Published by The Counselling HUB · Reviewed June 2026
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8.
Somatic Therapy is integrated into our counselling services at The Counselling HUB in Nanaimo to help clients process trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress. 'Soma' means body.
Traditional talk therapy focuses on the mind, but trauma and intense stress are often stored in the body's nervous system. You might understand logically that you are safe, but your body still reacts with a racing heart, shallow breathing, or chronic tension. Somatic therapy bridges this gap.
It helps you tune into your physical sensations and teaches your nervous system how to regulate and return to a state of calm. By addressing the physical manifestations of distress, we can facilitate deeper, more holistic healing. Somatic approaches are increasingly recognized in clinical research as essential for effective trauma treatment.
In a session incorporating somatic practices, we might pause the conversation to notice what is happening in your body. If you are feeling anxious, your counsellor might ask, 'Where do you feel that anxiety physically? ' We use grounding techniques, breathwork, and gentle movement to help you safely experience and release that physical tension.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Somatic Therapy is available in person in Nanaimo and virtually across Vancouver Island. Book a session or consultation through our online portal to get started.
It is a slow, careful process. We build your capacity to tolerate physical sensations without becoming overwhelmed, ensuring you always feel safe and in control. Somatic therapy is incredibly beneficial for individuals who feel disconnected from their bodies, experience unexplained physical pain or tension, or have found that talk therapy alone has not resolved their trauma.
It is suited for those who feel 'stuck' in a state of fight, flight, or freeze. The duration of therapy depends on the individual's history, but learning basic somatic grounding skills can provide immediate relief. If you are ready to heal not just your mind, but your whole nervous system, somatic therapy can help.
This approach is often used in trauma counselling and individual counselling. To talk through whether it fits what you are experiencing, book a consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, in our practice, somatic therapy does not involve touch. It is about guiding your awareness to your own physical sensations and using movement and breathing exercises that you do yourself.
That is very common, especially for trauma survivors. It is a protective mechanism. We start very slowly, perhaps just noticing the feeling of your feet on the floor, and build your tolerance gradually.
Yes. While it is not a medical treatment, chronic pain is often linked to chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation. Somatic practices can help release the tension that exacerbates pain.
Yes, it is very normal. As physical tension releases, the emotions that were stored with it often come to the surface. We provide a safe space to process those emotions as they arise.