Somatic Therapy Is on the Rise. Can It Really Help With Trauma?

The Trend: Nervous system “resets,” TikTok sages, and a “Workout Witch” who teach movements designed to release “trapped emotions” are bringing somatic practices to the mainstream. The ideas behind somatic therapy aren’t new, but they’ve found new life recently as Americans increasingly seek out care beyond traditional medical institutions. Unlike talk therapy, which focuses on your thinking patterns, behaviors, and experiences, somatic therapy focuses on the body and the physical manifestations of trauma. Workouts like somatic yoga are linked to these principles, using slow movement and focusing on paying attention to physical sensations as they arise. 

What People Are Saying: Many people were first introduced to somatics from the book The Body Keeps the Score, which explores the idea that trauma is held in the body. Somatic therapy uses a body-first “bottoms up” approach — the goal is to release the emotions from the body, which practitioners say can relieve pain and muscle tension, improve sleep, and generally allow the brain and the body to let go of lingering trauma.

What to Know: Somatic therapy hasn’t been as widely researched as other therapy modalities, but it does show promise for helping people with PTSD, anxiety, grief, and depression. Finding an experienced practitioner, however, could be more challenging than a traditional therapist.