Healing from the Inside Out: Understanding and Choosing the Right Somatic Therapy for Trauma Recovery

Struggling with unresolved trauma stored in the body? Learn the similarities and differences between somatic therapy modalities like Somatic Experiencing, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, and Neuroaffective Touch, and discover which approach might work best for you.

Healing Trauma Through the Body: Understanding SOMATIC THERAPY Modalities

Trauma doesn’t just live in your mind—it also resides in your body. Have you ever felt stuck, unable to move past emotional pain, even after traditional therapy? That’s because trauma can become stored in your body, impacting your nervous system and overall well-being. SOMATIC Therapy offers a powerful way to release these tensions and reconnect with your body, providing a holistic approach to healing.

At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we specialize in SOMATIC THERAPY, blending neuroscience-backed techniques with compassionate care to help you recover from trauma and reclaim your life. This article explores the similarities and differences between some of the most effective SOMATIC THERAPY modalities: Somatic Experiencing, Neuroaffective Touch, Psychomotor Psychotherapy, and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga.

What Is SOMATIC THERAPY?

SOMATIC THERAPY focuses on the connection between the body and mind, recognizing that unresolved trauma often manifests as physical sensations, tension, or dysregulation in the nervous system. While traditional talk therapy addresses cognitive and emotional processes, SOMATIC THERAPY incorporates bodily awareness, movement, and sensory experiences to facilitate healing.

Why Trauma Feels "Stuck"

When we experience trauma, the brain's survival mechanisms—mediated by the amygdala and the hypothalamus—activate, flooding the body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. If the trauma is not processed, these stress responses remain trapped in the body, creating chronic dysregulation in the nervous system (Van der Kolk, 2014).

This can lead to symptoms such as:

— Anxiety and hypervigilance.

— Chronic pain or tension.

— Emotional numbness.

— Difficulty regulating emotions.

Does this sound familiar? The good news is that SOMATIC THERAPY can help by working with the body to release stored trauma and restore balance.

Key SOMATIC THERAPY Modalities: Similarities and Differences

Here’s a closer look at how Somatic Experiencing, Neuroaffective Touch, Psychomotor Psychotherapy, and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga compare and contrast in their approach to healing trauma.

1. Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Overview:
Somatic Experiencing, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, focuses on resolving the "fight, flight, or freeze" responses that remain stuck in the body after trauma. SE uses gentle, mindful awareness of bodily sensations to release stored tension and restore nervous system balance.

Techniques:

— Tracking physical sensations to identify areas of tension or discomfort.

— Pendulation: Moving between states of activation and calm to build nervous system resilience.

— Titration: Slowly processing trauma to avoid overwhelm.

Best For:
Individuals experiencing chronic stress, PTSD, or physical symptoms linked to trauma.

Neuroscience Insight:
SE leverages the brain's natural neuroplasticity to reorganize maladaptive patterns in the nervous system.

2. Neuroaffective Touch (NAT)

Overview:
Neuroaffective Touch, pioneered by Dr. Aline LaPierre, emphasizes the importance of touch and attunement in trauma healing. This modality integrates somatic awareness, developmental psychology, and therapeutic touch to address early attachment wounds and 

Techniques:

— Gentle, supportive touch to regulate the autonomic nervous system.

— Body-mind attunement exercises to promote self-awareness.

— Addressing pre-verbal trauma through non-verbal communication.

Best For:
Those with early attachment trauma, emotional neglect, or a need for safe, nurturing connection.

Neuroscience Insight:
NAT activates the parasympathetic nervous system, fostering safety and co-regulation through touch.

3. Psychomotor Psychotherapy (PP)

Overview:
Psychomotor Psychotherapy, developed by Pat Ogden, blends body awareness, movement, and talk therapy to process trauma. It focuses on how trauma affects posture, movement, and physical expression, helping clients create new patterns of behavior and emotional regulation.

Techniques:

— Movement exercises to release stored tension.

— Addressing posture and body language linked to trauma.

— Role-playing and reenactments to explore unresolved conflicts.

Best For:
Clients who struggle with physical manifestations of trauma, such as chronic tension or restricted movement.

Neuroscience Insight:
PP engages the motor cortex to transform trauma-related movement patterns into healthier, adaptive ones.

4. Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY)

Overview:
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga adapts traditional yoga practices to support trauma survivors. This modality emphasizes choice, safety, and present-moment awareness, allowing participants to reconnect with their bodies without feeling overwhelmed.

Techniques:

— Guided, gentle yoga poses to promote body awareness.

— Focus on breathing and grounding techniques.

— Emphasis on autonomy, encouraging clients to make choices about their movements.

Best For:
Individuals with PTSD, dissociation, or those who feel disconnected from their bodies.

Neuroscience Insight:
TSY stimulates the vagus nerve, promoting regulation of the autonomic nervous system and reducing symptoms of trauma.

How to Choose the Right SOMATIC THERAPY for You

Each modality offers unique benefits, and the best choice depends on your personal history, symptoms, and comfort level. At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, our experts guide you in finding the approach that aligns with your needs.

Consider these questions:

— Do you feel more comfortable with movement, touch, or stillness?

— Are your trauma symptoms rooted in early attachment wounds or recent events?

— Do you prefer individual or group sessions?

Healing Is Possible

The body’s ability to heal is profound. By addressing trauma where it lives—in the body—you can break free from its grip and rediscover peace, connection, and joy. At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we provide compassionate, tailored care using these transformative SOMATIC THERAPY modalities.

Your healing journey is unique, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. REACH OUT today to schedule a FREE 20-MINUTE CONSULTATION with one of OUR TEAM of top-rated SOMATIC therapists or coaches to see if Embodied Wellness and Recovery could be an ideal fit for your trauma recovery.

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References

• Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

• Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York, NY: Viking.

• Ogden, P., & Fisher, J. (2015). Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.