If you’re thinking about starting trauma therapy, you might be wondering, Where do I begin?

For many people, trauma isn’t just something that happened in the past. It lives on in the body. You might feel it in the tension you carry, the way your heart races without warning, the sense of numbness, or the feeling that you’re constantly bracing for something, even when everything seems fine.

Talking can help. Having a space to reflect and feel understood is important. But if talking hasn’t shifted some of the deeper patterns, it doesn’t mean you’re doing therapy wrong. It might mean your body needs to be part of the process too.

Trauma Is a Body Experience
When something overwhelming happens and you don’t have the support or safety you need at the time, your body steps in to protect you. That might look like shutting down, freezing, disconnecting, or going into overdrive.

Even when the event is long over, your nervous system may still be holding on. This can show up in everyday life. You might find it hard to sleep, feel constantly on edge, or feel disconnected from your body. You might notice it’s hard to relax or feel truly present.

You might think, I know I’m safe now, so why doesn’t it feel that way?
That’s a body-based trauma response.

What Somatic Therapy Offers
Somatic therapy includes the body in the healing process. It’s not about pushing yourself to feel more or revisit painful memories. It’s about gently noticing what’s happening in your body, becoming curious about it, and working together to build safety and choice.

This might look like recognising small shifts in tension, discovering what helps you feel more grounded, or slowly feeling more connected to yourself in moments that used to feel overwhelming.

The pace is guided by you. The focus is on building a sense of trust and support.

Is EMDR a somatic therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured approach that supports the brain in processing traumatic memories. It helps reduce the emotional intensity of those memories so they feel less present and more in the past.

EMDR also pays attention to the body. As we work, we notice thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. All of this matters. The goal is not just to change how you think but to help your nervous system experience something different.

When EMDR is combined with a somatic approach, many people find that deep, lasting change becomes possible.

Your body has been trying to protect you for a long time. Including it in therapy helps you move beyond coping into feeling more connected, more choiceful, and more at ease in your everyday life.

You don’t need to have the perfect words.
You don’t need to explain everything.
You just need a space where your whole self, including your body, is welcome.