Why Somatic Work Matters in Trauma Healing

Trauma isn’t just something that lives in our minds—it’s something we carry in our bodies. I know this not only from my training, but from my own experience. For a long time, I leaned heavily on thinking and analysis to navigate challenges. It felt safer to stay “in my head” than to slow down enough to notice what was actually happening in my body. Many of my clients share this too. Especially those who are high-functioning, driven, and used to problem-solving their way through life—it’s natural to lean on intellect as a way of staying safe.

But here’s the catch: the body holds the imprints of trauma, whether we want it to or not. Our muscles, our breath, our nervous system—these are places where old fear and protection get stored. And when we’re disconnected from the body, we’re disconnected from a big part of our healing. Somatic work helps bridge that gap. It offers us a way back into relationship with ourselves, without forcing change, without pushing past what feels safe.

The Frustration of Slow Change

If you’ve tried somatic work before, you may know that it doesn’t always feel like big, dramatic change. In fact, shifting long-standing patterns in complex systems can feel slow, subtle, and sometimes frustrating. For many people, especially those whose “go-to” strategies are analyzing, fixing, or pushing forward, this can feel intolerable at first. Those parts of you that are used to urgency and achievement may feel like they’re failing, or may get impatient that things aren’t moving faster.

This frustration is not a sign that you’re doing it wrong—it’s actually a normal and expected part of the process. The very same protective strategies that have helped you function so well in the world can resist this slower, gentler approach. That’s where support can make all the difference.

How I Work With Clients

In my work, I specialize in helping clients navigate this exact territory—where urgency and analysis meet the slower rhythm of somatic work. I understand how uncomfortable and foreign it can feel to let go of “getting it done” and instead stay with what’s happening right now in the body. My role is to guide you gently through the frustration, building tolerance for this different pace, and helping you accept that healing often unfolds in subtler, less linear ways than we expect.

This can look like simply noticing areas of tightness, restlessness, or heaviness in the body and allowing those sensations to be there without rushing to fix them. Over time, this builds trust inside your system. Protective parts that once felt pressured to work overtime start to feel acknowledged and respected. And gradually, your relationship with your body begins to shift—you engage with yourself in ways that are more compassionate, grounded, and real.

A Gentle Awareness Invitation

Since you’re here, I’d like to invite you to try a very simple practice right now as you read. Can you pause for a moment and notice what’s happening in your body? Where does your attention go first? Is there an area of tension, tightness, or energy? Instead of trying to change it, just observe. Maybe place a hand there. See if you can describe it in words—tight, heavy, restless, buzzing—or notice how it shifts as you stay with it.

That’s it. Nothing to fix. Just awareness.

Why This Matters

Somatic work isn’t about forcing your body into calm or erasing trauma overnight. It’s about building the capacity to notice, to stay present, and to relate differently to the patterns your system carries. That awareness lays the foundation for deeper healing and integration over time.

And yes—it can feel frustrating, especially if you’re used to urgency, problem-solving, or perfectionism. But with the right support, those parts of you can learn to tolerate and even trust this slower way of working. That’s where I come in. My expertise is in guiding high-functioning, intellectual, driven systems through the discomfort, offering tools and support so the process becomes more manageable—and ultimately, more transformative.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to connect.