What Is Somatic Work? How Movement Supports Mental Health

What Is Somatic Work? How Movement Supports Mental Health

We’ve all heard the phrase “the body keeps the score” — but somatic work takes that wisdom a step further. It's not just about recognising how trauma lives in the body, but actively working with the body to support emotional regulation, healing, and clarity.

Somatic practices blend physical movement, sensory awareness, and mindful techniques to help shift stuck patterns, reduce anxiety, and bring us back into a state of balance. For many of us – especially those with neurodivergent wiring or lived trauma – this approach can feel more accessible and effective than purely talk-based therapies.

Why the Body Matters in Mental Health

Our nervous system plays a starring role in how we process and respond to the world. When we’ve experienced stress, trauma, or chronic overwhelm, our bodies often store the residue – tight shoulders, shallow breath, gut tension, even chronic illness. Somatic work taps into this stored information, helping us release it in real time.

And here’s the kicker: we don’t have to talk about everything to heal. Sometimes moving, grounding, or simply noticing our breath is enough to shift something powerful internally.

How Somatic Work Helps

- Regulates the nervous system: Practices like breathwork, grounding exercises, and slow movement can help soothe fight, flight, or freeze responses.
- Increases self-awareness: Tuning into body sensations helps us understand emotional patterns and triggers.
- Supports trauma processing: Gentle movement and body-based techniques help people release held trauma without needing to retell their story.
- Boosts connection and confidence: Feeling safe in your body creates a stronger foundation for emotional safety and trust in relationships.

Examples of Somatic Tools in Practice

You don’t have to become a yoga master or spend hours meditating to benefit from somatic work. It can look like:
- Walking barefoot on grass to reconnect with your body
- Gentle tapping or rhythmic movement to calm overwhelm
- Shaking or dancing to release tension
- Breath-focused check-ins during coaching or counselling
- Embodied metaphors – like “finding your feet” or “holding your ground” – explored through posture or movement

Somatic Support in My Work

As a coach and counsellor, I often weave somatic awareness into my sessions – whether we’re working through burnout, identity shifts, ADHD overwhelm, or grief. It’s not about one-size-fits-all techniques, but finding ways to help you feel safe, grounded, and present in your own skin.

For some, it’s a revelation. For others, it’s a gentle unfolding.

Be you, everyone else is taken.

Tracey