Rising Strong Wellness

What Is Somatic Healing? And how can it help if you're healing from trauma? If you’ve been through trauma, you may feel disconnected from your body — like you're just going through the motions, always in survival mode. You might feel anxious, shut down, or stuck in cycles you don’t fully understand. That’s where somatic healing comes in. What Does Somatic Mean? The word somatic comes from "soma", a word with rich meanings from both Greek and Indian traditions. In Greek, soma means “the living body as felt from within.” It’s not just the physical body — it's your body as you experience it: your breath, your senses, your emotions, and your energy. It’s about being fully alive and present in yourself. In Hindu and Indian traditions, Soma is also known as a sacred substance — a divine nectar or elixir of the gods. It’s associated with inner vitality, clarity, and bliss. Symbolically, it represents the flow of life energy and spiritual awakening that can arise when body, mind, and spirit are in harmony. In both meanings, Soma points to something deeply alive, wise, and whole — and this is the heart of somatic healing. Why the Body Matters in Healing Trauma isn’t just stored in our thoughts — it’s held in our nervous system and throughout our body. You might not remember everything that happened, but your body does. That’s why healing often has to start not just with talking, but with feeling. Somatic therapy helps you reconnect with your body as a place of safety and wisdom. It’s about gently coming home to yourself. What Somatic Healing Helps With: Feeling safe and grounded in your body Releasing stored or stuck emotions Processing “body memories” that aren’t always verbal Completing stress responses that got frozen during trauma Strengthening your connection to yourself and others Tapping into your body’s natural ability to heal How Does It Work? Somatic healing uses tools like breathwork, mindful movement, grounding, and body awareness. You’ll learn to notice what’s happening in your body — without judgment — and respond with care. Healing doesn’t mean “pushing through” trauma. It means creating space for your body to finally feel safe, supported, and seen. What Might a Session Look Like? A somatic session might include: Simple breath or movement practices Learning how to calm your nervous system Gently exploring physical sensations Developing a sense of internal safety Being supported in a trusting, compassionate relationship It’s about moving at your own pace — honoring your story and your body. The Core of Somatic Healing Somatic healing is based on the idea that your body speaks a primal language — through movement, breath, and sensation. When we learn to listen, we begin to access our inner wisdom — the same life energy (or Soma) that both the ancient Greeks and Indian sages spoke of. This is the path to true integration: healing not just in your mind, but through your whole being.

A holistic approach to trauma defines trauma not as an event, but rather as a disruption and overwhelm to our body-mind’s capacity to adapt, thrive, and flourish. Trauma can occur when: There is too much too soon There is too much for too long There is not enough for too long Power and agency have been taken away from the person or collective. The stressors outweigh the resources available to navigate them. When our primal protective instincts, intuitions, and responses are thwarted. There is not enough time, space, or permission to heal It is essential that we consider social, developmental, and cultural factors. By not acknowledging these contextual factors we do a disservice. The symptoms of trauma may occur immediately or emerge over time from the compounding stress and challenges of processing and adapting to the experiences of life. Symptoms of trauma emerge as the body and mind attempt to cope with and resolve the stressors. The effects of trauma may include: Physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, tightness in the body, muscle tension, digestion challenges, and constrictions around the breath. Emotional symptoms such as flatness / inability to feel, fear, anxiety, panic, overwhelm, loss of choice, difficulty feeling comforted, anger, and shame. Trauma can lead to feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, and groundlessness. It interferes with our ability to feel real in body and mind, it disrupts our very sense of existence, and takes us away from the present moment.

It doesn't matter if we are working together in person or virtually... you can expect compassion! We begin our time together by simply arriving. Getting present and connecting with our bodies. Each session we utilize modalities like trauma informed yoga, dance, art, breathing, EFT tapping and more to bring you to a deeper awareness of what is happening in your body and life. You will gain insights and tool to help you navigate some of life's hardest situations. You can expect a safe, accepting place where all parts of you, and all emotions are welcome.

I utilize a heart based payment plan or a "sliding scale." Those that can pay the full amount are asked to do so in order to provide accessible care to those that cannot at this time. We all get to heal as the collective! We all get to care for each other. This is re-evaluated every 3 months. Payment is due at the time of scheduling unless otherwise arranged. There is a no-show and late cancel fee.

Start with an open heart and a commitment to heal and be real! Wear something comfortable. Arrive 5 minutes or so prior to our time together just to get settled and to quiet your mind. We will take it from there.

As with anything therapeutic ... everyone is different! I recommend 6-8 sessions consistently to gain some really valuable tools. Some people find they need to continue, some people take a break and come back often, some people end there.