Beyond Words: The Role of Somatic Therapy in Healing Childhood Trauma

Imagine a quiet yoga studio. The lights are dim, the room is still, and everyone is lying in shavasana—the final resting pose at the end of class, meant to offer deep relaxation. But instead of melting into the floor, some students remain alert, tense, eyes darting beneath closed lids. Later, when asked how shavasana felt, they simply say, “Fine.”

But it wasn’t fine. Their bodies were locked in fight-or-flight mode—and they didn’t even know it.

This is a common experience for people with histories of childhood trauma. Even when the danger is long gone, the body doesn’t always receive the message. For many, the chronic tension, guardedness, or numbness they live with feels “normal.” They may not even realize they’ve been carrying trauma in their bodies for decades. That’s why traditional talk therapy—while often profoundly helpful—isn’t always enough on its own. To fully heal, many trauma survivors need support that addresses both the mind and the body.

Why Childhood Trauma Stays in the Body

When we experience trauma, especially in childhood, the brain and nervous system adapt to help us survive. These adaptations can include becoming hypervigilant, dissociating from physical sensations, or suppressing emotions entirely. Over time, these coping strategies become hardwired into the nervous system.

This is especially true for developmental trauma—ongoing experiences like neglect, emotional abuse, or unpredictable caregiving. These early experiences teach the brain and body that the world isn’t safe, or that love is inconsistent, and this belief becomes embedded in the nervous system.

Even years later, the body may remain on high alert, primed for danger that no longer exists. Muscles remain tense. Breathing stays shallow. The heart races at small triggers. And the worst part? Many people don’t even realize it’s happening—because it’s always been this way.

Talk Therapy Helps Us Understand and Reframe

Talk therapy—especially modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), humanistic-existential therapy, or psychodynamic therapy—can be incredibly valuable. It allows people to:

• Process and make sense of past events

• Identify harmful beliefs and patterns

• Act with purpose and meaning

• Build self-awareness and emotional regulation skills

• Develop healthier relationships and boundaries

  
  

Talking to a compassionate, trained therapist can help survivors feel seen, understood, and empowered. It can bring clarity and insight where there was once confusion or shame. But as

powerful as talk therapy can be, it often operates mostly on the level of the thinking brain. Trauma, however, lives primarily in the body and nervous system.

This is where somatic therapy comes in.

Somatic Therapy Helps the Body Finally Feel Safe

Somatic therapy (from the Greek word soma, meaning “body”) involves bringing gentle awareness to physical sensations, body posture, breath, and internal states. Through techniques like grounding, movement, breathwork, and mindful attention, somatic therapy helps people:

• Reconnect with their bodies in a safe and supported way

• Notice where tension, numbness, or holding patterns show up

• Release stored survival energy

• Shift out of chronic fight, flight, or freeze responses

  
  

One of the most important goals of somatic therapy is helping the nervous system learn what safety feels like—not just intellectually, but physically. For someone with childhood trauma, who may have spent years in a state of vigilance, this is life changing.

Clients often report that after doing somatic work, they can breathe more deeply. They feel more present. Their shoulders drop. They sleep better. And perhaps for the first time, they can say, “I feel safe,” and actually mean it.

Why Both Are Often Needed

Talk therapy without somatic work can sometimes feel like trying to reason your way out of a panic attack. You might know you’re not in danger, but your body hasn’t caught up.

On the flip side, somatic work without any talking or meaning making can feel disorienting. Without a framework for understanding, people may not fully grasp what they’re feeling—or

why.

That’s why an integrated approach is so powerful. By combining talk therapy with somatic techniques, clients can:

• Understand the roots of their trauma

• Build compassionate awareness of their survival responses

• Learn new ways to soothe and regulate their nervous system

• Develop both emotional insight and physical resilience

This combination supports healing on every level—mental, emotional, and physical.

Full, Embodied Healing Is Possible

If you’ve been in therapy before and still feel stuck, you’re not alone. Many people reach a plateau in their healing because they’ve only been working with part of the puzzle. It’s not a sign of failure—it’s a sign that your body might have something to say as well.

Healing childhood trauma is possible. It doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or pretending it didn’t matter. It means learning to feel safe in your body, trust your own inner signals, and relate to yourself with compassion instead of fear or judgment.

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About the Author

Arian Dasmalchi is an AMFT (#156164) and APCC (#19927), supervised by Laura Rose, LMFT (#83808). She offers trauma-informed therapy that combines talk therapy and somatic approaches. Arian works with individuals, couples, and families on many issues, including grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, and issues relating to neurodivergence. As an associate at Rose Therapy Practice, she sees clients in person in Mill Valley and Petaluma, and she also offers secure video sessions for anyone located in California. Reach out today to learn more and schedule a free 15-minute consultation.