What is somatic healing? Understanding how the body holds stress and trauma

Somatic healing is an approach that works with both the mind and the body. “Somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning the living body. Rather than focusing only on thoughts and emotions, it pays attention to physical sensations, posture, breathing and the nervous system, to help you notice how stress shows up and find ways to feel steadier.

Have you ever felt anxious without knowing why? Or noticed that your shoulders tense up whenever you're under pressure? Perhaps your heart races before an important conversation, even when your mind tells you everything is fine.

Our bodies are constantly communicating with us. Sometimes, they tell a story that words alone cannot. This is where somatic healing comes in.

Rather than focusing only on thoughts and emotions, somatic healing recognises that our physical sensations, posture, breathing and nervous system all play an important role in our wellbeing. By learning to listen to the body's signals, we can begin to understand ourselves more deeply and create lasting change.

What does ‘somatic’ mean?

The word somatic comes from the Greek word soma, meaning the living body.

Somatic healing is an umbrella term for approaches that help people become more aware of their bodily sensations and nervous system responses. The goal isn't simply relaxation – it's developing a healthier relationship with your body so you can respond to life's challenges with greater flexibility, resilience and self-awareness.

Many people spend years trying to think their way out of stress or anxiety. Somatic work offers another pathway by helping you reconnect with the wisdom already present in your body.

Why the body matters

Our nervous system is constantly scanning our environment for cues of safety or danger, often outside our conscious awareness.

When we experience stress, our body prepares us to respond. This is incredibly helpful in genuine emergencies.

The difficulty arises when the nervous system continues responding as though danger is present long after the stressful event has passed. This can happen after overwhelming experiences, prolonged stress, difficult relationships or trauma. Over time, this may show up as:

• Chronic tension
• Anxiety or feeling constantly ‘on edge’
• Emotional overwhelm
• Feeling numb or disconnected
• Digestive issues linked to stress
• Poor sleep
• Difficulty relaxing, even when life is calm

This doesn't mean you are broken. These are often signs that your nervous system has adapted to help you survive difficult experiences.

What is somatic healing?

Somatic healing works with both the mind and body. Instead of asking, “Why do I feel like this?”, it also asks:

• What sensations am I noticing right now?
• How is my breathing?
• Where do I feel tension?
• What happens when I bring awareness to these sensations?

By noticing the body's signals without judgement, many people discover they can gradually regulate their nervous system more effectively.

This process isn't about forcing emotions away or reliving painful memories. It's about building safety, awareness and capacity one small step at a time.

What happens during somatic coaching?

Every coach works differently, but sessions often include practices such as:

• Mindful awareness of physical sensations
• Breath awareness
• Grounding exercises
• Exploring emotional patterns through the body
• Learning nervous system regulation skills
• Developing greater body awareness (sometimes called interoception)

As a somatic trauma-informed coach, I don't believe healing happens by pushing people beyond their limits. Instead, we work at a pace that feels manageable, helping your nervous system discover that safety and regulation are possible.

Is somatic healing evidence-based?

It depends on the approach. “Somatic” covers many different methods, such as breathing practices, mindfulness, yoga, Somatic Experiencing and Brainspotting, and the research behind each one varies.

Practices such as mindfulness and slow breathing have been studied for stress and wellbeing, while approaches such as Somatic Experiencing and Brainspotting have a smaller research base. Findings about one method can’t be assumed to apply to another, or to somatic coaching in general, and research on somatic coaching itself is still limited.

In coaching, we keep checking what feels helpful for you, and you can pause or stop at any time. If you have symptoms of PTSD or another mental health condition, speak to your GP about evidence-based treatment. Coaching can sit alongside that care, but it doesn’t replace it.

Who can benefit?

Somatic work may be helpful if you:

• Feel disconnected from yourself
• Experience chronic stress
• Live with anxiety
• Feel emotionally overwhelmed
• Struggle to switch off
• Find yourself stuck in repeating patterns
• Want to build greater self-awareness and resilience

You don't need to have experienced major trauma to benefit from learning how your nervous system works. Many people simply want to feel calmer, more present and more connected to themselves.

If anxiety is part of the picture, my free guide, Get Out of Your Head, shares seven body-based ways to start calming it.

Ready to explore somatic healing?

If you're curious about how somatic coaching could support your wellbeing, I'd love to help. Together, we'll explore how your nervous system responds to stress, develop practical regulation tools and build a stronger connection between your mind and body, all at a pace that feels safe and supportive.

Explore ways to work with me

Further reading

• The Body Keeps the Score – Dr Bessel van der Kolk. A book exploring how trauma affects the brain and body, and why body-based approaches can play an important role in healing.
• Trauma Research Foundation. Founded by Dr Bessel van der Kolk, bringing together research, education and clinical approaches to trauma recovery.
• Polyvagal Institute. More about the autonomic nervous system, safety, connection and the practical applications of Polyvagal Theory.
• National Library of Medicine – Polyvagal Theory: Current Status, Clinical Applications, and Future Directions. A balanced review of the current evidence surrounding Polyvagal Theory.

Related support: Online somatic coaching · Online Brainspotting · Free resources

Quick answers

This article is for general information. Coaching is not a substitute for therapy or medical care. If you’re in the UK and need urgent help, call 999, NHS 111 (option 2) or Samaritans on 116 123. If you’re elsewhere, contact your local emergency services.