If you’ve ever left a therapy session thinking, “I understand why I feel this way, but why hasn’t anything changed?” — you’re not alone.
While traditional talk therapy helps you understand your thoughts and patterns, insight alone often isn’t enough. That’s because trauma, anxiety, and depression become stored in the body — not just the mind.
That’s where somatic therapy comes in.
As a psychologist in Coquitlam, I integrate both mind-based and body-based approaches to support whole-person healing. Let’s explore how somatic therapy differs from talk therapy — and why combining the two is so powerful.
What Is Talk Therapy?
Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy, focuses on exploring your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours through conversation.
One of the most well-known types of psychotherapy is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which helps you identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns such as:
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “Why can’t I do better?”
- “Nothing ever works out for me.”
These approaches are especially effective for learning coping tools, building insight, and developing healthier ways of thinking and communicating.
However, for many people — especially those living with trauma, chronic anxiety, or long-term stress — these experiences don’t just affect the mind; they leave a lasting imprint on the body.
Over time, the nervous system adapts to stay on alert, muscles hold tension, and the body learns patterns of protection that can be hard to release.
That’s why working only at the level of thoughts and emotions is just one piece of the healing puzzle. To truly find relief, we must help the body release what it’s been carrying and remember how to rest, soften, and feel safe again.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body. The word “somatic” means “of the body” — and this approach recognizes that our nervous system often holds onto stress, fear, or trauma long after the event has passed.
Even when the mind says, “It’s over,” the body might still stay on high alert.
In Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Self-Regulation Therapy (SRT) — two body-based methods I use in my Coquitlam practice — we work directly with the body’s autonomic nervous system, the “engine” behind our natural fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown responses.
These approaches help:
- Release stored trauma patterns
- Reduce overreactivity to daily stressors
- Build awareness of physical sensations, creating a steadier sense of calm and “okayness”
During sessions, clients often notice small shifts in their body: a deeper breath, muscles relaxing, a loosening in the chest, or a wave of relaxation. These are signs that the nervous system is starting to regulate and return to a natural state of safety and ease.
Somatic vs. Talk Therapy: The Key Difference
While talk therapy focuses on your thoughts, somatic therapy focuses on your body’s responses. Both are powerful, but they work in different ways:
Talk Therapy
- Helps you explore your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs
- Uses conversation and reflection to bring awareness
- Works from the “top down” — calming the mind first
Somatic Therapy
- Brings attention to physical sensations and body cues
- Uses mindful awareness of physical sensations to support nervous-system regulation
- Works from the “bottom up” — helping the body feel safe first
Together, they create a complete path to healing, where your mind understands and your body feels calm, grounded, and connected.
Why Body-Based Therapy Can Feel So Transformative
Many clients come to therapy knowing why they feel the way they do, yet struggle to change how they respond or feel.
That’s because insight alone doesn’t change the nervous system. Somatic work helps the body experience safety — not just think about it.
As your body learns to regulate, you may notice:
- Less reactivity in stressful situations
- Better sleep and deeper rest
- Improved emotional resilience
- A renewed sense of connection to yourself and others
It’s not about trying harder to “be calm.” It’s about helping your body remember how to be calm.
When to Consider Somatic Therapy for Anxiety, Trauma, or Burnout
Somatic approaches can be especially supportive if you’re navigating:
- Anxiety or chronic stress
- Unresolved trauma
- Burnout or emotional numbness
- Relationship stress or disconnection
These patterns often live as much in the body as in the mind — which is why combining somatic and talk therapy often creates deeper, longer-lasting change.
A Mind-Body Approach to Healing in Coquitlam
In my Coquitlam counselling practice, I integrate Somatic Experiencing (SE), Self-Regulation Therapy (SRT), and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for a balanced, personalized approach.
This combination helps you understand what’s happening and feel real change — both mentally and physically.
Healing isn’t about forcing change or pushing through. It’s about helping your mind and body work together again, creating space for steady, meaningful growth.
Ready to Explore Somatic Therapy in Coquitlam?
If you’ve tried talk therapy before and still feel stuck, body-based therapy might be the next step.
Let’s work together to bring your mind and body into harmony so you can move through life with more ease and resilience.
👉 Book a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about somatic therapy in Coquitlam or virtual sessions across BC.