This concept sits at the heart of all body-based therapies. Grounding refers to our ability to experience ourselves as embodied. Grounding involves sensing the body, feeling your feet on the earth, and calming the nervous system.

Somatic therapy promotes awareness of the body. Only then can we work with breath constrictions and tension patterns that are held just under our conscious awareness. Bringing awareness to physical sensations creates change.

As somatic practitioners we become curious about your somatic experience and together we develop your Felt Sense Language. You can try this on your own by noticing your sensations and using descriptive words such as hot, cold, tingly, sharp, or open.

Once we have become aware of sensations or tension patterns we deepen the experience by gently amplifying the sensations. For example, we can focus our breath into the sensation, make a sound, or add movements. The key is to deepen at a pace that does not create overwhelm and honors your timing.

When we begin to develop resources we focus on increasing a sense of choice and safety. Identify people, times, and places that facilitate a sense of safety, calm, or peace. How do you know when you feel peaceful or relaxed? How does your body feel?

When we turn our attention to traumatic events our body-centered awareness helps us become conscious of our physical tension patterns. Titration refers to a process of experiencing small amounts of distress at a time with a goal to discharge the tension. Titration is explored by “pendulating” or oscillating attention between feeling the distress and feeling safe and calm.

When somatic tension begins to discharge or release, we learn to track and report the movement of emotion and sensations. Tension in the belly might move to chest and then becomes tightness in the throat and forehead. Sometimes we might visibly see hands or legs shake and tremble. The tension eventually releases–sometimes in the form of tears, an ability to breathe with more ease, or feeling more light.

Somatic therapies tap into our innate healing capacity by inviting us to listen to the story told by the Soma. Our postures, gestures, and use of space provide insight into our experience. For example, if you have an impulse to curl or hide, we invite you to mindfully engage in these defensive movements. After doing so, you may notice a new impulse to push your arms and kick you legs. As you intuitively re-engage these, protective movements resolution may arise with a new found sense of calm in your body.

When we allow our somatic awareness to guide the pacing of embodied healing, we have to be working in the here and now. Focusing on the present moment empowers you to stay responsive to changing needs and helps you develop clear boundaries. A boundary allows you to recognize and speak your “yes” and your “no” in a way that helps you feel protected and strong.

Modern somatic therapies integrate research from neuroscience about how we respond to stress and trauma. Such research emphasizes the importance of mindfully staying connected to the body in the midst of big emotions or sensations. When we develop awareness of body sensations we are better able to regulate (respond effectively) to emotional intensity. This helps us stay connected and supported amidst the intensity of healing trauma.