You don’t need to master neuroscience to start feeling better—but knowing what to expect can make taking that first step into therapy a little easier, especially if talk therapy hasn’t felt like the right fit.
If you’ve been exploring somatic therapy, you might be wondering: Will I have to relive everything? Will this be weird? What if I don’t feel anything? Is this even therapy?
Let’s break it down—gently, clearly, and with your nervous system in mind.
First things first—what is somatic therapy?
At its core, somatic therapy is about coming back into relationship with your body. We hold so much in our bodies—tension, trauma, emotions we couldn’t express at the time. Somatic therapy gives those stuck parts a way to move, speak, and eventually… release.
It’s not about “fixing” you. It’s about listening to the wisdom already within you. With the help of your therapist, you’ll begin to tune into physical sensations, emotions, breath, and movement. This process can help restore safety where there’s been survival—and connection where there’s been disconnection.
Do I have to talk about everything?
Nope. That’s one of the most comforting things about somatic therapy. While you’re welcome to share your story, you won’t need to dissect every detail. In fact, a lot of the work happens without words.
Your therapist might invite you to notice:
A tightness in your chest
A sense of collapse in your shoulders
A tingling that starts when you mention a memory
These aren’t just sensations—they’re signals from your nervous system, and they’re often the key to understanding what your body has been holding onto.
What might a session look like?
1. Arrival & Grounding
You’ll start by landing in the space—whether that’s a breath, a check-in, or a body scan. Your therapist may guide you to notice what feels stable or resourced today.
2. Tracking & Noticing
Rather than diving into a story, you’ll be gently guided to pay attention to what’s happening right now in your body. That might mean noticing a flutter in your stomach when a certain topic comes up, or how your jaw tenses when you try to speak. This practice, called “tracking,” builds body awareness—and with it, agency.
3. Titration (Small Steps)
Somatic therapy moves at the speed of safety. You’ll explore sensations and memories in bite-sized ways, allowing your system to stay regulated. There’s no pressure to go big or deep unless your body says yes.
4. Pendulation (Coming Back to Safety)
When you touch something hard, you’ll also return to something steady. This ebb and flow between discomfort and calm helps build your capacity to stay with hard feelings without becoming overwhelmed.
5. Integration
As the session wraps up, you’ll often spend time integrating—maybe with a calming breath, movement, or reflection on what shifted. You leave not in pieces, but in your body, grounded and supported.
Is this like yoga? Or massage?
Not quite. While somatic therapy may involve breathwork or gentle movement, it’s not a fitness class or bodywork. You’re not being “worked on”—you’re being guided inward.
And it’s collaborative. You won’t be told what to feel. You’ll be supported in discovering it for yourself, at your pace, with your therapist by your side.
What if I don’t feel anything?
That’s okay. Disconnection from the body is a survival strategy—and one your system may have needed for good reason.
There’s no “right” way to experience somatic therapy. For some, sensations show up quickly. For others, the process is slower, more spacious. Every signal—numbness, resistance, tears, calm—is part of your story.
What can somatic therapy help with?
Somatic therapy is especially helpful when words alone haven’t touched the root. It supports healing from:
Developmental trauma and attachment wounds
Anxiety, panic, or chronic stress
Grief that feels stuck in the body
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Chronic pain or illness with emotional components
Feeling “numb,” disconnected, or emotionally shut down
If your reactions feel too big—or too absent—somatic therapy can help restore regulation.
What people often say after their first few sessions:
“I didn’t know I was holding my breath until I let it go.”
“It wasn’t dramatic—but something in me softened.”
“I felt more in my body than I have in years.”
“I thought I had to explain it all—but just being present was enough.”
One last thing...
If you’ve made it this far, maybe your body is already whispering: It’s time.
At A Time To Heal in Vaughan, somatic therapy is offered with gentleness, respect, and a deep belief in your system’s ability to heal. You don’t need to be fixed. You need a space to reconnect—with your body, your story, and your strength.
When you’re ready, we’re here to walk with you :)
