Body-Based Approaches

Somatic Therapies

Our bodies are always talking—we’ve just learned to tune them out. In somatic therapy, we slow down and help you reconnect with your body’s signals: tightness, warmth, stillness, shakiness, breath. These sensations are more than just physical—they’re the language of emotion, memory, and survival.

By learning to notice and stay with what’s happening inside, you build self-awareness that’s deeper than thought. You start to recognize what safety feels like. You spot old patterns as they show up in your posture or breath. You learn to pause instead of react. Over time, this makes daily life feel more manageable, more connected, and more choiceful.

We don’t rush this. We go at your pace. And you don’t have to “figure it out”—your body already knows a lot. We’re just learning how to listen.

Chelsea and John both regularly run workshops for the public on somatic skills.

Key Methods

Drawing mostly from Somatic Experiencing but also from Sensorimotor and Hakomi, we will utilize these skills:

• Trauma-Informed, Body-Based Mindfulness

• Body Awareness: Learning to track sensations.

• Completions: Learning to “complete” motor actions so that trauma can be fully digested.

• Advanced Grounding Techniques: connecting with the body, connecting with the ground, orienting to the environment, and using Somatic holds.

• Pendulation: Moving between feelings of safety and discomfort to prevent overwhelm.

• Resourcing: Identify and use positive figures, memories, or sensations to support healing.

• Titration: Break down traumatic experiences into manageable pieces to avoid overwhelm.