Somatic Therapy
in Durham, NC
You may know that something is happening in your body, even when you can’t quite explain it. Somatic therapy can help you understand those responses and work with them.
You may be here because you feel…
Disconnected from your body and emotions
Restless, tense or overwhelmed
Big reactions to small stressors
What Can Somatic Therapy Help With?
You may find yourself…
Intellectually understanding your experiences, but still being affected by them
Shutting down when things become too much
Overreacting way out of proportion to the problem you’re facing
Not knowing what you need until you’re already overwhelmed
Finding talk therapy helpful in some ways, but incomplete
Wanting to work with trauma without having to tell the entire story over and over
Tap into the wisdom of your body instead of feeling overwhelmed or disconnected
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is an umbrella term for therapeutic approaches that pay attention to the connection between your mind, body and nervous system.
Chronic stress and trauma don’t only affect the way we think. They can also influence how our bodies respond, sometimes long after the stressful or traumatic events are over. Even when you are safe, you may notice this as tension, restlessness, numbness, feeling on edge, trouble relaxing, feeling detached, or other reactions that seem out of proportion with the situation in front of you.
Somatic approaches bring attention to these patterns as part of therapy. Rather than focusing only on what you’re thinking about, your therapist can also help you notice sensations, movement, breathing, impulses, and shifts in your levels of activation.
This helps you develop a fuller understanding of that’s happening within you, and gives you more choice in how you respond.
Sometimes Your Body Knows Before You Do
You may understand that you're safe now and still find yourself bracing for something to go wrong.
You may know that a situation isn't dangerous and still feel your heart race, your muscles tense, or your urge to get away.
You may want to speak up but find yourself going quiet. You may want to relax but feel unable to settle.
These responses aren't signs that you're doing something wrong. They can be ways your nervous system learned to protect you.
What does Somatic Therapy Look Like?
There isn't one single somatic therapy technique or protocol. Different therapists may draw from different approaches and trainings, and somatic work can look different from one person to another.
At Tamarasa Therapy, our therapists draw from approaches including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, trauma-informed yoga, polyvagal-informed work, and other body-based and trauma-informed trainings.
What matters most is not using a particular technique. It's understanding what your body is communicating and finding ways to work with those responses that are safe, collaborative, and useful to you.
Somatic Therapy May Involve
Noticing
Learn to recognize sensations, tension, activation, impulses, and other signals from your body
Slowing Down
Create more space to notice what’s happening before reacting automatically
Movement & Breath
Use movement, breathing, posture, or other body-based practices
Building Capacity
Nurture your ability to experience difficult emotions and sensations without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down
You won’t be asked to perform a particular exercise if you’re uncomfortable with it. Your therapist will help you find what actually works for you.
You don’t have to be good at feeling your feelings.
You don’t have to come in knowing how to notice and identify your emotions. While some people are highly sensitive to their physical sensations, others have developed ways to tune them out, especially if paying attention to their body has been overwhelming or unsafe in the past. We welcome you wherever you are on that spectrum.
Somatic therapy is about developing a relationship with your nervous system and body that feels manageable and useful. It’s not about being hyperaware of every single sensation.
When working with your therapist, you can start small. Sometimes just noticing what feels comfortable, uncomfortable or neutral is a good place to begin.
What if Somatic Therapy isn't right for me?
Somatic therapy isn’t one specific treatment. You and your therapist can discuss how much body-based work would be beneficial for you.
We recognize that therapy isn't “one-size-fits all.” You may benefit from somatic therapy, from other therapeutic approaches, or from a combination of modalities. . You and your therapist can adjust the pace, structure, and approach of therapy as your needs evolve.
Our goal isn't to fit you into a particular therapy. It's to find the approach that best supports you. And if you've had a difficult or unhelpful experience with therapy in the past, you don't have to assume that it means therapy can't work for you. We can start where you are and work together to find a way forward.
Tamarasa Therapy’s Approach to Somatic Therapy
Expertise gives therapy its foundation. Collaboration makes it responsive. Compassion makes it human.
Grounded in Evidence
Our therapists use their clinical judgement to determine when and how somatic interventions would be helpful for you. They excel at translating the complex neurobiology of trauma into understandable and effective therapy.
Collaborative by Design
We believe that the body has important information to offer, but we don’t see every physical or emotional response as a problem to be fixed.
We also don’t practice in isolation. We regularly consult with our colleagues and participate in supervision. This gives our clinicians opportunities to think deeply about their work, learn from one another, and remain accountable to high standards of care.
Responsive to You
Sometimes the goal is regulation. Sometimes it’s understanding. Sometimes it’s learning to stay present with an experiencing without getting overwhelmed.
We will never force you into a particular therapeutic approach. We pay attention to what’s helping, what’s not, and what you need as your work evolves.
What Trauma-Informed Care Means to Us
For us, being trauma-informed isn't simply about understanding trauma. It's about how we practice.
We don't believe therapy should require you to override your own boundaries, push through experiences you're not ready for, or continue with an approach simply because it's the therapist's preferred modality. We pay attention to your responses, collaborate with you about the direction of therapy, and adjust our approach when something isn't helping.
You are not here to fit yourself into a therapy. The therapy should be responsive to you.
Meet our Somatic Therapists
Our therapists bring different specialties, personalities, and perspectives to their work. Explore their profiles to learn more about their approach and find someone who feels like the right person to begin with.
Common Questions About Somatic Therapy
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Absolutely.
Somatic therapy can complement other forms of therapy like:
IFS
EMDR
CBT
DBT
trauma-focused therapy
talk therapy
Somatic work doesn't have to replace other forms of therapy. Depending on your goals, your therapist may integrate body-based interventions into another therapeutic approach.
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More than anything, we want to make sure the therapist is someone you feel safe being open, honest and vulnerable with. Having a consultation call is a great way to see if the therapist is the one you want to work with.
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Yes it can. Depending on the types of exercises, you may need to make sure you have enough space for full range of motion. You and your therapist can discuss if in-person would be a better option, but generally you can work together completely online.
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No. You do not have to describe your traumatic experiences when doing somatic-based work. Because it’s grounded in what you’re experiencing in the present, you won’t have to discuss the past.
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We will always go at your pace. If something feels too uncomfortable, we can slow down, pause or stop altogether. Switching our focus, like paying attention to an object in the room or the seat holding you up can be other ways to practice somatic therapy without just focusing on your body.
We’ll work on creating enough safety and comfort so your feelings can come up naturally, when you’re ready.
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Sometimes people feel frustrated when they start somatic therapy, but still don’t feel anything. Some things that may help to keep in mind:
Numbness is still a bodily response. Notice it with curiosity; it may be your nervous system protecting you.
Try to gently attend to what is present: heartbeat, posture, breath.
There’s no right or wrong way. Our bodies and healing journeys are all unique.
With steady support, practice, and patience, sensations and shifts usually improve over time.
The Therapy Process: What to Expect
Starting therapy is a big step. Here’s what you can expect as you begin your work with us.
Schedule your free consultation
Reach out to us to share what you’re looking for. Click the “Get Started” button to take the first step to getting support
Meet with your therapist
Talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what you’ve been experiencing, and what you hope to change
Create a plan together
Your therapist will work with you to find an approach tailored to your needs, goals and pace.
Begin your work
Build insight, develop skills and create meaningful change with ongoing support
Not sure where to start?
You don't have to know which therapy is right for you before reaching out. These approaches can be helpful for different concerns, and your therapist can help you figure out where to begin.
| If you're looking to... | You might explore... |
|---|---|
| Understand internal patterns and feel more whole | IFS |
| Process and recover from traumatic experiences | EMDR |
| Change patterns in your thoughts and behaviors | CBT |
| Reconnect with your body and feel more grounded | Somatic Therapy |
| Build skills for navigating intense emotions | DBT |
Ready to Explore What’s Possible with Somatic Therapy?
You don't have to know exactly what you need before reaching out. We're here to help you find a therapist and approach that feel right for where you are.
You don't need to have the perfect words.
You don't need to know exactly where to start.
You only need to take the next step.
Schedule a free consultation today.
How to Get Started
Ready to meet with a therapist?
Click the button below to Schedule an Appointment or Free 20 Minute Consultation online
Do you have any questions or need help finding a therapist?
Fill out the contact form below. We will respond within 24 hours.
We are conveniently located at
6 Consultant Pl. Ste 100B, Durham, NC 27707
In-person visits by appointment only.