Have you ever felt stuck—repeating the same emotional patterns despite your best efforts? This feeling can often trace back to how we were taught to respond to our emotions in childhood. If, growing up, we learned that it wasn't safe to express emotions like fear, anger, or the need to say "no," we may have developed stories to mask those feelings. Over time, these stories evolve into core beliefs like “I’m not enough,” “I’m too sensitive,” or “I’m unlovable.” These deep-seated beliefs often seep into every aspect of our lives—our work, relationships, and even our health.
The result? Unexplained physical symptoms, chronic stress, new diagnoses, or autoimmune disorders. You may have tried traditional talk therapy, cognitive tools, and even medical treatment, yet nothing seems to truly ease or heal your symptoms.
Trauma is Stored in the Body, Not Just the Mind
What many people don’t realize is that trauma and stress are stored in the body, not just in the mind. This is where somatic therapy comes in. Somatic therapy addresses the body’s response to trauma by gently helping you complete what was left unresolved. For example, it may help you tap into the instinctive responses—like anger, the need to run, or the need to say "no"—that were suppressed long ago.
Somatic therapy allows you to feel these emotions and bodily responses safely and gradually, helping you release them. In doing so, you stop feeling like you need to constantly protect yourself and can finally feel at ease in your own body.
The Science Behind Somatic Therapy and Nervous System Regulation
At the heart of somatic therapy is the regulation of the nervous system. When we experience stress or trauma, our nervous system often gets "stuck" in a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. This is the body’s natural way of protecting us, but when we aren’t able to fully process these responses, they can get trapped in the body and lead to chronic stress or trauma responses that persist long after the event has passed.
Somatic therapy is designed to help restore balance by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system—the part responsible for calming and restoring the body after stress. When we can move from a state of hyperarousal (fight/flight) or hypoarousal (freeze) into a more regulated state, our body has the chance to heal.
Research in neurobiology, particularly the work of Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, supports the idea that the vagus nerve plays a key role in nervous system regulation. Somatic therapy works with the body to activate the vagus nerve, allowing us to move out of survival mode and into a state of safety and connection. Techniques like mindful body awareness, breathwork, and gentle movement help signal to the brain and body that it's safe to release stored stress and trauma.
When you engage in somatic therapy, your therapist helps you tune into these bodily sensations and complete the natural stress response cycle, shifting your nervous system into a state of rest and recovery. This process rewires how the body handles future stressors, creating long-term benefits for both mental and physical health.
What is Dance/Movement Therapy?
Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is a unique and effective form of somatic therapy. It's built on the principle that our bodies hold memories, emotions, and trauma. By using movement as a form of expression, you can connect with parts of yourself that words alone cannot access. Sometimes, our bodies know how to express things that our minds haven’t fully processed yet.
DMT encourages you to use movement—whether subtle or more expressive—to explore these stored feelings and release them. The beauty of this approach is that it’s not just about talking through trauma but about physically moving through it.
Even if you're not a dancer, you can benefit from Dance/Movement Therapy. The therapy is accessible to everyone, no matter your level of movement experience. Small, mindful movements can unlock big emotional shifts, allowing you to break through the emotional blocks that have held you back.
How Somatic Therapy and DMT Work Together
By combining somatic therapy with Dance/Movement Therapy, we create a holistic approach to healing. Our Trauma Certified Somatic Therapists integrate dialogue, connection, and body-based techniques to help shift your nervous system from a state of constant protection to one of safety and vitality.
Movement, when used therapeutically, allows your body to express and release emotions that were previously stuck. This helps you regain a sense of control, freedom, and connection to your body.
The Benefits of Nervous System Regulation Through Somatic Therapy
Nervous system dysregulation is linked to a range of health issues, including anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, chronic pain, and autoimmune conditions. By helping your body regulate its stress response, somatic therapy offers benefits like:
- Reduced anxiety and stress
- Improved emotional regulation
- Enhanced resilience to future stressors
- Greater connection to your body
- Relief from chronic pain and other somatic symptoms
- Improved relationships and communication
- A greater sense of safety, calm, and vitality in your daily life
When we help the nervous system shift out of survival mode, we open the door for healing on a deep and profound level.
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to release the emotional and physical weight that’s been holding you back, Somatic and Dance/Movement Therapy may be the key to unlocking deep, lasting healing. Our team is here to guide you gently through the process, helping you restore balance and vitality in your life.
Book a free consultation with one of our Trauma Certified Somatic Therapists today and begin your journey toward true healing.