what is somatic healing

Somatic healing, also known as somatic therapy or somatic experiencing, is a form of alternative therapy that focuses on the connection between the mind and body to aid in trauma recovery. It operates under the belief that emotions become trapped in the body when not processed, and aims to help individuals notice physical sensations stemming from their mental health issues and use that awareness to work through painful feelings and emotions. The goal of somatic therapy is to modify the trauma-related stress response through bottom-up processing, which can include techniques such as breathing exercises, sensation awareness, physical exercise, massage, dance therapy, and grounding exercises. Somatic therapy is often used to treat PTSD and other stress-related disorders.