When Talk Therapy is Not Enough: Who Can Benefit from Somatic Therapy
Sometimes your body feels overwhelmed even when your mind keeps saying, “I’m fine.” In the past few years, somatic therapy is getting more attention, and for good reason. Many people feel stressed, anxious, or shut down, and just talking about it doesn’t always help. Your body holds memories, tension, and emotions, even when you’re not aware of them. Somatic counseling works with both your body and your mind so you can heal in a deeper, more complete way.
This blog walks you through who may benefit most from somatic therapy, what it actually is, and how to know if it might be right for you. You’ll also learn what sessions are like and how to get started. The goal is simple: help you understand whether somatic therapy could support your mental health healing.
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between your body and your mind. “Somatic” means “of the body.” Instead of talking only about thoughts and feelings, in session, your somatic therapist will also encourage you to pay attention to:
muscle tension
breathing
posture
body sensations
movement or stillness
Your nervous system plays a big role in how you react to stress or danger. Somatic therapy helps your nervous system settle so you don’t stay stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses.
One of the biggest misconceptions about somatic therapy is that it doesn’t involve talking. Although, you may not talk as much in a somatic therapy session than in traditional talk therapy, you do still talk!
Sessions often include:
talking about what’s going on in your life
grounding exercises
breathwork
simple movement
guided noticing of sensations
One great thing about somatic therapy is you don’t have to “do it right.” Your body already knows how to move toward healing. Somatic therapy helps you listen to it again.
Why Choose Somatic Therapy?
People often come to somatic therapy when they feel like something is “off,” but they can’t fix it just by talking. You might notice patterns like:
you know what the problem is but still feel stuck
your body reacts before your brain does
your emotions feel too big or… totally numb
you can’t relax, even when nothing is wrong
stress shows up as headaches, stomach issues, or pain
If you’ve ever said, “I know I’m safe, but my body doesn’t feel safe,” somatic therapy may be a good fit. Somatic therapy can help you:
feel more present in your body
release stored tension
calm your nervous system
understand emotional triggers
build self-trust
feel safe again
Who Needs Somatic Therapy?
There isn’t just one “type” of person who can benefit from somatic therapy. Anyone can benefit! You don’t need to be “broken” or in crisis. You only need a body, a nervous system, and some curiosity. According to somatic experiencing international below are groups of people who often find somatic therapy especially helpful.
Trauma
Somatic therapy is widely used for trauma because trauma is stored in memory as well as the body. You may not always remember what happened, but your body does.
Somatic therapy can help if you’ve experienced:
childhood trauma
neglect or emotional abuse
physical or sexual abuse
medical trauma
racial or identity-based trauma
car accidents or natural disasters
sudden loss or grief
Signs trauma may still live in your body:
you get startled easily
you feel “on edge” most of the time
you avoid places or people
your body freezes when you feel threatened
you feel numb or checked out
you have recurring nightmares
you feel shame that won’t go away
Somatic therapy teaches your body that the danger is over and helps you build a real sense of safety again — not just in your head, but in your whole system.
2. Anxiety or Chronic stress
Anxiety doesn’t just happen in your thoughts. It shows up as:
racing heart
tight chest
shaky hands
GI issues
restlessness
trouble sleeping
You may feel like you can’t turn off your brain. Or maybe your body never relaxes.
Somatic therapy helps you:
notice early signs of stress
lower physical tension
slow your breathing
create calm on purpose
build resilience so stress doesn’t take you down so fast
You learn to work with your nervous system instead of fighting it.
3. Depression or Emotional Numbness
Depression isn’t always sadness. Sometimes it looks like:
tired all the time
heavy body
flat emotions
moving slowly
feeling disconnected from life
Somatic therapy can help you reconnect with sensations and emotions in small, safe ways. For many people, numbness was once a survival skill. Your nervous system shut things down to protect you. Somatic therapy meets that part of you with respect, not judgment, and helps you slowly wake back up.
4. Feeling “stuck in your head”
If you overthink everything, you’re not alone. Many smart, capable people live mostly from the neck up. You might:
analyze your feelings instead of feeling them
replay conversations on loop
struggle to make decisions
ignore hunger, tiredness, or pain
feel out of touch with your body
Somatic therapy brings you back into your physical experience. You don’t stop thinking — you just gain another source of information: your body. This usually leads to better boundaries, clearer choices, and more ease.
5. Chronic pain or Tension
Sometimes pain is purely medical. Other times, emotion and stress increase pain levels. The mind and body constantly talk to each other.
Somatic therapy may help if you live with:
chronic muscle tension
migraines
jaw clenching
back or neck pain
digestive discomfort made worse by stress
This doesn’t mean the pain is “all in your head.” It means your nervous system plays a role. Somatic therapy supports your body in releasing tension patterns that keep pain looping.
6. Dissociation or Feeling Disconnected from your Body
Dissociation can look like:
zoning out
losing track of time
feeling unreal or far away
feeling like you’re watching your life happen
not feeling your body much at all
Dissociation is often a brilliant survival skill that helped you get through something overwhelming. Somatic therapy slowly helps you come back to your body in small steps so it doesn’t feel like too much too fast. You learn how to stay present and grounded without flooding your system.
7. People who grew up in chaotic or high-pressure homes
Your nervous system learns patterns early. If you grew up with chaos, criticism, or unpredictability, your body may still live like it’s always bracing.
You might:
assume something bad is coming
struggle to relax around others
feel responsible for everyone’s feelings
stay “hyper-independent”
freeze during conflict
apologize even when you didn’t do anything wrong
Somatic therapy helps your body unlearn survival habits that no longer match your current life.
8. High achievers, caregivers, and helpers
Some people look “fine” on the outside but are exhausted on the inside. Somatic therapy supports people who:
work in helping professions
care for children, aging parents, or partners
run businesses or teams
hold a lot for other people
You may:
push through pain
ignore your limits
feel guilty resting
experience burnout
hold tension in your shoulders, jaw, or gut
Somatic therapy helps you listen to your body’s signals before you hit a wall.
9. People recovering from disordered eating
When you struggle with food or your body, it can feel like your body is the enemy. Somatic therapy focuses on rebuilding a respectful, compassionate relationship with your body.
You work on:
noticing sensations without judgment
honoring hunger and fullness cues
understanding the body’s stress signals
letting go of harsh self-talk
building a sense of safety inside your skin
This work is often gentle and slow, and it pairs well with other supports like nutrition counseling and medical care when needed.
10. Teens Learning to Regulate Emotions
Somatic therapy can help young people who:
feel overwhelmed by big emotions
shut down when upset
struggle with school or social stress
have experienced trauma or bullying
They learn:
how to name sensations
how to calm their bodies
how to set boundaries
how to notice early signs of overwhelm
This builds emotional regulation skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
What is a Typical Session Like?
There is no “standard” somatic therapy appointment because every therapist works a little differently. A typical sessions often includes:
A brief check-in
Talking about what’s happening in your life
Paying attention to sensations in your body
Gentle experiments like:
slowing your breath
changing posture
grounding through your feet
placing a hand over your heart or stomach
visualizing safety
One of the benefits of somatic therapy is you stay in charge the whole time. You never have to do something that you don’t want to do. In session, you do not have to re-live or talk about the worst things that have ever happened to you (unless you want to) or share every little detail. We move at your pace.
Your therapist will likely ask questions like:
“What do you notice in your body right now?”
“Where do you feel that emotion?”
“What happens if we slow that down?”
Am I a Good Fit?
Sometimes the only way to know if you are a good fit is to try a session. It might be a good fit if you:
feel stuck even after regular talk therapy
feel disconnected from your body
notice strong body reactions to stress
want tools to calm your nervous system
are curious about mind-body healing
You don’t need to understand how it works before you start. Many people simply feel called to try something more body-based.
Who Isn’t a Fit?
There are not any mental health conditions or life circumstances that disqualify you from trying somatic therapy. Just as with any trauma treatment, there are certain experience that might make somatic therapy less effective, or you might benefit from additional support. It is important to a somatic therapist focusing first on stabilization, support, and resources. Safety comes before deep processing. These include:
are currently in an unsafe environment
have untreated psychosis or mania
lack basic stability in housing, food, or safety
Benefits of Somatic Therapy
There are many benefits of somatic therapy. Some are very subtle like you’re shoulders relaxing and others are more profound, like sleeping throughout the night without nightmares. People often notice:
feeling more calm in daily life
better sleep
fewer meltdowns or shutdowns
stronger boundaries
improved relationships
greater self-compassion
less stress in the body
The biggest shift many people report is this: their body finally feels like a safer place to live.
Common myths about somatic therapy
“It’s weird body stuff.”
No. It’s grounded in neuroscience and trauma research.
“It’s only for people with severe trauma.”
Somatic therapy supports anyone with stress, anxiety, burnout, or disconnection.
“I have to talk about everything that happened.”
You don’t. The body can release stress without retelling the whole story.
“I won’t be in control.”
You stay in control. You can pause or stop at any time.
How to Find a Somatic Therapist
When you look for a therapist, you can search terms like:
somatic experiencing in Michigan
sensorimotor psychotherapy
body-based therapy
Good signs your therapist is a fit:
they move at your pace
they respect consent and boundaries
they explain what they’re doing
they don’t rush your process
you feel safe enough to be honest
Trust your gut. If something feels off, you can always switch therapists.
It’s Time to See a Somatic Therapist in Farmington Hills, MI
Somatic therapy is for people who are tired of white-knuckling through life. It’s for people who want more than just understanding their story — they want relief in their nervous system. It’s for people who want to feel calm, grounded, and alive again. If you recognize yourself in any part of this, somatic therapy may be worth trying. Your body has been carrying a lot for a long time. You don’t have to do that alone. Healing doesn’t happen by forcing yourself to “get over it.” Your body moves at the speed of safety. Somatic therapy respects that. It helps you listen to your body, trust your signals, and release what you no longer need to carry. You deserve a nervous system that can rest. You deserve to feel connected to your body instead of fighting it. And if somatic therapy is part of that path for you, you’re not late, behind, or broken. You’re right on time.
Steps to start somatic therapy:
Schedule a free therapy consultation
Get matched with a somatic therapist in Michigan
Complete your intake paperwork and log in!
Additional Online Therapy Services We Offer
Embodied Wellness, PLLC provides online therapy in Michigan to adults and teenagers. Our therapists are trained in EMDR, DBT, empath counseling and the treatment of anxiety, depression and OCD. We also have low-cost therapy starting at $30
About the Author:
Sarah Rollins, LMSW, SEP is the founder of Embodied Wellness, PLLC, a group therapy practice providing online therapy in Michigan. She is passionate about expanding awareness of somatic therapy as way to treat and heal trauma. She incorporates other holistic treatments into her practice, including EMDR and IFS.