Life brings all kinds of experiences—some joyful, some challenging, and many that fall somewhere in between. Some of these experiences, especially the more overwhelming ones,
are never fully processed by the nervous system. When this happens, the body holds on to what the mind hasn’t been able to make sense of. This is what we often refer to as trauma.

Trauma isn’t always what we think it is. It can come in many forms.

“Big T” trauma often refers to events that are life-threatening or deeply distressing– things like war, natural disasters, accidents, or emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. These kinds of events can overwhelm the nervous system, causing it to store the experience in parts of the body or subconscious mind that we may not have access to. This is a protective mechanism—it’s the body’s way of helping us survive by avoiding overwhelm.

There’s also “Little t” trauma—experiences that may not appear traumatic on the surface but still had a lasting emotional impact. These might include childhood neglect, chronic stress, emotional invalidation, or not having enough support during difficult moments.When there’s no opportunity to process or integrate what happened, these events can also live on in the body, showing up later as anxiety, emotional reactivity, chronic tension, or behaviors that feel confusing or out of place.

In fact, many of my clients come to therapy not realizing they’re carrying unresolved trauma. They just know that something feels off—like a persistent pattern, a heavy emotion,
or a sense of disconnection that won’t go away. This is a great place to start.

How Somatic Therapy Helps

Somatic therapy offers a compassionate and effective way to gently explore and integrate trauma. Rather than focusing solely on telling the story, this work invites you to tune into your body’s felt sense—the internal sensations that bring you into the present moment with embodied awareness.

This felt sense might show up as tightness, an ache, a flutter, or a subtle wave of energy. Instead of trying to fix or change these sensations, we practice staying with them—curiously and gently. In doing so, we create space for what’s been held to emerge, be seen, and receive the care and attention it needs.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, chronic stress, or a persistent sense of disconnection, somatic therapy offers a safe space to slow down and come back to yourself.

Healing doesn’t happen through force—it unfolds through safety, attunement, and deep
listening.