Somatic Therapy
When you understand the pattern, but still feel it in your body.
You may know why a difficult conversation leaves you tense or why a medical appointment brings a sense of alarm. Understanding can matter deeply, while the physical response still needs attention.
At Embody Health Psychology, somatic therapy techniques bring that physical experience into psychotherapy. We work with what you notice, at a pace you can choose, alongside the thoughts, emotions, and relationships that matter to you.
Book a Complimentary ConsultationBased in Miami, with telehealth available across 40+ PSYPACT states.
There is room for more than the story.
Somatic means relating to the body. In therapy, that can involve noticing tension, a change in breathing, numbness, or the urge to pull away as you talk about an experience. We stay curious about what is happening without treating every sensation as a problem to solve.
Grounding in the present
Finding a comfortable point of contact, looking around the room, or noticing a familiar object can help you stay connected to the present.
Noticing with choice
You may explore a sensation briefly, or choose to focus on your surroundings. You do not have to close your eyes, scan your body, or continue an exercise that feels uncomfortable.
Connecting experience and meaning
We talk about what you notice and how it relates to your emotions, relationships, or daily life. Somatic work includes conversation; it does not require touch.
Physical symptoms deserve care, and so does what they bring up.
Trauma, anxiety, and ongoing stress can include physical experiences such as tension or a sense of alarm. Living with pain, GI symptoms, or chronic illness can also make it difficult to feel at ease in your body.
A health psychology perspective considers your medical condition alongside your emotional experience and daily life. Somatic techniques can support coping with distress. They do not establish that a symptom is psychological, treat an underlying medical disease, or replace medical care.
An Integrative Approach
Somatic techniques are one part of An Integrative Approach. We may combine them with Internal Family Systems (IFS), emotion-focused or relational work, and practical strategies for avoidance, worry, or daily routines.
There is no fixed amount of body-focused work in a session. We choose together based on your concerns, clinical needs, and what feels accessible. With physical health conditions, we adapt to pain, fatigue, dizziness, and medical guidance.
Responding to alarm
Practicing ways to stay oriented when an appointment, memory, or interaction feels overwhelming.
Understanding patterns
Exploring connections between sensations, emotions, and the situations in which they arise.
Having more choice
Noticing an automatic response and experimenting with a different next step.
Making care fit
Choosing a pace and focus that respect your health, preferences, and current circumstances.
What you may want to know.
Is this Somatic Experiencing?
This page describes somatic therapy techniques integrated into psychotherapy. It does not advertise the specific Somatic Experiencing method or imply certification in that method.
Does this involve touch?
No. Somatic work at Embody Health Psychology does not involve touch. Your clinician may invite you to notice your own experience, and you decide whether to participate.
What if paying attention to my body makes things worse?
Tell your clinician. We can pause, use grounding through your surroundings, or work through conversation instead. More attention to bodily sensations is not always helpful, especially when checking or fear of sensations is part of the difficulty.
Can this be done online?
Many grounding and awareness techniques can be explored by video. Your consultation is a place to discuss fit, your location, and clinician availability.
Is telehealth available?
Embody Health Psychology is based in Miami, with telehealth available across 40+ PSYPACT states through appropriately authorized psychologists. Availability depends on your location, the clinician, and the service. Confirm fit during your consultation.
Let’s Talk About What You Need
A complimentary consultation gives you a chance to share what you are looking for, ask questions, and discuss whether our services may be a fit.
Book a Complimentary Consultation15-minute phone consultation