Working Somatically with Trauma in Counselling Practice

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the role the body plays in processing and healing trauma. Traditional talk therapy can be incredibly valuable, but for many clients, trauma is stored not just in thoughts and memories but in the nervous system and body itself. This is where somatic therapy comes in—a holistic, body-centred approach that helps clients reconnect with their felt sense, regulate their nervous system, and release stored trauma.

Understanding Trauma and the Body

Trauma is not just about what happens to a person—it’s about how the body and nervous system respond to an overwhelming event. When a person experiences trauma, their fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response is activated. If they are unable to process or resolve the experience, the trauma can become "stuck" in the body, leading to chronic stress, anxiety, dissociation, and other emotional and physical symptoms.

Somatic approaches focus on helping clients access and release this stored trauma through body awareness, movement, and breathwork rather than relying solely on cognitive processing.

Somatic Techniques for Trauma Healing

1. Grounding and Resourcing

Before exploring trauma, clients need to feel safe and stable in their bodies. Grounding exercises help anchor them in the present moment, reducing overwhelm. Some effective grounding techniques include:

· Noticing contact points: Feeling the feet on the floor, the back against a chair.

· Orienting to the environment: Slowly looking around the room and noticing neutral or pleasant objects.

· Tactile grounding: Holding a textured object, pressing hands together, or placing a hand on the heart.

2. Tracking Sensations & Titration

Trauma often presents as bodily sensations such as tightness, numbness, heat, or shaking. Instead of diving straight into distressing memories, somatic work helps clients slowly explore these sensations in a controlled way. This is called titration—breaking down the experience into manageable pieces rather than overwhelming the system.

In practice, I might ask:

· "As you talk about this experience, what do you notice in your body?"

· "Can you describe that sensation—where do you feel it, and does it shift as we pay attention to it?"

· "Let’s pause and take a deep breath before continuing. Does anything feel different?"

This gentle approach helps clients build tolerance for bodily sensations without re-traumatisation.

3. Regulating the Nervous System

Trauma often causes hyperarousal (anxiety, panic, hypervigilance) or hypoarousal (numbness, dissociation, shut-down state). Somatic techniques can help bring the nervous system back into balance:

· For hyperarousal (fight/flight): Slow, deep breathing (e.g., exhaling longer than inhaling), gentle movement (swaying, stretching), grounding exercises.

· For hypoarousal (freeze/shutdown): Activating movements (stamping feet, shaking hands), faster breathing exercises, engaging the senses.

Helping clients track their nervous system states builds awareness and gives them tools to regulate outside of sessions.

4. Releasing Trauma Through Movement

Trauma can be stored in constricted muscles and incomplete defensive responses. Movement-based interventions allow the body to "complete" what it couldn't during the original trauma. Examples include:

· Shaking out tension (a natural discharge response seen in animals after stress).

· Pushing against a wall to embody strength and boundary-setting.

· Expanding and opening the chest to counteract a collapsed, protective posture.

These exercises help restore a sense of power and agency.

5. Breathwork for Trauma Release

Breath is one of the most direct ways to access and regulate the nervous system. However, trauma survivors often have shallow, constricted breathing patterns due to chronic tension.

· Box breathing (4-4-4-4) can bring a sense of safety.

· Long exhalations (inhale 4, exhale 6) help calm anxiety.

· Sighing or vocalized exhales can release stored tension.

Breathwork must be introduced slowly, as deep breathing can sometimes trigger trauma responses. Encouraging clients to notice their comfort level and adjust as needed is key.

6. Touch & Self-Soothing Techniques

For clients who are comfortable, placing a hand on the heart or belly can be a simple way to bring a sense of safety and connection. Other self-soothing techniques include:

· Hugging oneself or rocking gently.

· Pressing hands onto thighs for grounding.

· Using weighted blankets or firm pressure to feel contained.

For some, safe touch (even from themselves) can be a profound way to rebuild trust with the body.

Why Somatic Work Matters in Trauma Therapy

Many trauma survivors struggle with feeling disconnected from their bodies or overwhelmed by physical sensations. Somatic therapy bridges the gap between body and mind, helping clients:

· Regain a sense of safety in their own skin.

· Learn to regulate their nervous system.

· Release stored trauma without needing to rehash distressing memories.

· Develop a deeper connection with their body’s signals and needs.

Integrating somatic techniques into counselling helps clients to heal beyond words, creating lasting transformation.

Final Thoughts

Somatic therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach—it’s about meeting each client where they are and gently guiding them toward safety, awareness, and release. Whether through grounding, movement, breath, or sensation tracking, these techniques empower clients to reconnect with their bodies and reclaim their sense of wholeness.

As counsellors, bringing a body-based lens into trauma work offers a powerful pathway for healing—one that recognises that trauma is not just a story in the mind, but an experience in the body.

What would it feel like if you start to explore these practices for yourself? Start by noticing: What does my body need in this moment?