effects and restore balance to the nervous system.
How Somatic Therapy Supports Healing and Recovery
Somatic therapy offers a powerful pathway for those who feel stuck in traditional talk therapy or who continue to experience trauma-related symptoms despite emotional processing. It helps to:
- Regulate the Nervous System
By helping individuals become more aware of their bodily responses and gently releasing chronic tension, somatic therapy calms the overactive nervous system. This can lead to fewer panic attacks, improved sleep, and a greater sense of calm and safety. - Reconnect You With Your Body
Trauma often causes people to feel disconnected from their bodies, as a way of coping with overwhelming experiences. Somatic therapy helps rebuild this connection in a safe and supportive way, encouraging a greater sense of presence, control, and self-compassion. - Release Stored Trauma
Through intentional body-based practices, somatic therapy allows trauma energy that’s been held in the body to be acknowledged and released. This can ease physical symptoms like chronic pain, tension, or restlessness and create space for emotional healing. - Build Resilience and Empowerment
Somatic therapy teaches you how to listen to your body and respond with care. You’ll develop tools to regulate your emotions, respond to stress, and protect your well-being in the future. This increased body awareness builds both resilience and a sense of empowerment.
Begin Your Healing Journey at Joyful Living
At Joyful Living Behavioral Health in Eugene, Oregon, we understand the deep impact trauma can have—and we believe healing is possible. Our experienced therapists offer a range of therapeutic techniques as part of a holistic approach to trauma recovery. Whether you’re coping with past abuse, medical trauma, grief, or long-standing stress, we’re here to help you reconnect with yourself and reclaim your sense of safety and strength.
If you’re ready to explore a new path to healing, contact Joyful Living today to learn more about somatic therapy and the services we offer.